The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-04-17
CHAPTER NNTJ

ol PARTING have come, and Eric Ilewei
IEn : frieuds-his dearest ones-are al
about him. His mother. his cousin Hes
Ter. ami his lost love. Edith Cameron.
The miserable girl whom he has mar
red has no place among those Nurie
thinks. as she keeps away IN proud self
torture. and locks herself into her bed
room. hoping in the bitterness of childisf
misery that Eric will put the climax or
his cold. cruel conduct 10y going ava!
without even saying good-by 10 her.
She hears 4. step approaching the door
aud some one knocks rather sharply. Mu
riel runs to tine door. and with shakins
hands Undocs tn" lock. and sees ETi'
standing on tho tin sliold aS he Away
does. in his haugstily pnnctlious ohscrv
anoc Of the terms on which they live.
"I-I-1nought YOU had gone sh'
casps. trying terribly hard to keep from
letting the tears. and the tenderness ant
the misery of her heart, come AL togethel
with a rush.
What have | done 10 make YOU mag
inc | was lacking in the coglmonoSt cour
tesy TO yout' he demands. in n suppress
cd tone. for in a modery built I"ndol
house one never knows where they ma!
be overheard.
Il thought I saw the cab drive AVA!
with the luggage falt"rs Mnriel; but a
the harshuess and coldness of his tones
love and hope die our of her heart, ans
she strives 10 meet him on his owl
ground.
well. rs my time i decidedly limited.
he says, at last, swallowing something il
his throat with fierce effort. Il must SAY
good-hv 10 you. ana ] assure y"n III
tended doing so without fail And there
IS a scornfui Gleam IN his burning eyes
'Will you not shake hands:
For few mOnsnts 4 fierce C0nttic
RACES in her heart. and womanly dignity
wounded love, pride and wrath RESTRAIN
her as if with visible Shackies. But The
next moment the shac-llcs are flung oft
and with wild. despai,'ing cry. Murie
riSheS after him who is for>2hinG her
He has descended tn" stairs hall way
already. and aS he turns on the landing
shocked and >cau,hllized indeed nj the
idea of a scene" he finds himself il
Muriels arms Rut ere he can hold h"r
up. she has slipped down on the ground
clingiHc around his knees with Il piteou~
frantic entrraIy.
Don't leave me-oh. don't leave me
don't leave me! / ain all alone. Don
90 away from me- Eric, Don't 20 away
from me, My heart j. hrcakin5''
For heavens sake ne says. the >wea
starting on his brow for very shals an,
distress don't bchav" in this inSnH" man
uer. They will hear yuu dow Mn
rpl. You foolish child. To give way 4
this manner at thelast. DO hush, Nuriai.
he repeats almost apgriy. for IN" Wild
corvulsire cry has brought some on.
rushing into the hall downstairs. and III
ejaculation in Miss IIrtgio's sharpc>
tones of Indignant amaz"n@nt:
"For mercy's sake. what's the matter
Il beg ynur pardon" Murirl faitcrs
hrokenly, and she dragS herself nh off tn
floor where she has knest NJ his feet an,
clung 10 him: and blinded with tears tric,
to grope her way mp 10 her room again. bu
Eric's arm j around her slip waist. an,
Err draws her head down On his breast
uhlo tho strong inpU>" rises throhhius
10 his lips - bid her come with him now
this minute and not lot the Inconvenience"
or the absurdity. or tn" ridicul". whlri
this sudden resolve viii surely bring oI
them. hinder them or keep them apa"t.
"Nuriel. dear" he whispers. hoaT>ely
@traning her to his heart. Ar" yol
gricviug to part with me: Ny dear yot
might have come. too. if You had dee de,
in proper time You refnst>l. YOU know
Ny own darling girl" he whispers pas
sionateIy. kissing the red. qulv"riug lip
which she proffers him. like penit"n'
child longing to make it NJ. My Owl
dear lirtle wifo."-whcn Miss Hcttie',
shrill. sarcastic tones ring UP the stair
case.
Eric. tho hansom has come. and 70,
will surely he late il you don't hurry :;
LITTLE
Il must go," he says, hastily, "Fi~>
me, Nrrial, No. dear don't hold mo
don't. Muriel, BE a good girl. ana hs
brave now. and don upset me 50 horribly
at the last" he says. irrirahiy, in his dis
tress at the sight Of those violet eve.
streaming tears and those quiyrriu@ In,
trying in vain to say 'gooI-hy. ami tn,
little white hands clUtchjuE his coat collar
with a grasp of despair.
won't You take m" with Won? Oh
won't vou take me-" she says piteou>ly
half beside herself at the thought that
the next five minutes viii see her Jeff
alone in the world; that hundreds an,
thousands Of miles Of land and >ea vii
sever her from her only friend and rela
tive on earth.
And never. it may br. ia look on hi
"a, again. He viii 70" dead to her a,
Mics i dead 10 her Miles loved fac,
No. rn3ar the roaip-lid down derp in tl,,
darksome grave in rh, far-of1 country
cbnrrbvard. hidden for rvcrmore from
her sight until the Resurrection. Erie,
loved face-ah, most dearly loved Of ai
bes.ie-her love. her bridegroom. III,
D. o.,,,1 n. r3.z-a- f,.L- ..r
bi,, acain nnrj thar lay when the >ra
sborf ,-;ra M, bcr dead"
NJ 49, ci~lr How cau va,, he :, M,
rcasnuahIr:" Eric eNclaim< harShly. i'm
,---.-lv- -r,,..-.,.