The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-04-04

much in the first moments 10 make It
possible for him TO retire then. He had
returned recently from abroad to find his
brothers wife dying, though she did not
suspect it, Of slow, torturing disease
and that brother counting the hours till
death should leave him free to marry
this girl, who was too innocent to dream
of what Claude had n his heart
She had accepted the fact that their
love was hopeless, and seeing her beauty
and purity Arthur could not find it posi-
bic TO blame Claude much, knowing as
he did what his married life had been,
so he tried to stifie the emotion that
sprsng up in his own heart for this sweet
creature, so friendless sEd alone save for
him and Claude.
Would you please to come and sit
with her, Mrs. Hearne sent me to ask,
sir" said a servant entering the room
where Arthur, behind the curtains, was
playing the unwilling role of evesdrop-
per.
Claud sprang up. @DOes she mean
me?"
ayes, sir, you and Miss Mayne, too, if
you please, and Mr.. Arthur" Wonder
ing what this strange fancy portended,
the three obeyed, the first going at once,
the last permitting the servant to depart
to search for him ere emerging from his
hiding place. But as Courtney walked
beside Claude, he whispered: "We had
better not go in together, dearest lest she
suspect that We were 50 when we got her
message" The girl agreed, though she
could not see always the reason for many
Of her lovers subterfuges and stepped
back, while he went straight on.
Pardon me, Miss Msyne," said voice
SO close to her her ear, that it startled
her, 81 will detain you but moment. l
want to say TO you that l love you. l
lose you. love you. Have you noth-
ing 10 say to me in return?' She looked
at him in ams sment Even in the fail
ing light she could see that he was very
white and agitated.
Il do not understand you, DR.. Homer"
she said. 81 am a stranger to you. You
cannot mean what you say"
Does time make any difference ?" he
asked. Il loved you when l saw you
first sitting with that she devil in there
| would save you from her. Hove you "
She was frightened at lis manner, at her
words. He seemed somehow 20 have
dropped mask and stood Ike painting
fiend before her. But she found her voice
at last.
"You must not tell me that, DR.. Homer.
1t is impossible. And ifit were so Icould
never love you in return" He strained
his eyes to see her her face and read there
no doubt the horror she had of him, but
he persisted. 'You do not mean it. You
viii give me some hope; you must You
do not know what it means TO me and
to you"
She drew her dress from his grasp, and
answered him more coldly than she
knew or meant 81 DO not love you, DIR.
Homer, and you must never speak to me
of this again"
With a wild laugh he flung up his
arms. "Well, well, have it your own
away, my LADY, would have, from my
love Of you, saved you at any price from
the rage of a devilish woman, but no,
you scorn me" He might have said
more, but Arthur's quiet step was near
them, and he rushed away.
When Arthur and Courtney entered
Mrs. Hearne's bed chamber, they found
her husband reading to her, and the sick
woman lying smiling at him.
"Ah, Courtney, dear" she said pleas
antly, would yOu mind giving me my
medicine. Susan has gone down to the
village to see her mother and you will
find the medicine and the glass Of milk |
take it in on the table in the next room"
The girl, still dazed from her recent ex-
perience, walked into the small ante
chamber and had advanced nearly to the
table when she saw to her surprise DR..
seated at it.
lie bowed coldly and handed her the
glass of milk after he had dropped into
it white powder that he had taken
from box in his pocket and which box
be had then dropped into the open fire
and watched it consume. Courtney took
he milk in silence and walked back to |
where Mrs. Hearne lay watching the
scene in the next room through the cur |
aims, which were drawn back. Claude
md Arthur sat at the far end of the bed |
room, where they could not see into the
smaller chamber. As she took the glass
rom the girls hand Mr.. Hearne looked
ler in the eyes with a hard malicious
Imile.
Shall drink this, Courtney Mayne?"
he said. The girl started. why, if you
if and paused in confusion under
hat steady smile, so full of cruelty and
Mrs. Hearne deliberately pour
d the milk into a saucer that stood upon
he table near by, and called to the cat
hat lay before the fire. The animal rose
azily and walked over 10 the milk, then
,ent and drank it until the vessel was
.mpty. 1t returned to the rug and lay
lown for q minute or two, and Claude,
gho had laid down his book to watch his
gife's strange movements, was about to
esume his reading when all at once the
at leaped to its feet with q scream Of
.gony, then rolled over in commissions on
he floor. 1t gasped few times and
presently lay dead before the eyes Of the
group.
"Ha, you would have poisoned me,
sretch," cried Mrs. Hearne. raising her
elf in the bed aud pointing long, thin
niger at the shrinking form Of her cous-
n. "But when you dropped the powder
hat was intended for me, and which has
titled the cat, in the milk, you forgot
hat l could sse you through the door.
Arthur, Claude, call an officer and have
his girl carried to prison on a charge Of
.ttempt TO murder. All, you coveted my
place 90 much, my lady, that you could
,ot wait for disease 10 set your lover free |