The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-08-26

this money; owe more than that weak
boy dared venture. I love you, Kate,
and I'll marry you if you are true TO me;
but, by heaven, if you think to put a
dead brother before a living husband
I'll be more like killing than marrying"
81 must give you up, Harry; 1 can
never be your wife now. When you are
calmer you would despise me, as
should despise myself, for lending you
what was not my own. The money is
in dead hand. dare not touch it."
"What do you mean, child?' the man
who laughed asked in hollow voice;
"wl at makes you talk of dead hands?
Come near me, Kate, will not give you
up so lightly; see, we will talk of other
things. Don't look so frightened; come
and kiss me, Kate; you are brave girl;
We'll forget that cursed money"
I heard her creep back to her old
place, heard her crying as women cry
after tension of mind and heart has
been removed, heard him kiss her and
ask her forgiveness, and then, just as
the cold fear that held seemed to relax
its hold, 1 felt-no, felt nothing, but l
heard, close to me, now, in the silence, a
movement of trembling, fumbling
hand-a hand that sought something,
| something secret, something that it
would grasp unseen.
The two were not speaking now, or
only in murmurs so low that the NOV
ing hand which fumblea near me seemed
to claim my ear more than their words.
| My head throbbed with the tension of
| listening; all the blood in me seemed to
be beating there, leaving my heart stone
cold Suddenly the cropping hand passed
swiftly close to my face; felt the watt
of the parted air against my wet tenn
Piles, and then | heard a cry-ah! such a
cry of surprise breaking into terror, of
| terror overmastering love, as the girls
voice shrieked:
mo, no, not that, not that; oh, father,
help! help-helpr
Help? Against what? What had the
girls eyes seen; what dread had forced
that bitter, broken cry from the poor
lips? At last | leaned forward; cried,
too, ''Help, help" At least 1 think l
did, but if any sound came from my dry
lIllOGtL L hl1CW IlCts DClOI Z Illt L hl1cN Illt
man bent over something, something
that moved a little, that moaned, that
sighed softly. And after the sigh the
| bending form lifted itself and muttered
and searched. heard the hands tearing
at something; then heard a quick ex-
clamation, rustic of crisp paper, and
then the door at my side was open.
felt the rain on my face, for heavy
| shower was passing over us.
The blessed rain! The comforting, COM
monplace wetness reassured me. felt
my terror passing and even reached a
hand, half heartedly shut the door, with
| feeling that had had bad dream.
But some object was dragged against
it, was forced through it keeping it
open, until heard duh thud outside,
| and then for the last time a harsh voice,
now in the doorway, mutter:
"What devil drives me? There's the
junction; | must leap!'
The train slacl1ened speed, the swing
ing door fell into its place slowly, as
though released from the pressure of a
restraining hand, and l looked up and
saw a porter run forward as we steamed
into the station.
caught at his arm as he came to the
carriage. I saw him look in my face
curiously.
''Are you ill., sir?" he asked. "Your
carriage door was open; were you get
ing out?"
l could not answer him.
"You hurt your hand, sir, l suppose:
it is not safe to open the door too soon."
my hand! No, have not hurt it
why?"
managed to get the words out at last.
The porter looked at me again queer
ly. "Well, you were staring at it when
came up as if you thought 1t would be
covered with blood or something like"
81 did, l didw Then realizing what
l was saying broke off. mo, no, it is
not hurt, but am not well. I will stay
here an hour or so; cannot go on just
yet"
The porter seemed surprised, but
helped me out and then got out my
things. As he did so he exclaimed at
the state of the carriage:
"Who has been pulling this stuffing
out here? Were you alone, sir? This
looks queer. Somebody's been cutting
the cushion. l must speak to the sta
ton master"
But the station master was already
there. He had noted the delay and
made his way to the carriage, glancing
at me rather strangely and then looking
into the compartment | had left.