The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-07-15

ato ~ lfft NIFhoHs
wmuow pane ana rnCro was somctmng
ghostly and terrible about it, and the
candlelight impaired 20 it a strange
pallor which started q host of supcrs6-
tious fancies. She seemed for one brief
instant TO have seen herself as a corpse,
and she knew that that forcboded disas-
ter. She feared Co look behind her, and
yet had a perpt tual desire TO glance
back over her shoulder She had a
creepy sensation of something awful
moving stealthily in her footsteps and
once or twice she felt long shadowy
arm outstretchod as if TO grab her by
tire nape of the neck Impelled by un-
reasoning terror she fed through the
hall until her candle was blown out,
ind the chilly darkness, full of eyes and
horrible things, closed abOut her Half
walking, half running, she pressed on,
scarcely feeling tho touch Of the floor,
scarcely knowing whether She was as
cending or descending. a minute or two
had elapsed perhaps when she found
herself in the large parlor, where the
warmth still fingered and a dim, lumi-
nous light radiatcd from the smolder-
ing fire in the stove. A certain coziness
inimical to ghosts and bogies pervaded
the atmosphere. and the familiar odor
of the pastors pipe, blended with the
breath Of roses and fuchsias obtrudod
a multitude Of earthly suggestions.
Hulda flung herself painting in the
corner Of the sofa, and pressing her
hand against her heart tried to stay its
vehement beating. She was absolutely
sure that there was some ono in tho
room, but it was now no supernatural
visitant she dreaded Was it Mr. Falck
whom she had reused or was it Mr..
Brun? She heard footsteps on the floor
and presently felt pair Of eyes fixed
upon her. Some one seated himself at
her side, and an arm stole gently about
her waist. She needed no further assur
ance now She knew that that arm had
no right 20 be about her waist, but She
was glad it was there, and she had no
Thought of resenting its loving pressure
She glanced mp and saw vaguely in the
dusk the outline Of Brun face He was
Leaning over her, and she fmcied there
was "A strange excitement in his eyes
and a singular drowsy half smile which
did not wholly please her. But yet it
was he, and his breath was upon her
checks, and his voice whispered with
the tendcrest modulatim loving assur-
ances in her ears. A faint suspicion that
she was making herself cheap, that she
was compromising her dignity, gave her
but "A moments uneasiness, but H. was
drowned like the humuing Of a mos
quito over a cataract The grand fact
remained that this was the man she
loved, the only one whom she ever could
love, and this was the supreme moment
Of her life, which must determine hei
fate for good or for i'll.
My darling, my sweetheart, " J
mmmured, stroking her loosened ha
and pressing her cheek against his own
/ and then after pause filed with pas
/ sionate caresscs: "How you must hay,
suffered, alone and misunderstood, and
/ you so infinitely above them all They
are earth bound souls, clods Of uuaspir
ing clay, and you--you are an cagl,
/ soul-a winged thing-beautiful, radi
ant, welded t. the light.
you should not tlattor me- sh'
said, pleased in spite of herself. Sh,
gaaed up into his eyes with "a bright
ecstatio smile, and there palpitatcC
through her being u tumulmous JOY
which sang in her cars and made tn,
blood dance through her veins with /
delicious rhythm.
Il am not fattering, he protested
toying with her hair and drawing he
more tightly up 10 him. you surely
know that you are Of "A different specie
from all these Philistine creatures whO
surround you. Their only affinity is foi
bread and butter, and they decide al
questions with reference to that only
But you wero born with wings YoJ
have an affinity for the eternal Yol
have the Promethoan spark, the fire @
the immortals in your soul, and il wa
because l saw this, because / admired
nay, adored, your beautiful audacity
the splendid wing beat Of your thought
that / determined TO be your deliverc
and free you from the power Of tn
highly respectable but on that accoun
no less terrible ogre who had capture
you. The only thing which / confess
never quite understood is how he con
trived the capture.
"Oh, Olaf, you do him injustice. III
is a very good man, she replied feebly
"Yes, confound him, and the NOR
, shame to him for imposing upon you
inexperience Isuppose that you fancie
that that was what "a gentleman wa
like among civilized people "
81 confess my acquaintance outsid
, Of the peasants had been small. But
Ms,