The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-07

81 "Mabeli I"
"'DuncapI''

"Mabeli"
"Duncanl"
For one sweet moment all else but
our love was forgotten in one long, rap
turous embrace. Not "a hours had
elapsed since last held my dearest in
my arms, but what world Of agony
had happened In that timel
I looked into her eyes, go full Of I'M
told happiness for me; I kissed the lips
that spoke but Of sweetest love, and for
tho moment all the pending misery was
forgotten in one long, fond rapture Of
bliss.
Never had Mabel looked 60 unspeak.
ably lovely. Her red gold hair rippled
and shimmered in the clear sunlight
and waved and clustered round her
white forehead. Her deep blue eyes
looked into mine in trustful faith. Her
pouting lips invited kisses, disclosing
pearls Of rarest beauty, while the color
on her cheeks came and went in concert
with the heaving of her breast.
"Oh, Duncan, my poor boy, how
shamefully they have treated you How
could they suspect your How dare they
arrest you?''
"Their suspicion was nothing. You
did not doubt mo for a moment?"
Duncan, how could II"
She started from my embrace and
held herself erect.
Though all the world were against
you, you know I could not for one mo-
ment doubt you"
! drew my dear one to o seat, still
holding her hand In mine.
"Tell me. Duncan" she said, with
gentle sympathy, tell me all about IT,. !"
So poured into her ears all dared
tell her Of my experiences after leaving
her the previous evening. touched as
lightly as possible on my finding the
body Of the murdered woman, scarcely
mentioning the man who stood over her.
AS I told Of the fury of the mob her lit.
tie hand frightened in mine and the color
left her cheeks. When spoke to her Of
the long, dreary night at the police sta
ton, her eyes betrayed her sweet COM
passion, and when ! breathed tenderly
all my thoughts Of her in the darkness
and gloom that had shrouded me she
nestled almost imperoeptibly nearer to
me, and again for moment I forgot
the coming agony. When I described
the weary waiting in the morning, the
arrival Of my friends and my ultimate
release, she broke in eagerly:
"Ah, Duncan, it was go unfortunate
George was away when the police camel
I know how sorry be will be that he
could not be the first to 60 to you! How
indignant no will DO at their suspecting
your'
Oh, the untold irony Of her words!
All the time my mind was forlornly
cropping for an answer to the monoto.
nous question which I knew must como
sooner or later and which would tell
her what I would give worlds that she
should know first from another.
l listened as with womanly care she
prayed me to tell her if I had rested
and eaten and hundred other things
which tender love alone could suggest.
I listened. and suppose my answers
were lucid, but all the while seemed
to know nothing but that he-the
brother she worshiped-he, my friend,
was guilty Of this CHASTITY crime AS in
fearful panorama, cav the murderer
captured; witnessed the trial; I heard
the hum Of the crowded court; I saw
the judge, the black cap, and I saw the
gallows looming behind 1t all. seemed
to be still talking and listening. yet my
mind worked out these horrors regard
less of my will, and gradually night
mares spell seemed to creep over me.
She was talking about George now.
"He has been awfully worried lately,
Duncan. You yourself know something
of tho reason, but not all, think. You
know he is infatuated with some woman
beneath him in position, but will tell
you all now that you are one Of u.s."
She added these last words with de-
licious shyness, and I could but kiss
her blushes. She continued:
II know, if not all, at least more
than any one eIse' ior George mas maze
me MS conndant' ana l nave $1,000 up
for MN against my iatner ana motner'
who are naturally very angry with
him; for, after all, the girl is servant,
and we have always had such high
ideals of the wife George would bring
home to US. This IS now 1t all came
about. Last year George went fishing
with a friend to a picturesque village
on the wye. 1t was little better than a
cluster OF houses, half dozen miles
away from the nearest railway station,
and the only accommodation was to be
had at the village Inn, which stood on
the banks OF the river The only other
.. E-s-. ,.,'>.,'---' ''''4"'- 80
visitor there was q lady, who kept
- L. k4D v,I