Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-02-17

was irrevocable. Who would blame
him' He did not know my secret.
He never should know it. l had
learned the truth now. But in what
did it profit me' l buried it deep
l put no headstone over it. Never
again, if staunch will could aid me,
would look toward the place where
it lay.
The days passed and one was like
another, except that Avis grew more
unaccountable TO me. Her inexpli
cable caprices tried her husband sore
ly, perhaps, but never by word or
glance did he show aught but the
tenderest, gentliest kindliness toward
her. She was more restless than ever,
her words moro uncertain, she watch
ed Pierre covertly. when he was read.
ing or absorbed in thought, for long
minutes at time. with that strange
glittering in her eyes. Then, catch
ing my look by chance, would break
into her laugh.
II begin to dawn on me that some
serious mental trouble threatened her.
Such a condition of exciatations,
breeding and morbid in turn, could
not continue. l had begun to consid-
er whether Mr.. Merit should not be
spoken to on the subject when one
night | was startled by wary touch
on the mob of my door.
"Whc's there? ?" called out,
The door happened to he unlocked
and 4" started up from my pillow ii
opened slowly and Avis vhite.elad
figure, carrying a taper, stood on the
theshold.
Good heavens, Avis! What is 2"
Her face had look that froze my
blood. Her eyes wore CLASSY i'm
mobility, like those of china doll.
All the flesh appeared to have melted
from her jaw and mouth, the lips were
drawn back tightly from the gleam-
ing teeth.
"Come-come with me-" she said,
still standing there.
"Why? What"
"Come with me-" she repeated as
before.
l threw on my dressing gown. l
quivered nervously from head to foot.
When she saw me prepared to fol-
low her she turned her head over her
shoulder and laid one finger on her
bloodless lips with motion that
struck me, somehow, as horrible.
ash ?"
She crept along the corridor before
me. The faring flame of the taper
waving as she went. She crept to
her own door and that she pushed
softly open.
"Come ~
There was a night-lamp with pink
shade, but no other light in the room
save the taper that Avis carried.
The bed was in the center Of the
room, the head resting against the
wall. 1t was draped with heavy cur
tains and these were drawn.
Still holding the taper Avis-how
she limped now in her bare feet
How the crooked shoulder showed in
the loose white night.robe !-crept up
to the bed and drew the curtains
asunder and held up the light.
l saw Pierre's placid white face, the
lids closed.
dead !" she whispered, nodding
her head with a slow awkward sagaci-
ty. dead? And see how quiet he
looks! Is he not beautiful, my bonny
lover? Did l not do it we'll? All
over in a minute it NASHVILLE he
slept-see 7"
Her hand plucked back the cover.
ing and the shining bit of something
cold and steely showed where the
heart had beaten.
"You see he did not love me. 1
found that out. So this was all l
could do"
But my screams had aroused the
house and the servants were hurrying
in.
Avis yet lives. She has never been
violent She has never sought to do
mischief since that night. She is con-
fined in a little house in beautiful
garden and to her attendants she talks
all day of Pierre. She thinks he has
gone on journey. Every day she
decks herself up in flowers and rib
bOns in expectancy of his return.