The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-02-16


She wandered about the familiar,
strangely. silent rooms, weeping good
/ Goal. Ter eyes were red, her cheeks
/ pale, yet she was n sweet. loyable
little thing, in her bluck dress, all the
gold hair knotted plainly back, as
John Steele came upon her, standing
/ disconso!Gto upOn the hearthrug be-
fore the ruddy drawing room fire.
Mrs. Calista was with him, and Of
/ fusively performed the introduction.
Aud what did this blue.eyed, curly
| bearded, pleasant stranger DO? Bow
formally TO pretty little Miss Renirew,
of Silverside? Not ct ali. he took
both her little, cold hands in his warm,
strong clasp.
"Why, You poor childw he said.
Don't grieve SO =
Ruby met the kind yet piercing
eyes with culver OF the lip.
"She was all had. l have no one
now" mnaned she.
81 don't know about that. SAID Mr.
Steele.
In all her life Ruby had never seen
any one SO pleasant and hearty, with
such an eye of COURAGE and voice of
cheer. All at once she felt fricndless
no longer.
And Mr.. Steele evidently took care
that she should not feel so. Soon the
chances which rested upon this girl
were more than kind-they were ten.
der-and Mrs. Calista saw them.
One morning, Ruby rose with
strange dizziness and ringing in her
ears. After an effort made to dress,
she was compelled to return to her
bed, and Mrs. Calista came 70 attend
her.
"5he has taken everything SC much
to heart, she is worn out" said the
woman.
Her words seemed true. Ruby was
robbed OF all strength. No pain, no
disturbance, but a strange lGnguor,
Ia which everything swan before her
eyes.
She heard Mr.. Steele urge calling a
physician, but Mrs. Calista strenuously
opposed.
"No-no. indeedl She does not
need drugs, bat rest and relief from
excitement. Leave her to me ~
And Ruby, since she did not suffer,
and WAS so heavy-heGded, did not care
what was done, since they did not dis
turb her.
But the languor grew deeper Day
and night were dream. In thus trance
she som e.imes saw Mrs. Calista turning
something from q vial into the glass
from which she drank. but she cared
not for this, and thought OF nothing.
One day she saw John Stec.e's blue
eyes bending over her.
Darling my little darling!" he
said, tenderly, what ails yon:"
She was conscious of longing to ease
the pity and pain in lis face, bat the
strange inertia hung upon her SO hoa7.
lily she could not lift lid or move
finger.
Then came q long blank, full of
strange dreams. Sometimes, in the
night, Mrg. Caiista held n feather to
her lips to see if she breathed. 1t was
long since food had passed them; she
only drank from q spoon uron
her pillow. And it was always Mrs.
Calista who presented it.
She missed the others, yet could not
dwell upon the thought of their alb.
sonce.
But one day piercing scream penc-
trated even her dulied ears. Before
her eyes strug sle1 two figures. Mrs.
CaIista held the glass AMI the vial in
her hands. Mrs. SIlco.t graspei firm.
ly her wrists, and called londly for
help.
"You are poisoning hcrl It is the
truth 1 have caught you! Help
holpl"
John steele rushed into the room,
nnd the two combined TO restrain the
irenzied woman, who struggled madly
10 dash the vial upon the floor.
But John steele secured n, aud read
the label with b'auching cheek. Then
be closed his han upon it,ani direct
inE Mra. Si.cJit - make no outcry,
but send for % physician, closed the
door upon tho only witness of Mrs.
CHllsta guilt and steru'y faced the
woman alone.
why aro YOU poisoning that limo.
cent child?' he demanded.
''Yon l.vr iar, and had loved Won
rc-3.y .Or years ! have won vour
fortune for you. You sbaIl marry me
never herr" was the reply.
dreadful, infatuated woman
Mad, indeed ~ he cried. "Cnlistn. +
could not love you, IL you brought me
the wealth of tho luIies. Horrible.
houibloi Oh, If sha dies, will give
you over 90 the lnv criminal That
you orcl'
For moment lie for,ot her, and
stopped over Ruby's pillow. I'm tina.
instant Mrs Calista slipped from tho
room.
The physician came, aud Afrs Silcolt
vas stationed of the PATIENTS bedside.
But Mrs. Colista's wo. was ne,rly NO.
coinplishcd The breath of life fnt.
tered fcobly on the gir's lips. threat
cuiug nt any instant 20 take IT'S deuar
ture. john Steele himself threw wide
the windows, letting the strengthen.
ing breeze blow over those pale lips.
md Administered Dguri hment With bis