Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-05-14

dennise decision on the point.
we were to he married soon after
the Chriatmas following our be.
trothal, and the time soon passed
and brought us to within week oi
the wedding day. For some little
time Ferdinand had seemed strange
ly absent-minded, and on several
occasions L had entered the work
roona to find him talking to him
self in low voice. / thought he
was i'll, and pressed him 10 20 awsy
for q change Of air and scene. To
tell the truth, thought il would
be we'll II he was away at the time
of the marriage. He, however,
would not hear Of leaving home,
and reminded me that myself
should presently be away on my
honeymoon and that his presence
could not be dispensed with. Iwas
forced to acquiesce, bat ! felt very
anxious about him. More than
once l found him glaring at me
with vindictivs expression in his
dark eyes, and / began to fear that
ne harbored some idea of revenge.
l was half-minded to speak to him
on the subject, but eventually
abandoned the idea. I found il
impossible to harbor any doubt of
him; We had been such close friends
and almost brotherly in our rela-
tions.
'On Christmas eve Ferdinand
and | were invited to @ dance of a
lady who was great friend of the
Rexworthys. 1t was not often that
we could get to q social func-
tion together, and once there we
were always liable to interruption
in the shape Of an urgent message
from some patient or other. This
event, however, was specially given
in honor of my approaching mar
riage, and both Ferdinand and NY
self felt it incumbent upon us to at
tend. When the time came I was
glad to see him in readiness to 20
to Mrs. Leetham's house, for he
had been i'll and evidently out of
sorts all day, and needed something
to distract his thoughts. As we
drove away together attempted to
draw him into conversation.
Ferdinand / said, you don't
seem we'll. l wish you would 20
away for 6 week or two. You need |
change of scene.'
81 am quite well,' he replied. |
1T is impossible, as you know, for
me to be away at present. Your
marriage will take place within the
week.
CATER that he would saw no
more, and he remained silent until
we reached Mrs. Leetham's house. |
AS We entered / noticed that Fer
dinand's face was drawn and pale,
and that he looked strangely agita-
ted. l again declared my conyic-
ton that he was i'll, and he again
denied the imputation.
"I am well, said he. Come,
let us enter the ball room. You
have not put on your gloves. Be
quick-we are very late as it is.'
che was already buttoning his
own gloves as he spoke. drew
mine from the pocket OF my dress
coat and began putting them on.
l noticed that my partner watched
me kt'enly as / did so, and that he
drew a long breath as l fastened
the last button.
=" There; now for the ball room,'
said he, aad turned along the hall
to the door of the brilliant lighted
apartment, where dancing had al
ready begun. The musicians were
playing a dreamy waltz as We en-
tered, and under the music ran q
ripple of pleasant laughter and
conversation. Hook.
ed round the room in search of
she was opposite the door
talking to the hostess. They both
saw us and came over to where we
stood. As they drew near / sud.
denly saw q terrified expression
steal into their eyes, aud the next
instant Mrs. Leetham screamed: |,
" Doctor Holford look at Doc
Tor Moutero Il
al turned on Ferdinand like a
flash. Never, as long as / live,
shall / forget his face. He stood
near the door, his body fixed in an
awful rigidity, his face working
,onvulsively. his eyes positively
horrible in their attemut tn convav