Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-06-18
CHAPTER X.
N IMMEDIATELY after Iler's dis

I IMMEDIATELY after Hers dis
Ii appearance from the drawing
room, Arnold paced the floor con-
tinually for quite while. All hope
had vanished and no pleasure re-
mained in life for him, as she had
entirely forsaken him and ere long,
would be the wife of another. 1t
appeared to him as though he could
never bear to behold her Prof. Wal
lace's bride. Had he not been pre-
sumptuous perhaps he would have
been successful in winning her affec-
tions, but now farther attempts
were useless. He had offended her
and her heart had become hardened
toward him so she would never for
give him. The next thought was of
his pistol he would end his life, for
he felt confident he would never
again be happy. He rushed into his
private bed. chamber and drew a
pistol from the table drawer, then
offered brief prayer, as he placed
it to his breast an>. sprang the trigger
and held his hands upward, as he fell
to the floor. The report from the
pistol was audible to Mrs. Edrones
and she rushed excitedly into his
apartment. There she found him,
quite still upon the floor, the deadly
weapon clinohed in his right hand
and his lips pressed tightly together.
No sign of life was observed in the
rigid form before her. An ugly
wound was on his bosom from which
the blood gushed rapidly, causing
the room to appear a crimson pool.
His eyes were closed and his face
deathly pale. A melancholy express
sion had settled DER his countenance.
90, my dear boy! Why should
you commit so rash an act; just in
the prime of life and with prospects
of happy future before you? O.,
Arnold, my only son, it appears to
me that your death will crush my
heart My entire affections were
wrapt in you, the pride of my life,'
and cannot realize that death has
deprived me of your presence for
ever"
Mrs. Edrones then pressed her
lips to his cold brow. Ere long the
entire household was astir, and Her
entered the apartment for moment,
with slow and measured tread. She
cast one glance at the poor boy be-
fore her and her face was ghastly
white. Unshed tears were in her
eyes. Suddenly she perceived a
missive on the table and at once left
the room to read its contents. 1t
contained these simple words:
"For my darling Her: When you
read this, little sweetheart, l shall
be reaping my reward, but | could
not depart this life satisfied without
bidding you adieu and sending a
plea for pardon on account of my
rudeness to you. l hope you will
forgive my presumptuousness, but,
believe me, Her, only my devoted
love for you prompted me to thus
offend you. | have loved you since
the day | saw you, when we were
tots. O, Her! you will never know
the sincerity of my affections for you.
hoped to win you, though you
offered me no encouragement. My
life has been spent in vain and there
is nothing pleasant to cause me to
desire to remain on earth, for can
ne'er be happy again therefore die
in despair. Farewell, my precious
one. May you and your Irby be
happy together, for, ere long, you
will be united by the holy bonds of
matrmony. l trust Gods richest
blessings will abide with you and
yours and you may enjoy a long life
of happiness and prosperity. My
last desire is, that you will, in your
extreme joy, frequently think of
your devoted dead lover and brother,
"Arnold Edrones."
The note was written by trembly
hand, showing the boys nervousness,
and now and then stained with a
tear. Her had no idea that the
trivial occurrence of the night before
would terminate in such horrible
crime. She now regretted the act.