Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-18


face even through the darkness. who
is it?"
MY wife! My wife! Margaret,
the daughter of Fallairne. She has
returned to chide me. Do you see her
smile?"
II see but the face Of sad. sad
woman, looking through the moon.
light"
Lord Erresdale staggered forward
with uncertain step. His frame shook,
for in his mind he saw the figure OF
his dead wife coming towards him.
She had died Of a broken heart, and
be had killed her.
His promises were fair and good
five and twenty years ago, when he
took her to wife. But his naughty
soul and naughty words drove all love
from out the tender breast; and lone.
ly, unloving and unloved, with re.
morse eating at her life. she was
crushed like dainty flower in the
grasp of cruel hand.
On the terrace his thought had wan.
dered across the years to her, and re.
membering that dead past he had
prayed some gentleness might come
to him and some Of the iron be taken
away But now with fiery brain he
trembled in the center of the room,
his wife OF less than a day crouching
in fear, and his wife of the past, with
sad look and pale cheek, looking re-
proachfully at him.
1t was like steel entering his soul,
having those calm eyes fixed upon him.
he groaned in the agony of dismay.
The thought that his wife long dead
could see him bending over the form
OF another woman was a stab at his
heart Thc face was the same as he
knew long years ago, but with an ad'
died sadness, and the pale beams of
suffustd moonlight played like a halo
around tie head
For white he Stood his eyes fixed
upon tht arrarition.
"Begona!" he cried. 'Begone! Why
do you haunt me?"
At the sound of his voice the
startled Isabel looked up and saw her
lord like one distracted.
She had shuddered at his touch; she
knew not why save that horror seized
her when she looked into his face.
But now she understood. One of the
periods OF mental eclipse, of which
she had heard whispers, had seized
him. She sprung from the couch and
and went to him.
MY lord" she pleaded, placing her
hand upon his shoulder, while her gol-
den hair hung in mass about her,
my lord, this days excitement has
made you ILL., Pray, rest and let me
drive these fancies from your BRAIN"
The only answer was a mocking
laugh.
my fair countess" said he, "see you
the pity of the fair countess who once
did bear my name? She thinks you
DO usurp her place. Why does she not
advance and say her say? She stands
there like as in years gone, with no
reproach upon her lip, but only in
her eye"
He chuckled. The terror which at
first had seized him vanished away
as the madness laid further hold upon
him. He spoke in banter, as though
he scotfed at all the world.
Hush! Hush." his wife Isabel
urged.
flush. Hush!" said he in turn.
And do you dare command your lord
to hold his silence when he would
otherwise? All, weep, pretty chicken,
weep! Twill make thy eyes more
bright and maybe more kind
The vision seemed to move and raise
its hand in reprimand.
"Dost know what she would saw"
Lord Erresdale asked his trembling
wife. shed say beware to thee; for
] have an exquisite cunning in play
ing upon fine heartstrings till they
break, to flush the eyes with tears by
a single word, and bring a quivering
to the lip by a look, All, yes, sweet
Margaret, we know your tale. 1t is
as pretty and as sad as an Italian ro-
nance" Once more he laughed.
81 do beseech your lordship rest
awhile and give no rein to those
strange outbursts," Isabel pleaded on
her knees.
$50 You would teach your lord"
said he, anger mantling his cheek,
while his fingers twitched convulsive-
y.
He waited for a reply, but no reply
came. There was only half-smoth-
cred sob.
The mailman walked the room with
haste, stopping often to look at the
two women. lie bent over by the edge
of, the couch, and with beetled brows
gazed fixedly upon Isabel. A wild
shrek broke the stiffness of the night.
Leaphg forward he seized a jeweled
sword which lay within a corner of the
room. He hinged forward at the dead
Margaret. Once more shrek sound
ed through the castle and pale SER
wants started from their sleep. With
hesitating steps they stood about the
door, while the light of the lamps
penetrated the darkness.
Good Lord, what strange doing is
tbis?' gasped the steward.
"Mercy on us all!' prayed the wom-
en-.
For in the center OF the center Of