Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-10-19


IO-e alone was not sufficient for her.
She needed danger, scenic effect ana
pleasure heightened by terror. Once or
tw ce in the early time. she was reckless
onouph TO leave her home during the night
and to return before day. But she was
obli.ed to renounce these audaclous
Aiohts. finding them too perilous.
These nocturnal interviews with Eu-
gene were not very fIequ MT and she ha1
usually received him at homo
This was their arran ement:
There was an entrance TO the garden
from a side street. This entr nee was
through an archway in the stable build
inc. The room over the archway WIS &C.
cupied by the head coachman, m ddie-
aged man, who fully enjoyed his master
confidence. Indeed, SO Thoroughly ana
the Senator trust him, that he often seut
him to distant places TO execute commits
sions for him. .t,o4
It was the time of these absences that
Cora Ellision and Eugene CleYeland
chose tor their dangerous interviews at
night.
Eugene, apprised from within by some
understood sign !, entered the lnciosure
b ck Of the st bles through the archWay'
and thence crossed the garden, ana so
re ched the lear of the mansion.
Cora always charged Lerself with me
peril that charmed her-with keeping
O. en- one of the lower windows. ho
ordinary custom of lodging the domesnc5
in the upper story gave to this hardlnool
sort OF security, notwithstanding It's
being always hazardous.
On a moonless night, at this Ferod OF
our story, one Of these occas oas, always
{ hot Ia p
seniel itself, and Eugene at mldnlghe
penetrated into the Elliston garden.
At the moment when he turned the key
in the door of the archway lie thought lie
heard a slight sound behind him.
He turned, cast n rapid 81 nee over the
dark space that surrounded LIN, ana
] thinking himself mistaken, entered.
{ An instant after the shadow of man
anne ared at the angle of pile OF lum' or,
on the site Of new building opposite.
This shadow remained for some time
immovable in front O the windows or the
ElHston mansion and then plunged again
into the darkness.
TIE following week Eugene Cleveland
WAS at his club one evening, play yIn2
whist with the Senator. He remarked
that his uncle was not playing his usl i
game, and saw also imprinted on his tec-
lures painful p'eoccupat on.
Are YOU in lin, uncle?" said he, after
they had finished their came.
@Nol mol" said the Senator; L am only
annoved-a tiresome affair between two
of nv ten .nts up the Hud on. sent
Johnson-my head coachman you know
and good fellow-up ;he this morAlng
to inquire into it..
TIE Senator made a few steps, then le-
turned to Eugene and took him aside:
INV Young friend" he said, Il deceived
YOU lust now; l have some hing on my
mind-somethin very serious. am, 10
tel the Truth, very unhappy.
What is the matter?" asked Eugene,
whose heart sank.
i shall tell you that probably to-mor-
row. Come, in any case, TO see me TO-
morrow morning, won't you!
Yes, certainly"
Thanks. Now 1 shall go, for l am
really not we'll.
He squeezed his h nd more affection
ately than usual.
Goodnight, my dear boy, he addo !,
and turned around bru usquely to hide the
tears which suddenly filled his eyes.
Eugene exper enced for some momoats
q lively disuuietude, but the frien ly AM
tender adieus of the Senator reassured
him that it did not relate to him. Still
he continued astonished and oven at
fected by the sad emotion of the old man
Was it not strange? Ii there was one
man in the world whom he loved, or G
whom he would have devoied himself II
was this one whom he had morally
wronged
He had however, good reason to be un'
easv, and was wrong in reassurlng hlm-
self; for the Senator, in the cour o1
that evening, had been informed OF the
tceachery OF his wife, at least, he hal
been prepared for it. Only he was stl
ignorant Of the name of her accompllce ,
The one who informed him was afral'
of encountering the blind and obstinate
faith of the Senator, hal he named Eu
gene.
1t was probable, also, after what ha'
already occurred, that La he again pro
nounced that name, the Sen tor woul'
, have repulsed the suspicion as mon
r strous impossibi ity, regretting even tn
, thought
F Eugene remained until midnight at tn
club and then walked TO the Elstoi
mansion. He was introduced into Ii
house with the customary precautions
On account of his poor health and rest
: lessness. the Senator usually occupied
room by himself. In traversing the gar
, den. Eugene saw the soft light OF TIA
nipht-lamp burning behind the blinds.
= Cora awaited him at the door OF be
d, boudoir. which opened on rcula
MASSAGE at an elevation OF few feet.
, lie kissed her hand, and told her IN
forv 1uor1a Of the SENATOR'S sadness.
. She replied she had been very uneas
about his health for some days. Th
p explanation seemed natural to Eugen
and he followed Cora through the dar
= and silent rooms.
She held i'll her hand small por alb
p lamp. the feeble light Of which threw
> her delicate features q strange pallor 4
ihey passed on the rustling of her dre
VS. the ONLY sound which betrayed h
o light movement
! She stopped from time to time--a
:. shivarinp-as if to better taste the dr.
= matte solemnity which surrounded the
:. turned her blonde head little to loC
, ot Euoene. then cast on him her inspiril
smIle nlaced her hand on her heart a
to saw IT am fearful" and continued
- proceed. :;
l. l. GAS let faintly illumined the somber ma
} 1ifcence. the sculptured wainscoting
e and the heavy draperles.
, ( rho fame on the hearth, which fic
!, e,ed mn at intervals, threw bright glea
= On the beautiful Italian statuary viii
10 forrood the chief decorations Of tn
- sumptuouS apartment.
:" "Do Won love me tonight, Eugene
i