The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-05-16
Ccopynght. by Daiiy story Pub. Co
BY Harry Lilly

evenings on the starlit river, we're the
forerunners Of betrothal
Miss Aolmes was David to his Saul
and exercised his moody devil In her
society the lithesome trait Of his
character was in the ascendency; but
when he left her presence he was
doubly scourged for the measure Of
bliss he had enjoyed
A stray thought, a chance look or
word would plunke him into a mental
hell, where he struggled for his life
with the devils that tormented him.
Each rival influence seemed to be
striving to control his being; on the
one was the possibility of happiness
such as few mortals are allowed to en-
joy on the other horror tragedy
1t was the evening before the we'd
ding In few moments spent with
his betrothed vista Of perfect bliss
seemed to open. The bright star
shore full on his soul The spirit Of
his father was upon him and he
reyeled in his heritage Lucia Looked
at him wonderingly, ight-heartod as
he had ever been in her presence. she
had never before seen him in such a
state Of exaltation His mood was
contagious, and giving themselves up
to the happiness Of the moment they
sat, hand in hand, like children and
dreamed aloud of the happy future,
and built castles in the land of won.
derful mystery
He took her In his arms at parting
and pressed passionate kisses on her
lips. She shiyered in his embrace
and but for his supporting arms would
have fallen. 1t seemed to her as if a
clammy thing held her fast, and the
kisses he pressed on her lips were
Ike the touch of a corpse. The pre-
monition was gone in moment; in his
ecstatic state he did not notice il He
left her, his head erect, shoulders
thrown back, spring In his step, a
song on his lips
He passed out into the night and its
shadows seemed to fall upon his soul
the dark planet claimed its victim.
He entered upon the bridge. A chill
air swept up from the river. The
song on his lips died in an involuntary
chatter. The desolate star was again
ascendent and his spirit fell under its
influence like mercury at the touch Of
cold. He sat on the parapet and
looked out over the river with the
myriad stars, the yestiges of heecy
clouds, the serene moon mirr1red on
its bosom. Then his gaze came back
to the immediate scene at the foot of
the bridge The river, under the
shadow cast by the bridge, was
thing Of gloom and mystery, unfathom.
able to the eye, rejecting no light, the
type Of doubt, despair and the mental
night that had again taken possession
Of his soul
AS he sat meditating, the damp at
mosphere caused neuralgia pains to
shoot through his head Gloomy
phantoms Of despair took hold Of his
mind He was no longer the light
hearted prospective bridegroom, but a
thing of the gloom that was calling so
insistently; the victim Of q fearful
force that was mastering his will. A
power stronger than gravity was draw.
ing him to the depths. He leaned
farther and farther over the parapet,
then, with a mighty effort, drew him
self back The blackness Of night was
in his souls He leaned forward again:
the attraction of the fearful thing was
irresistible.
He uttered a weak despairing cry
as he felt his win giving way The
parapet seemed to slip from beneath
him. A heavy plunge was followed
by the moaning Of the waters under
the arches Of the bridge, then all was
silent A circular ripple emerged from
E the gloom and spread fer out into the
moonlight.
A heavy stone had become loosenet
by Jones weight and had fallen ints
, the water Only by frantic effort die
I he preserve himself from being car
F, ried with It.
Jones tremhlingly made his way
T across the bridge. He took the ceatei
= of the wagon road; he could not trus
! himself on the footpath with its view
a Of the couchant river beneath. Hi
% knees smote together and his teetl
u. chartered as he thought Of the Sigh
y accident by which he had gained mas
Z terry over his morbid trait and haI
q been saved from the sin Of self-de
y struction.
ie The premonition received BY Lucii
e had not been verified.
NJ The bright star had prevailed