Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-02-12
THE OWNING ROD.

ton from the world. Ihe ground up
on which the house was situated was
Enclosed by a stone fence. overgrown
here and there by clusters of ivy whose
green leaves formed pleasing con-
trast to the slate-colored stones. With
in the inclosure, beneath the cooling
shade which numerous trees afforded,
a man Of 30.and young and sjngu-
larly lovely girl paced to and fro.
Hubert. this shrub is called the
.Divining Rod, and possesses wonder
full properties. The leaf / hold in NV
hand, ii bruised and dissolved in water
and drank, will cause a. trance-a
death-like stupor- lasting for hours.
An old negress of Mrs. Flourney's told
me of it. and l myself have. to slight
extent, experienced its marvellous pow
er. Is it not interesting?"
Hubert Adare listened in specifies
astonishment. Taking the leaf from
her he examined it curiously. still ST.
lent.
Irene" said he, almost in whis-
per, ''arc you convinced of the truth of
what you say?"
Quite"
Then it is destined to help us out of
. difficulty
She gazed at him wonderingly.
Il allude to my approaching mar
rage"
''Oh, please don't letsus discuss that
subject" said she, growing pale.
..Why?"
Because it's fixed. Because Flora
will have become your wife ere this
time tomorrow. Because it is treason
to her to speak of it as you would"
Irene" said he. so passionately that
she shrank back in. positive terror
Irene, it remains for you to say
whether or not that marriage shall
take place."
Irene Rivers still grew paler; she
trembled violently and grasped the
nearest tree for support.
why should ~ she gasped.
Because I love yon."
He slipped his arm, around her waist
as he spoke and drew her to him; he
would have kissed her, bnt her head
sank upon his shoulder and she burst
into tears. But listening to his COM
forting words. she soon grew calm.
She sail: Hubert, why do You speak
thus? You know us we'll as j thatit
is worse than folly to do so. You
know that your wife l can never be-
that the grim phantom. poverty. will
keep us apart forever on earth. No:
no! You arc pledged to Flora. and you
must fnliill your promise by making
her your wife. The benefits derived
from the marriage will enable you to
realize your granuest dream,-acllicye
a reputation honored among men. /
have marked out nv destiny / pro-
pose to enter ST. GATHERINGS convent
at New Orleans. Within its peaceful
walls / hope TO find that happiness
earth can never give.
Irene, you shall be my wife. Lis
tent" And in few hurried words he
unfolded plan which, ms its full inn
port dawned upon her perceptions al
ternatelv alarmed and surprised the
gentle being by his side.
"Will you perform the part assigned
your" he added, when all was explain
ed.
Eyes, yes! But. oh. Hubert. trem..
BILE for you! Think of the danger!'
II have thought of it-have weighed
everything III the balance of my mind,
and decided. The words You spoke
tho revelation you made-was to ME
the elixir of life. Nothing can pre-
vent ME from carrying the plan into
effect. How pale .yon are. Irene! anil
how you tremble! Think of the future
darling. and be brave!''
Very few words will suffice to ex-
plain the relation our different char
0ctnrS -si1atai,, tn each other Huhnrt
Adare. poor artist. was Mrs. Flour
ney's nephew. Flora. his aunt's
daughter and his cousin. had been be-
trothed to him when q child. His
uncle had died Years before leaving
in his Will two very Important condl-s
tons. One was that Hubert must
marry Flora on her twenty-tirst birth.
day. ut which time he was to come IN.
to possession OF $oO,OOO. inclusive OF,
her fortune; the second was that. in
case he died ere the first was conslln'-i
mated. the money was to descend TO
Irene Rivers. 9. child OF 4 distant rela-
tive. an orphan whose home had been
under Mrs. Flourney's root as far as
her memory extended. Auare VISITED
!. the ola mousse yearly. He nad come
now. 1t was supposed, 10 MAKE flora
his .r bride E, =, ..,;,r I'm :, !, ~
,nn nny a.s;mn "a Sety.an then, both ns
2 wora passing :oelWesn mem . poti.
Isnn TOO ac .heu ma;ae 'n sha
,.;,a hasi ha ~ .ua ;ns s, e
t hot ,u; ill a -. nnr nnrnnsa "a
.na. W., aSeu M prnn.pad p ho.a -
.s nos =. ~. w y, n I. ,ra Sai, nj
Iii III : - by ~, ~ PEI ''1,'
Wg IL, =. any a a.,Ig !. 5, God
;nta a,t th -. ed;',;";n J, rpn, s. pe ss
1 i..o .l havw;n,inwa al Flora FInnrnav
~ -. bot n ti,e,i, wife She flashed ! keen
n nacn,; . olanca 1t him ~ he ann !,