Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-27

0
Soxo<o>o<o>o<o~o<o>o>o>oS Z
I'm the last person in the world, .
Mrs. Molyneux said, making great
show of darning stocking that was a
vast deal more hole than anything else,
TO advise n girl to marry for money and
nothing else. But / know few things no
wearying as long engagement to a poor
man who lives almost upon hope"
| The girl had not looked down. Her
eyes were blazing.
IL would rather you explained your.
self" she said. and. though her voice
was low, there was intense passion in it.
There is no need you should beat about
the bush. You are hitting at me and
BERTHE, OF course"
II am alluding to you and BERTHE. 1
am hitting mt no one. BERTHE has moth
ing: you have nothing. 1 am a widow,
blessed with the provcrbial widows mite,
only far. Ear too poor to bcstow 1t upon
any one. You are the oldest of the fam
lily. III you marry well. it may mean
much to your sisters; every one thinks
that the standard is set by the way the
eldest sister marries."
Muriel sti1ed little half cry. She
looked round at her sisters, but none Of
them glanced mp; all were in sympathy
with their mother. II Nuriel married
Colonel Corbet, there might be n good
time for all of them: IT, as they termed
it, she stuck" to Lieutenant BERTHE
their participation in the joys OF married
life would be sirlply come over and
help u.s. when any domestic crisis oc-
Cured.
'You forget that love BERTHE" she
said, ''and that BERTHE loves me. II
would not mntter so much about my
heart, but 1t wonla break his IL gave
him up"
There is an old saying. however. and
very true one. that dripping water
wears away stone" md so II happened
that after time Muriel consented to
gi"e up her dear love. her dream of
happiness. and accept the colonel
1t was the night before Omdurman.
The officers of the Ans Egyptian army
sat in council.
"We'd better turn ill.," an officer said
at length. ''There Is nothing more to
settle. God only knows when we shall
sleep ngain--or it may be the long sleep.
There will be work enough tomorrow"
IS So with Good night. good night" they
took their ways to their quarters. Colo
mel Corbet going alone to his. He had
not gone far when he heard quick steps
behind him. He turned, his hand in
stinctivey on his sword: treachery was
not unknown.
But the moonlight shone upon a hag-
gard young face, on despairing eyes, on
the queens uniform. The colonel's hand
dropped from his sword.
"You. Connollyw he said. Anything
wrong?"
1--WE a favor to ask" he answered.
"Tve-had bad news-my deathblow-
from England today. II there's for
lorn hope a desperate venture for any
man tomorrow that you have It in your
power to give. will you give it to me?
We English always fight best when we
tight almost against hope. and I've none.
| want bullet to find its billet here
here" striking his breast.
They fhad reached the colonel's quar-
tiers and entered together.
Bertie turned suddenly. Just behind
the colonel curtain hung. He had seen
1t move: had seen dark hand Just creep
ing around the edge.
There was no time to say anything. no
time to consider. In moment he hnd
whipped ont his pistol and fred: in an
other moment he had sprung up and
stood with his back to the colonel's chair
In nm instant two swords pushed the cur
tain aside. Two dark, evil looking men
glared out. In less time than it takes
to narrate one fell with a groan, bullet
in his heart. and almost before the colo
nel's sword was ont of its scabbard Ber-
tie staggered back to the table. sword
thrust In his breast and dragging the
curtain with him, The other traitor
dropped to the ground.
Bertie lifted his hand, and It closed
over onething-something that hung by
ribbon around his neck.
"Bury-witl me-promise, colonel" he
said. and then spasm of pain, almost
the rending Gsunder of body md soul,
made the miniature slip from his hand.
The colonel put it back. casped his
hand over the helpless fingers and held
them so. but not before he had seen with
start whose face was there, and his
own was very pale.
Two months later in the drawing room
OF her mothers house. Muriel waited for
her elderly lover.
II am glad to see you home," she said.
"You have been wounded|
yes he answered, aud he forgot the
scar. II have been wounded. Was it
quite fnir to me, Muriel? wanted to
win your heart, not to steal 1t from an
other man. There, don't look frighten.
ed; I'm hurt, hut Pm not angry, and I've
brought you something from Egypt just
to show you we're tie best OF friends
still"
"I'riendsp she repeated.
"Yes,H he said, "fast friends" And,
taking her hands, he kissed them. "But |
keep the ring. Muriel. mud III keep the |
miniature. And nov come"
He took her to another room He OPEN |
cd the door He heard two enraptured |
voices say "Murielr' Tqriie" Then he |
turned away.--Condensed From Lloyd's
Weekly.
Pnncr In ChInn and iannn