The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-07-04

and by the door Margaret stood iOoh-
ing out upon the scene the red sun
descending amid a glory of golden eol-
or that promised heat on the morrow.
TO Eyangollne what a world lay be-
yond the broken old palings that had
at one time fenced IN their narrow lot
"a world Of laughter and song, peo-
pied with men and women of chival-
rous nature. or honor and noble deedsl
From childhood she had known no
other home but that of her godmother
Margaret had taught her all she knew,
and nature supplied the rest as she
wandered through wood and meadow,
for she was an apt pupil.
II was while on one of these trips
that she met Paul Dainway an artist.
of no mean ability, and. like herself,
alone i'm the world lrresisUbly they
were drawn to each other and before
many summer days had passed thoy
had plighted their troth in the good
old-fashloned way that cannot be inn
proved upon.
Evangeline kept this secret from her
godmother, knowing her hatitual re-
serve, her shrinking from neighbors
who had offered kindly services. How
much more would she resent Paurs
presence! The future was theirs, the
moment suficed; why trouble for the
morrow?
It was early that evening when
Eyangellne retired to her room; she
had intended reading one of Paurs
books, but the beauty Of the night
stayed her, and she threw herself on
the bed to watch the sky studded with
its myriads of mysteries How long
she slept she could not tell, but sud
denly she sat bolt upright with the con-
viction that something strange was
| occurring. Was she dreaming? She
rubbed her eyes; nc, there was her god
mother in the garden, q box in one
hand a small spade in the other. What
was she doing at that hour of the
night? Why this secrecy? She shud-
dered as she leaned out of the window
and watched the tall, silent form reel
ing toward the most deserted portion
of the garden. Should she follow?
Her honor forbade. Breathless, she
awaited her godmothers' return, but
some time elapsed before she came
tottering toward the house. She was
muttering to herself, but the girl
could not hear her words.
The next morning Margaret Harway
was found dead in her chair Heart
failure" the doctor pronounced the
/ cause of her death, and heart failure
it was. Very gently Eyangeline took
from the clenched fingers some old let
tiers, ana tying them together laid
/ them reverentlv away.
After the death of her godmother,
: lGvangeline yielded to Pauls desire to
an immediate marriage; alone, with
out money or friends, it seemed her
only possible course She turned in
stinctively to Paul, and he did not fail
her.
To clear the ground around the
house was Paul's duty as well as his
pleasure. At first it seemed a hope
les task, but by degrees the flower beds
took form and outline, until the only
remaining tanglc was the far corner
under the apple tree.
AS they drew near the spot, one af-
ternoOn, intending to work there,
Eyangeline shuddered and drew back.
1T vas here she came on that dread
ful night" she whispered to her hus-
Band. Il could see her busy among
the bushes,A Oh, Paul what was she
doing?''~
Paul drew her toward him.
My darling, you must forget Just
as the weeds and mould have been
cleared from the old place, so the
shadows must pass from my darling
Come, be brave, this is our last task
He struck his spade into the earth
and threw up the rich black mould
Suddenly he stopped
There is something here" he said
running his hand through the loose
earth WHO knows but what it is q
fortune? 1t is box" he said more
seriously, drawing it forth with some
difficulty
Evangeline was clinging to tree
for support.
ooh, Paul. do not touch it! Put i
back-put it back! l know it must b.
something dreadful, something we d.
not want to know If you love me
Paul, bury it quickly"
There was so much anguished en-
treaty in her voice that he did as sh,
Dade him.
eve will leave it, he said reluc
family, but we owe it to ourselves ant
to her to solve this mystery. Come
we will look through the old paper
and letters you have laid away" An,