Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-02-05
LINK BY LINK.
"A THRILLING STORY OF THE
TRANCO-PRUsSIAN WAR.
BY MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER III.
A TERRIBLE RISK.


~fHE wedding feast was over.
~ A faircr day had never shonc on
fairer bride. Great had been
the festivities, and carried on with un-
ceasing gayety, while the tireless feet
of the young men and maidens danced
with unHagging ardor. and mirth waved
high and reckless. The mill had been
deserted all through the days hot
hours. The old mother had gone to
the bridal feast, the farm laborers had
been holiday making. In tho quiet
twilight there was neither sound nor
voice to waken the echoes or to dis
turb the stiffness.
As the long shadows fell from the
swaying branches, as the gloom deep
oned round tho old gray house and
through the quiet chambers, mans
figure crept stealthily beneath the
hedgerows and glided velvet-footed
into the deserted kitchen, his clothes
were dusty and disordered, his face
.darkly flushed; his eyes glanced from
side to side rs is in deadly terror.
Through the sweet summer air came
the echo OF glad voices, the ring of
girHsh laughter. He started and
shook in every limb, rs though the
fear and horror so long struggled with
had now completely mastered him.
What to do now?" he mutterel rs
he stood there in doubt, while the
stars looked through the open case
mrnt, and the roses nodded in the
evening breezes.
With sudden impulse of despera-
ton he stole up the narrow stairs, and
crept into the room which Rose
Michel had decorated for the coming
of the bride. He hurriedly concealed
himself in one of the oaken presses
Just as footsteps sounded below, and
the laughter and welcome to the new
made wife rang out on the evening
air.
The women come first" he thought.
..She will save me! She must!'
Presently light football came UP
the stairs; IL radiant girlish figure,
candle in hand. stood on the threshold.
She came in with the laughter on hel
alps, and the light in her eyes, thai
had echoed her farewell to the merry
group below, came in and Wen
straight up to the table, whore the
oval glass reflected her glad young
beauty, and the deadly and ominou!
herbs threw their poisonous fragranc,
around. As her eyes fell on then
she started and turned pale as death
WHO put them there?" she cried
. half in wonder, half in terror. A
tho words left her lips the old carve'
press suddenly opened and ma
sprung out and threw himself Mt he
feet.
Terror held her silent. Her lip
parted, but no sound came.
..You here!" she cried, at last.
He caught her hands and poure
out rapid, eager words, words tina
paled her cheek to the hues of death
and robbed her beauty Of all its gla
and joyous youth. sis this thin
true?" she gasped.
II swear it is! AS you hope fO
happiness, rs look for pardon, b
every claim. by every right l posses
over you, Ninettc. you must save IN
now"
But he--my husband?" the pal
ups IdttcrCu.
III you breathe word. you kno
the consequences. Hasten from thi
there is not moment to lose. Wi
you do what | askp"
IS Heaven help me-" she moaned. :
have no choice"
''Then come. Our time is short;
few moments more and he will
here.
Follow me-" che said calml
though her ashy cheeks and ouiverir
lips showed the terror that held h
IN its bondage. She stole down Il
stairway, the man following her ike
shadow. With the shrinking mott,
and covering step Of guilt or fear tn,
hurried through the dusky paths.
"Quick. quick; hear their voices
cried the man. as he seized her arm
rough grasp.
THAT is the place" the girl viii
pcred. pointing to boat-shed In Il
heaviest shadows OF the willow-tree
Lie there till I come. will row y
10 the ruins half mile further up t
river. No one ever goes there; t
people all say they are haunted. Y