The herald., 1896-01-12

busted with some bit of lace or fancy
work, she would tighten his labor by
continual badinage or chatter. And he,
when evening came, would catch her
up to his bosom or lift her to his
shoulder and carry her up the steep
ascent with step more sturdy and
elastic than was his usual wont. And
when she, seated on the rocky perch
beyond the claim or on her stelwart
husbands shoulder, would catch the
eye of "the boys" on their way to or
from their work, they would send
cheer on cheer, and she would make
the hillsides ring with nswering cheer
for cheer. But Davenport and pro-
priety put stop to that.
Little by little her society came to
be largely monopolized by her censor.
In his habitual overestimate of self and
depreciation of others he had come to
believe that he had made himself
necessary to her happiness; that she
had become estranged from her hus-
band and enamored of him. Thus it
came to pass that on the evening of the
3lst of December, 1855, he was the only
visitor at the st Martin home. He
had induced Emil to attend the meet
ing of an association which he had per-
suaded him to join "for Marie's sake"
He and Marie we're alone in the
house. She was busted in another por-
ton. He sat at the center table turn
ing over a lot of her sketches. She was
no respecter of persons when good
subject for caricature presented itself,
and he was struck by an exceedingly
comical caricaturs OF her husband. The
pleasure of the implication he drew
from it, combined with the mirth- pro
voking merit of the picture, inspired
him to indulgence in a hearty guffaw.
Marie slipped stealthily into the room,
up behind him, laid her hand upon his
shoulder and leaned forward to see
what it was that 80 much amused him.
His egotism; his contempt for her
husband and his idea that she shared
it; the familiar freedom of her action;
above all, the pressure Of her hand and
bust and her breath upon his cheek,
set his blood aglow and confirmed his
purpose of avowing his passion, which
he did with impetuous fervor.
The piquant little beauty stood trans
fixed and transformed. Her supple,
fairy-like form became rigid as marble;
her whilom laughing, roguish eyes were
ablaze with scorn and fury; her bare,
shapely, outstretched arm was exqui-
sitely osed in an attitude of warning
and defiance. In tones clear, bell-like
and metallically musical, charged with
scorn inexpressible: "You, the best
friend of my Emil You. the guardian
OF his hearts only treasure! You, my
protector against the boysr Brute
Beast! Dog! Demon! Flend Leave
me! Quick! Quick Leave me"
For moment Davenport WAS stupe-
fed and appalled, But his blood was
lava, and the little fury was more en-
trancingly beautiful than the little
fairy had been. He was incredulous
that she could admire her great lunk-
ing, awkward, uncompanionable hus-
band, whom she WAS wont to quiz and
caricature, more than the handsome,
polished. persuasive, winning man of
the world that he knew himself to be.
She was rare mimic, natural-born
actress, prone to all sorts of coquetry
and deviltry. Surely she was acting
part. He was not to be repulsed by
any such device.
He complimented her tragic pose and
enhanced beauty, vowed that his heart
and fortune we're hers; declared that
he would fly with her to foreign parts,
and in glowing language painted the
life of luxury and pleasure they would
lead. And never dreaming that she
could resist such opportunities, he
rushed forward to clasp her in his arms.
But she did resist most valorously. 1t
was his mood, however, to regard this
as a part of the play. The more she
resisted the more determined he be-
came. Step by step she retreated to a
corner in which stood desk, reaching
which her hand fell upon pair of fine
steel shears, long, slender and sharply
pointed. The whilom, playful kitten
was tigress now. On quiok impulse,
by one swift blow, she plunged the
weapon into his breast.
Then he knew that it had been no
play. Too late he realized the superb
quality of her virtue and fidelity. And
knew that his licentious race was run.
He told her so, and tottering to a
lounge calmly waited the ebbing of
his life away. Her fury was all gone
now. Her nerves relaxed and she fell
in dead swoon. Just then her hus-
band entered. Him in quick, sharp,
peremptory tones Davenport thus ad-
dressed: Emil, my life is ebbing fast.
Marie needs help. Fetch a doctor,
quick" And thus it came to pass that
he had summoned US from our farewell
welcome bowl of punch.
Arrived at the st. Martin residence
we found Marie revived, but limp and
reticent. Emil still wore his look of
horror. Davenport was failing rapidly,
but by supreme effort rallied and
thus addressed the doctor: doctor, 1
know my condition. I have received
my deathblow and we have no time to
waste in making an examination. I
deserved all that has happened and
worse" And then he hurriedly told
his story. AS he proceeded the look
of horror faded from Emils homely
face, and oh, so gently, he laid his great
brown hand upon the curly head of his
doll-like wife.
"What I wish to add" said Daven-
port, "is that no good can come from
heraiding this affair. Not on my own
account do I wish to have it sup
pressed, but OH his account and hers
They do not deserve to be scandalized,
and nothing else could come of it. 1
have been subject to hemorrhages, you
know, and you, doctor, can truly GER
tify that I came to my death by
hemorrhage and heart failure. The
puncture, though fatal, was small and
my bleeding has been mostly inward.
Prepare me for burial here, and let me
be carried hence to my grave" By a
superhuman exertion he had main
tanned strength to say this much and
thenceforth he failed rapidly. Within