Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-10-30

moment, threw them from window.
How is it, Alice?' said he. "Speak
and tell me they haven't had time to do
you harm"
I'm little faint" she replied at
tempting to smile.
"Lookp' said Edward Elliston. aside to
the Jew Her lips are as white as
snow"
rs there nothing which can save hcrT
exclaimed Harlcigh, rs he took her in his
arms and bore her to n couch.
81 know Of an antidote; / have it at
home, but it cannot be obtained in time.
fear the hand Of death is already upon
her" said the jew.
IF you mean the perfume such as you
gave me-" said Abb, 81 have some here"
And She drew a little gold box from her
pocket, in shape resembling the Viniag'
rette in use at the present day.
THAT is it. Take courage. 1t is still
more subtle than the poison, and will
soon pcrvade the whole system" and he
held the pleasant though pungent per
fume so that Alice could inhale it,
There was minute Of harassing doubt,
scarcely relieved by hope. Then her color
began to return, and the sluggish, almost
full beat. A few moments more and all
danger was past. The Jew handed the
perfume to abb
make use Of it," said he. "You, too,
have been endangered"
They did not see, during all this time,
pale, haggard face pressed against one
Of the window panes, nor the cold, gilt
tering eyes which were watching them.
Even if they had they would not, in
their wild terror and intense excitation,
have given the circumstance single
thought
1t was not till they knew that the ter
rible danger was past that some one ask
ed what had become of the poisoned flow
ers. No one knew. Harleigh, too much
agitated to know what he did when he
threw them from the window had no rec
objection of the circumstance. The ser
want who had received at the door what
had so nearly proved fatal gift, enter
ing the room as the inquiries were being
made, said that he saw Mr.. Harleigh
throw them from the window.
They mustn't remain there" said the
Jew. "If they do, more than one life
may be lost by means of them"
Edward Elliston, having called for a
lantern, went in search Of them. AS he
held the light close to the ground its rays
fell ON some object which, it appeared to
him, was a human form, lying under the
window next to the one where he was
searching for the flowers. Approaching
it, he found it was woman. He called
for help, and when he had assisted to
carry her into the house, Harleigh and
Alice saw that it was Mildred Dacres.
''She appears to be dead" said Har-
leigh. lis it possible that she found the
poisoned fowersW
There was no need that she should
find them to produce the effect you See"
remarked the Jew. 81 can perceive that
the same deadly efiluvia emanates from
the flowers entangled in such a manner
with the breast-knot she wears, as to
make it seem probable that she made an
effort to tear them thence, as / detected
| in these"
In short time slight convulsive
movement was perceptible, causing a
mantle she had on to slip aside, which
would have fallen to the floor had not u
corner Of it been wound round her hand.
Harleigh, who stood near, removed the
mantle, when it was seen that her hand
was closed over the flowers which had
been thrown from the window, with so
firm and rigid a grasp as to crush them.
An attempt to remove them awakened
her to degree of consciousness.
"No-no," she murmured. They are
| flowers for the bridal. L lost them some.
how, but | shall keep them safe now, till
| can give them into the brides own
hand"
Can it be that it was she who sent
the fowers?" said Edward Elliston.
1T must have BEEN" replied Harleigh
She recognized his voice,
Clarence Harleigh," said she, there
was one who stood between you and me
but she is out of the way now. Don't
try to find how it came about. 1t will
never come to light. Stay-don't so yet
In minute III be ready to go with you. v
AS she spoke, with a sudden effort she
raised herself from her recumbent pos
ture, threw out her arms in wild, i'm
FASHIONED manner, as il she wished t.
prevent some ones departure. fell back
and Immediately expired.
After what had taken place, al
thoughts of the intended wedding were
for that evening abandoned. When. in {
week afterward, the guests re assembled
it was not alone to witness the bridal Of
Harleigh and Alice. for ere they return
ed to their own homes, Edward EllistoI
and Abb Rushton had likewise received
the nuptial benediction.
A few months from this time, Harleigl
and his youthful bride visited the hom
Of her childhood. 1t was the evening
after their arrival. and the air, keea ant
frosty without, caused the oacruste,
snow to sparkle in the beams Of the full
moon, as if strewed with thousands 0
diamonds, was tempered within the am
Pile parlor Of the Walworth farm house
to kind Of festive mell0wness not cas-
to describe.
1t seemed to Alice that elfA finger
must have been busy with her forme
guardians face-here smoothing ava
some stern and rigid line-and there
|, silly giving it little dash Of sunshine
!. 1t was certain that he had seldom, &C ney
er before, so fully given himself up t
that social enjoyment which develops tn