The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-10-18
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| glimpse Of her dress had disappeared
through the door, Archibald Blount
raised himself, and drew long, deep
breath. He was too well bred and re
| fined a man ever to exult openly In
any triumph, however great but his
! eyes looked brighter, and his step
sounded more firmly as he walked.
Poor little girl" he murmuied, half
Rbsently to himself, as he lit his bed
room lamp. II wonder If she cares al
all for Craven. hope she does not
| from my soul l hope she does mott
after which touching hopefulness on his
part he went up stairs and into bed
where he slept long and peacefully.
Not so did the poor little girl, Ar
rived In her own bedroom, Katherine
Blount locked the door, and, without
removing ornaments or any article OF
dress, walked toward the window and
leaned her beautiful, shapeV head
against the dew-cold glass.
The moon was shining on her pale
ind placid; the dazzling, twinkling stars
cleaned down upon the silent earth;
strange, sweet night 1t seemed, filled
with a sadness responsive to her own,
| that almost entreated confidence, but
Katherine neither moved nor moaned,
nor wept.
With the dawn came her determina-
don Turning slowly away from the
open window, through which lark 9
loud song of praise rushed with tumul-
Iuous music, she moved with stinened
limbs across the room, her poor heart
torn and bleeding.
The next morning Sir Mark War
renne went home rejoicing, the accept
I'd lover of beautiful Katherine Blount,
while his lady-love filed her daily du-
lies with paid face and clouded eyes,
md thoughts ''all void of SOUL" Black
wood she had not seen all day. having
excused herself from breakfast on the
plea of nervous headache-not all ex.
.use-but, coming suddenly into the Old
oarlor some little time before dinner,
she discovered Blackwood sitting there,
busily employed making cartridges Tor
| The morrow's shooting. For second
her courage failed her completely, but
only for second; then she rallied her
spirits and came forward, speaking
bravely enough, though In tones
strangely dull and unlike her usual
voIce which was sweet and musical,
sBlackwood, want to tell you some
thing"
Her manner startled him; he flung
Town the unfinished cartridge the con-
tents of which ran swiftly, with a tiny
rafting noise, from off the table down
about the oaken floor, while q terrible
sense of impending evil half choked
him, his face hlanching, In the fasmon
peculiar to him when anything I'M
pleasant about Katherine came under
his notice.
"What is it," he asked, shortly.
81 have promised to marry Sir Mark
Warrenne.' she answered, just as
shortly, trying to appear unconcerned,
but failing wretchedly.
For a full minute Blackwood Craven
went mad-as mad as the Yeriest luna
lie that ever trod the floors Of Bedlam.
He strobe forward, and seized ner
sn al. wrists with cruel vehenence, al
most crushing the tender bones In his
passionate grasp.
'.Say that again. he cried, fierccly.
overwhelmingly; while 'Blackwocd,
Blackwootl!'' was all poor Katherine
could gasp, with faint supplication.
Presently, however, the paroxysln pass
ed, leaving him sane, but despairing
he dropped her hands hurriedly; the
iron had entered into his soul, and at
The first cold touch the madness lied.
he turned to the window quietly.
HAS it come to this at last?" he
said.
Miss Blount sank into a chair, and for
/ short time there was dead silence
In the room, during which they scarce
" seemed to breathe To Katherine
the stiffness was intollerable; any open
torture would have been less bitter.
At all hazards she felt she must see
his face again; so, stealing over to his
side, she placed tinid, trembling
land upon his arm.
'.Diaekwood, have some pityp she
whispered, beseechingly, raising to his
face great lustrous, pleading eyes.
PITY" he echoed contemporary,
shaking off her hand as though 1t
scorched his flesh, and. moving back
ward a few steps, "Pity for what
Because YOU are going to marry the
richest man in the country. and bar
1net into the bargain, or because you
have wisely thrown over the man who
was imbecile enough to imagine he pos
sessed your extremely salable affec-
tions-which? My pity would be rath-
or wasted, fancy, We're to bestoW It
On YOU. so | will reserve any ] may
have for Sir Mark Warrenne, as do
not know of any of my acquaintance
10 much in need of 1t as he is just now.
Meanwhile, beg to offer you my
warmest congratulations on your sue
TESS and approaching happiness"
"BlaclSwood," the giUl began, Yele-
| mently, stung to the quick by his In.
situations, but endeavoring, eagerly,
with tightly elinched hands, to speak
with calmness, will you not listen, to
me? l swear
"Hushr' he interrupted her sternly,
with cold, cruel scorn, putting up his
hand to prevent her speaking further,
'you need not perjure yourself any
more. 1t is unnecessary am scarcely
| in q condition, you see. to believe the
remainder Of the protestations. You
have said quite enough to last me my
| lifetime. SO will not trouble you with
my presence any longer. i leave with
you what must be a pleasant reflection
| the knowledge that you have utterly
ruined my existence"
| Are you goingY' Katherine gasped
For how longT'
Forever he answered, briefly, turn
Ing toward the door as he spoke
| Just for one moment Aiss Blount felt
stunned crushed-and them with d
bitter cry she reused herself and tried
to reach him. but found she could not
some power within her numbed hel
limbs, and left her WITHOUT strength to
move. Her love, her life, was going
but she could only hold out her hands
to him in passionate wild entreaty.
'.BlackwQod, Blaekwood,p she i'm.
plored. DO not leave me like this
Say something to me before you go!'
He turned as he reached the thresh
old to gaze his last upon the exquisite
agonized face he loved so dearly, and
the tender arms putheld in pitiful
mute supplication. But even then he
did not relent.
y WILL he said, with vehement bit
terness. las YOU ask 1t, you can take
this as my good-hy--remenbeF the las
words said to you were these: a
curse the day I ever saw your SO
with black anger at his heart, he pass
ed out from the house that had beer