Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-04-11

beautiful-an angel in contrast with
the inferno of his own troubled
thoughts-and yet it deepens his reso-
luton. He is the martyr seeing tho
martyrs crown, the soldier with the re-
ward of his valor before his eyes In
her purity, her strength, her peace, it
seems to him he would find an escape
even from the torture and shame OF his
guilty mind. lie would bathe himself
in her presence as In a flood OF cleans
ing water, a second baptism. Her
her voice would be q heaven In which
he might bask and rest, and forget his
fraud-yes, even his bloodguiltiness.
He turns tho handle of the door
quietly, gradually, and enters. A
delicate scent, as from tho folds OF
suken garments, strikes his senses But
| he does not hear a single rustic from
| his uncle's bed. The old man sleeps
soundly indeed.
Then he draws up the slide of his
lantern.
So violently. with such trembling
| agitation does he close it again, the
instant after, that the whole thing falls
Gathering to the ground and Paul turns
and rushcs through the room.
What has he seen to overcome him
so?
A woman, tall and supple as a Greek,
stern eyed as a aClytemnestria and twen-
ty times as fair, with black hair and
marble arms, eyes OF fringed violet
bosom of ivory-how often had he
dotted on them! How often had he felt
his heart swell with pity, with admira-
ton, with unspcaknblc love, ns the soft
voice tremulously demonstrated with
him:
"We must be patient, Paul"
| And now this saint Of his life, this
virgin flower Of woman, this one who
was to be the salt and salve to his sad,
wounded, outraged and rebellious heart
there she stands, her right hand under
the pillow of the unconscious sleeper,
her left arm to strike him down If ht
awake!
Paul passed stealthily into the garden
again. He went with bounds across
the parterre, fiercely trampling the
flowers and borders, cursing mean
! while, in his heart, with bitter rage and
execration, the angel, forsooth, wht
was thief and murderess.
Then he laughed wild, embl1nt
laugh, such as only grief that borders
on frenzy finds utterance.
That night, ns he sat till dawn unde
+ the moaning poplars and over and owe
again repeated to his mind the hideou
incident that he half believed to be
I dream, love turned to hate, Us fuel t.
ashes. as a flower to the bIood-red poi
4 son.
q 'lt was for love of mei'' he murmured
;. s.for love Of me-ah. that is the blo7
v that cuts deepest; for why? That lov
e Of hers is loathsome to me-"
G 'That was forty years ago" snid Mis-
). Perry, ''and it seems only yesterday.
a She looked from the gray area of tn
}, casino at Narragansett out over tn
q blue, dimpling sea, where n yacht wa
s just coming to anchor
d The wrinlSled old general. who direc
r, cd the taste Of the wealthy New Yor
l. spinster in the fitting of her large a,
d gallery, wiped tear from her gla:
n eye. 1t was telling gesture, thong
r the tear was not tear Of sensibility.
,r ''But how did you find out that it w;
Is hep" he inquired, softly.
d 'IIand me that fan and will telly
$. had come downstairs, hearing q moi:
1t and thinking Of burglars l was BRAY
in those days, and seized heavy pair
scissors, which I carried dagger-wise.
-, went to my uncle's room, felt under
"a pillow, and was relieved to find his b;
IN of diamonds safe. Then there was
N monetary flash of light, the clatter
~ a lantern dropped in darkness; and Il
n sound OF receding footsteps.
20 81 never saw Paul again to this da
i, The lantern was identified as his. fe
n relieved at his flight nt the momcr
ri But, general, you and I are old peopl
el and for my part l can love only ono
III and you must not speak to me agsln
m YOU have done to-day."-Epoch.