The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-30


nervousness and walked firmly up the aisle
just as the golden circlet slipped upon
her finger, sudden darkness seemed tC
descend upon the chancel ike a cloud, ant
something black and sinister almost brushed
against her cheek; horrible giddy sensa
tion seized her-church, clergyman, bride
groom, all faded away from her sight; she
swayed slightly, and felt Lexley's hanC
grip her tightly, and saw the anxious ter
ror in his eyes
At last it was over; the wedding march
pealed through the building. and the bri
dal party retired to sign the register, Elva
wrote herself EIva Leighton for the last
time. in her life, and mechanically passeC
the pen TO LENA, who stood close besid,
her, and as she did 50 started back at tn,
sight Of her face, which was deathly white
amid the pallor of which her large dark
eyes shone with appalling brilhancy.
Are YOU i'll p she asked anxiously
No, it Is nothing, the bridesmaid
answered, though her gasping breath de,
died her words. She took the pen in hel
hands, stepped forward to sign. gave on,
oouvulsiye shudder, struggled to keep hel
feet and with choking cry, fell 10 a
dead faint upon the ve>,ry acor
The elder of the two doctors drew Sil
l.eNley aside, and said in an undertone
Take your wife away this is not the
place for her; say nothing to her, but u
afraid this i. very serious case. w,
eannot understand it in the leas,--it l. MOI
an ordinary faint. Take Lady Thornton
away, all the guests viii follow, and then
We can attend to Miss Leighton. as it i
there are too many persons fussing about,
and your wife vii be fsinting next
SIR IexIey drrw Evas hand inside HI.
arm
Come. dear, lc, Us cet away, We can
uos Do anything pr WilSou says Lem.
will come roani by and BY, my darling
sou arr shaking from bead to foos l,s m'
carry that bouquet Of yours, It i too heavy
for YOU.
Where did yva se, that gorgeous hold
er fr,,sa be asked prrsen,ly, when Elvl
bad Iaid j, oa the ,ea, opposite them ant
slipped her bi,lc hand into HI. With happl
stniie
|, : Lena PFvsent
How strange she should part with Is,
saii Su I.e1isy IN an ualer,one, book IN.
,uienfIy at tho lairrtwincd ephrAs, ~ho~'
silver Sale rliitcr,,i ia the sunshine. an,
SHES turlaatss. eys- seemed 70 glow wiSt
a distinctly evil rHpSr-~ioa- she AUS
bv very ioad Il you. oF -ani Ae >,oPpsS
ani tarpsi very whiiv. the idea was to,
hayr,ile-rso, IL could not -, she woald
uss darr To take such r'.Vcnge pa--'onai,
ani jcaIoa, a. be alone knsw her. .h,
r,suli nos te ssieh a tsn4 in woman form
ElyA stretched out her hand io take ul
the bouquet, bat he caught il rSaghly
r,oa ,oaeh the thing there !. dAneei
IN a.
I.exlcy she erred iaereiul,a's.ly
.'wha, b. sou mean f. is lovely hk,
1t the Bed oI al ny wsSiding presents.
The only answer LeHley gave was {,
take bold Of the bouquet by the topmos,
flowers, pa, j, ru,hiessly out Of the holder
and pat the curious pieoe Of workmanship
ia hi, pockcs
Wei. if | end IL harmless. will ~
turn it. bat you wou ees IT until | hay,
examined 1t thoroughly. - II ; no a-s Try
ing
The wedding breakfast was oyrr 81 last
the health oi the happy couple had beer
duly drunk SIR Lexley had replied {,
the congratulations Of his brother oAicer,
aud friend. Elva had cut the cake with
the bridegroom sword. aud retired to At
tire herself for the journey. A. she de
scended the staircase clad in dainty Gus.
tune Of lavender gray, she notloed--a'
she struggled neryously with her gloves
a long red strateh on the palm OF her hand.
How eau have done that m sur
IL was no, there this morning, she said
10 herself, standing still uu the landing il
astouishment All at once she heard
voices, Lexleys aud another, in earnest
conversation. The tirst words rooted hel
to the spot.
What 4 mercy the holder aroused your
suspicious before it was too late. The
least scratch would have been sufficient.
Thank heaven, she suspects nothing
she must never know her sister did not die
a natural death What diabolieal cunning
to make a silver toy such an unfaihng in
strument of death.
The mechanism is 30 si1ple; it is only
necessary to grip the holder tightly in the
center and from either side this long needle
ike dart starts out, entering the soft tiesf
of the palm and inoculating the victim
with one of the deadliest poisons known Il
science. Il is, indeed, miracle that youl
wife escaped
Good heavens that was woman !
scream
Sir I.exley dashed out OF the room tc
find his wife lying in dead faint at the
foot of the stairs. lie lifted her insensi
bic form, and, carrying her into the library
laid her down upon the sofa. As he put
her down, she opened her eyes and mur
INJURED in weak voice:
Where am ? What has happened?
''You must have turned giddy and tal
len; | heard you, and rushed ont just IL
time