Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-08-24
the dark for light, hope, refuge. There


waR none.
Her pcor soul cast itself utterly on that |
of her lover. She turned her swimming !
eyes on him, and said:
How YOU must despise mel"
Leland half kneeling on tho carpet |
near her kissed her hand inditferently |
and half raised his shoulders IN token OF
denial. a
me, Warren"
Ills face wore a strange, cruel smile.
"Do not insist on an answer, pray
you, he said. ,ori,o n,o2p
Ta,ond turned himself abruptly full
toword her. looked straight in her face
and said, in a cold, hard voice;
Il do"
TO this flightful speech the poor
woman replied by wild cry that seemed |
to rend her while her eyes dllateo as 4
under the influence of strong poison.
/ Gland strobe across the room ana
tbronob an open doorway, slamming the
door behind him, and so disappeared.
ANY who had listened, motionless and
pale as marble, remained in the same
iifeless attitude, her eyes fixed, her hands
cIenched. vealning from the depths OF
her heat that death would summon her.
Suddenly a singu' al noisn, seeming to
come from the next room, struck her ear.
1t was only convulslve sob, OF Vlolen'
and smothered laughter.
The widest and most terrible ideas
crowded to the mind OF the unhappy
woman: the foremost of them, that her
husband had secretly returned, that ne
knew all-that his brain had given way,
and the laue hter was the gibberish of his
madness.
Feeling her own brain begin to reel,
che srrapg from the sofa, and rushing to
the door threw it open.
The next apartment was the dining
room, dimly Ii hted by hanging lamp.
There she w Leland, crouch ng upon
the floor, sobbing bitterly, and beating
his forehead against chair which he
clutched convulsivev. -,
Her tongue refused its Office; she could
find no word, but seating herself near
him, felt the beating of his Ut and Wept
silently.
He dragged himself nearer, seized the
hem of her dress and covered 1t with
kisses; his breast heayed tumultuously,
his lips trembled, and he gasped tie al
most inarticulate words: 'farcon' On'
pardon me"
This was all. Then lie lose suddenly
| and rushed from the house.
He hurried to New York.
Bitter WEAKNESS, disgust OF lie ana
disgust for himself, were no rev sens'-
tions to this Young man; but lie mad never
experienced them IN such poignant IN
tonsitv as at this cursed hour, when tying
! l.. nf 1IiCnO
of his youth. He knew he had trampled
all honor under foot. Like Macbeth, nc
had not only murdered ole asleep, Du'
had murdered sleep itself
His reflections became insupportable.
He thought successively of joining stan
lev in Africa, of enIisting to fight Indians
and of getting drunk ere he reached the
Hoffman House.
Chance favored the last design, for as
bo olinbted in front Of tie hotel he found
himself face TO face with pale young
man who smiled as he extended his hand
LELAND recognized IN o d friend.
"lhe deucel You here, Charley!
tbouoht YOU in Europe"
81 only arr, ed tn morning.
Quite well, l hope?"
YES and anxio for one of our ole
fines. How are all our fast friends?
about as usual, think. And Ii yo'
are really anxious for a time, SO In J. In
truth is. am bear savage, ghost
Assist me to return to life. Let us 90 an
sun with some of these sprightly peopl
whose virtue and temperate habits are OK
traordinary.
aApreed' with all my heart.
Half an hour later Warren Leland
Charley RAYMOND. and half dozen guest
of both sexes took possession of TN apart
ment the closed doors Of which we mus
, respect
Next morning, at gray dawn, the part
WAS about to disperse, and at the me
ment rag. picker, with gray earl, wa
wandering up and down before the hotel
rakinp with his hook in the barrels an
niles that awaited the street scavenger.
T In closing his purse with an unstead
, hand, Leland let fall shining old piece
: which rolled into the mud at the edge
! the sidewalk. The rag-picker looked II
, with q timid smile.
"Ah!" he exclaimed; what falls int
the gutter should telong to the cleaner
Pick it up with your teeth, then, al
swered Leland, smiling, and 1t IS yours
The man hesitated, flushed under h
: sunburnt cheeks, and threw look
mortal hate upon Leland and the laugl
ing crowd round him.
Then be knelt down, buried his che
in the mire, and sprang up the next M
mcnt with the coin clenched tightly b(
tween his sharp, white teeth.
The crowd applauded The rag-pick(
S,nilod q dark smi @, and turned away.
Hold on, my friend!" cried Lelan'
torchino his arm; Would you like o eal
ten dollars more? If so, strike me IN t!
f ce; that Will give you pleasure and
me good" .5;
The man turned, looked him s'eadl
in the eye, drew back a lit O. ana Tais(
his fist TO strike and then, letting it fal
I exc aimed:
! NO Keep your money, and I'll ket
:. NV wrath. we shall meet again. And
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