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RAWL:ET:: &::C
:BICA N0.113,Y:
There's a little raisehielmaker,
That is stealing half our' basT,
Slietehingpietures in-s, dreamland
That are:never seen in this. ,
DAshirigfrom the lips the plelieures
'=Of the present • while we sigh
; 2 ,You'may know. this.i)ll.4eliiiif-inaker,
• For his name is • 3 ,an,
• Tie is sitting by your herrtbstoqes,
With his sly, bewitching glance,'
yirtlislititnir, of the coming. mortow
BAs the social hours advaneez; ••
ruitering,'mid bur calm. Otleptions,
Biding. forms of heaut* 11%4;
n lie's a-smooth, ileceitful fellow; I '
" This enchantir, By-and -By:
:You 'tufty, know; him by, his winning,
I,B,VJus:careleiti, spotive air, ;
his.sly, obtrusive presence,',
tTlia% is straying ererywhern ; •
fly that tie gathers 1 , ,1.
Where his somb •Victituie;
For' bOlti,, determined •
'ls this,conqueror-,114-and-Ily,
the eall3. of ati ty haul i
, .
An& tlie'presen t seems to , be
time 'Oat ever mortals •
Bnateii from dittk.'e4o,l4/ 1 1:
TliOn fairy . haOd seems pathting
• piptuteS,on . a . lift ted :Sky ,
For, o:thiniting little:artist
••
Es: the fairy; By4nd•Py:
•.,
",By-and-By " thelVind is singing, , ..t
' ' 'Ty-Mid-By," the heart replies . ;
- A3ut thephantosu jitSi`above us t „
i c
-', " g4.6*e grasp i( ver flies, ~. •
'. , 1 ' 1,40%, lib t, 10 the: idle harmer, I I
=scorn the very si ecious lie-- 1 •. -
, Do rititibelieve or trust . in '
, This deceiver, By-arid-By.
r
1'
ONE MAD, ACT ,i
A STORY OF CHRISTMAS TIMN
J.,NNIE DAVIS I BTTRTO.N.
• -
-' L '
fefRISPIA.S, but as different from our
ideasr Of Christmas-ti Met as the,a.ii
pocks. .
A traveler had left Attica: three days
before, and was pushing on with' a fever
ish yestlessness through the, Mountain
'regions, sometimes following fragments
of tbote grand old yoads, lasting irelici of
the glorious dsys of the icas,isornetiiii4
losing himself;, as it see thed, in the very
heart-of the tropical' foretit. - Everything,
there, was on a magnificent scaler. Giant
palms -reared their feathery heads high.
above the neighboring groves!; trees dor
geous with ft° wers from top te,bottom
were stunted by cOmparison,and yet stbod
a hundred and fifty .feet in tne air ;
;1
rupt chasms yawned ,beneat t until
tance was lost, in the eternal darknes
their unfathomable depths;.:.and ab
high precipices rose one abOve 'anot •
like gigantic -steps leading 'Straight
into the very vault of heaven itselif.
Arnid all the grandeur- of the lower C tlti
01 the mightiest mountain range in t
world, the tops of whOo Sierras arc 4
amid eternal snows,- Tfliere' nature i b
put on the garb of the stupenduous jar.
sublime this Man had' conic., hoping i
l escape from that self-cOnscioumess *lei
A
raging passions made his life a li. .!
'He had an Indian guide -and a p clt
mule .for' '
his train but . had left bot a
i
the cabin where he had passed t enight
;and gone turning' 'quite' alon up tilt
steep bridle-path, which ;fled through al
mn'st impenetrable wilds. 1 ' I
'lt was Christmas-day, and all love the.
Christainworld- a .Te DOUlit wash ing
sung, Peace upon earth, and - O.oodl will
among men," was being preaclied -from
thousands of pulpits and instilledlint()
millions of .;hearts. -. . ' . ''' ' r 1
1
. It'was ..a day Jun a happy hopeful
meaning suggestive in numberiess . hoMel
of bright hearthstones and the - one rani
ily reunion.of the year of gond, chCer-r ,
the big brown turkey . .lald out in,Oatk,
flanked, by speckled. pudding baud aParli,
lefilike champagne—of %light hearts I an
merry faces, Hof bands 'alpine and 'scarlet
berries ortrie fall Christmas-tree and ,tlit , ..
chrildren's c,arnival.' ; 'l I.
-It. was to escape recolieetionS;9f ...tlieo
that had sent.ltandolpb Braxtbn- an . 44..;
less wanderer nano hi the A.ndeS, tint,Me4i.:
orris as ‘remorseless . as tate,and th#,,pt i
tiro of Christmas past rose Wore!, hi '
blotting" out :: tropical scenery. said pill
han t 4sunthiii, and
net being with the blacknesS , of'd4g,Sofii-
Lion and despair:- :', •
~ i;• , - [
He stood upon a platean,l whic ) !i 4
scarcely more.than a kdge, .iirh re riglt i
emerald moss was piled a
. yardi thick, 0...
'which the ~fOOtsteps of an ruily wou
not have .inade a Isonnil. 4e ! held h
clasped hand.s. toward peaven, i and, lift
1
has face,-dark with sualen! 'fury, ar '
„though he uttered no . word it was' as
~ he had called down'heaveA direct :ivr t ,
uponiiis adversary; I ''
_''':, . 1 ‘ , ,,1 - J 1,
And then ai he returned tid rrPrac4lit
steps througl the vast solitude ' I .hc•loniit
himself l'ace to face with aniothet -Mau.
A man so like himself 144 'for-I t
i
brooding shadow on Randoplq 13raxtbn 4"
facei the one ;might have , been ;!talFeh t ;
the Ole:. . The eyes of the . two'
. me 1
the new viten.: half recoiled viilth a 100
I
of horror,' then - recovered.-hiniself an
gook'. a 'step "toward,' ' holding out hi
,hand, -.. '4,7 ..,k , ..., --,, .;
' ~ r, 1 ' . ,:,. t- , :;
,t 1 t
' '' .i -!" ' !si
. r "Dolph, ~ Ol fellow I"' -1; ;'‘i: - I 1
, I t
" Keep back-!"'::tried 14041 1 1'. Ottx - 1
;ton, hoarsely. "Whit brought yoU Ihitel
1 J 1. l .
. . ~;,- . t•
.---...-f.4-..-.....
=3==l
USER.
\ 1
Satan mwst hail , : senti
i .
me "l e the , wore: roof
Co - ' You thiata
,me \ , ~
you. a Id •I 'could not ' 1.
No .4,unple chance has
faCe here. Why have
here' :
"To be 'reconciled t
4 Brotherl" repeate
bittertneet; " - 11 1 . r op 4;
B
'o
-brother: Ity Mel
left—to take revenge
turn fool, Lyeu
own fate.
y`)
tile f , •
listened. to, ,oyat,i
- arid and .
shall- have no thrinco
,down npOn Volt r
.t.i):ireceiveryour soul, iii
r will giy-Viyon , any
!
de if the cold blood .1 4
~ W ould not:-?...:iti!
,you deserve,lut - ,inyir ;
able .that I feats to
Take.this. We ~vtll~
ifrOin: - this spot, turn AI
the.'Word, Pick up ( 1
:1 - swear'
tratits he dog y.
to dq it. • -
Ho had• the
'teet,\and,h6 - ,.
lie i'
; less - than. Obey .that
' •
lLeaven bear wits
ie ,to‘dO - this," he .cif
tionii .• ' ..- ..: . *
T f !ie• only, 'answer
- z . ' . .vou lisafed was to'.
'tilae.,' . i A thotnenr, ]at!!
ran : sharply out n Ot
ka9Ooliih.Braxt(in‘ 6 ;
`alone. The other 10
hands and ' staggare li
groan had falleo-7 a!'
the . abyss. What was
litesi of those: two wh: -
1641iiip.R.‘
.We will gl
. . . .
~
. ...
. , . . .
(,(`'Anti that, is your
~ oine, At , lab. W at
will..Yotir friend's: say.;.s
.receiving me' ---,
Ojr,4. am. afraid.l!l -, -.:-.. - • 1. : - . .. ' ' '
.., -,-- ;..4Asriii(ll" laughed . Oa° 43rax ton .m- . r-'
rily . ,l - `y,"My.dear i - I .a . tt•the. - - - citily daughter .
of thehouSe, - and :yo'. •:, are:liny-;gnes4- 7 -.
When: that - .is e.. augh i is said.- On.
.
that, reconirbendatio ':,,..my dear, statly
old - pappa • Will welc; i me you cord ia. ly,
mamma will take' yo.: , - to: 'herarms,and'.
nobOdY will ask any .:. UestiOns. Here 'vie
are, and welcome' to
,traitoaia.". - 1 '
\.' Braitouia itself • vi , • s . :a Virginian 'es
tate ; he ',house ion' \ and! - low, , by lub
.-mo . tial a stately :or " mposing structure,
.rbdt roMny. and coutrortahle, - -and oQer-.
- flowing with holiday gueits.',- -.-
.1
"We have. Worn: O :t their, patience by
being the. latest. ,
_arri al,' I ;suppose, and
' -pobb - ak is' on, the lo '.kotit for . us,"' said
-:Aglac l i springing do* ,from the Carriage,
tl ii
iiiidt leading* the %fa:, • into the , covered
' . oreli.l • .".oh,,here ia , a . sign of life at last
.on of -our boys, .- jiistian... '.Neal, how
dare yOu 4 ? vPiit me (lown. instantly'!"
..i A.' talkyOung felt°. - .coding out of the
mini' halls,had caught lier up as he would
''liavedone a child. .„” , • , , , •
"Htiwtio; sis ? • It . is you'atlast: We .
!were . ahout.giving yOu up as one-among
the hissing, - and the, 'governor has -se
- .riouslt reflected-. whytiter - , he . should ad-.
Vert* - 'Log straye t, , .'or.: stolen, a little
lnowngirl, with a, ' ed dress and a hot
irible temper. *ark :d with- seven_freek-,
les on ;the . .end :Of liki, r , 'nose,' w ith -a fittty
1 - i.ropensity. Air - sprat iiff.s and a happy
' knack of pulling , I air:'-_ ._ I inclined ;'to
-the belief that. .you.h. d'deluded Seme.uti
-1 fortunate youth 'nit' . -an : elopemen t,'bu t
aninia—bless her credulous heart I.
--.-'
tuck ;to.it stoutly that your affection for
1 `french.,and-Geometry : Would-, nut permit
1 .you to' tear yourself al', ay froth the scene
:of ',your - :enticing studies,l-th\Ough, hiie,
1 til'e• ;-laSt,:rOse . 6f summ4. , , you - ;bloomed
Ilh(* . e alone.. . 'Oh, - if you;' insist in that-
1-4.igniqed tone, - ...db . Wn . yOtt.-g0 . ,.0f.. Coarse.
' I:big.sour.frierid'a. pardOn'....' ..\. )-- ,i
..:' 4 1fiss,Talc(4:.Neal:.1'Neter -riiind.: - oy
, wild , .frpther: justina.:: 1 - HiS.... : _bead , Tan%
qUitelPv.el,'iliit. l is . htaft,,,is'in . _ the :.rigW .
plkce,,,'iasYou --, N . 0111 . 4.if5C0 . r . 10i?,,',-an4 *:,ik g 14 .,
. 11.4ilik i 4:::at evious :'.Nea4'
' W hii:-pairt.l., Ilia '.',o4,inplititents.; : i t(• some &in.;
liiiiior,,is,...faiii 4alooti: thieW.. back .- her
, iiail,',4:44 - lifted'to . his sight the liii!lieit
face - • . ,he'liai ester seen:, ',Ord inarily,• he
:likil,.ii_ hearty ;Contempt - for his sister's
.. .School 7 gitt irieiids, :and had ,givery:hiS
lioisteiousgreetiiig ‘ - *ithout a: thought of
tho'.slight,, stnalV. figure -
.standing - : . in the
background ;
_but he . reddened . consal- .
,0,Li5.k.,... , a0-:13,0; made his . :- . 4Ok:tp:'
_ber , 'anti=
.wished he - h.id . repreesed - hiS , hos ish eiri ti- .
eraticP lbr ' (nice.
' • '
~, 4'A..:(.k that waswasyour. your.., Agl ae ?), •
saikl•
.• ustitia,::.'hiiT.Flie Sat.* jthe..apartment
i
Wiii6 the :tWO - girls. werelxisliare jointly;
,•stiletirrieflater::'of 'the. (day...:. "Do -- you
kin ir; I . iiii& - fOr . lied•
. aii idca from your
110464 - eiliii : pefothit...of : ( otiefbdiri,' , that
414 y. were little felloitra! ' in,:jackets, con 4.
44iderahly„..otip40 - .thau,._-,your,lolf p ` ::A4 .
.oasit: mistitie., - _ of no -- moment, .ol4ourstii. -
.
.btit istill , ." - itish . lhad-known..,..'_.' I
To : , • f '..
.:' • .'siti.j..*Ottlt-'.llave ._ refused to' corns,
~.:..149.NTR05E;.:,- . _PA:'..- ,
...-.4INKAR
you hel . -{1 to tempt,
you• to ilbave
kace Iki own tint
eet and, , both'
OftnigbUti 'face
.vou . fol)oviveu the
you, - .brother."
tile..btliet with. I
year
s:buk one
.'oli,'coWer 'a ,
tempted yo
maid ? . Listen to
n6ey. to tpy
,14'ti g_
yoc id. false finnine
ith rne again. go.
',and nsk . heaven
such a vain prak•-
, enfriit -in :your d
a would not:ruttr•
•
better thL
le
it giving youl-a
take..three padpt
)(1-fike ‘yhep I g - 47-e
t pistol acid do
,shoOt you
u 'are if yott.refOs
eapon 'at:the oth
could do Oo
141periOus coni-
ess that you follee
great agita
- I
which, his' -brother
i Otion him to his
1
•r wo pistol shOti
1-- t air,
le and thn
Loch . f
upon the led e
id ,thrown -up is
back,. with, a - sin le
len. headlong doyen
-- the story in the
oh led to .This trag
-1 ~tialiqi:onyear and
• .
hOme with inti, and llliad- 'set-' toy . 'ln,;aii
i • •
on that. :And I - realiv . 'had'-no- - . in tention
to deceive at first.... le! are Olways,teas, •
ing each other liere and l . mike t a : rnat,-,
ter,Of duty to patroiniz,- the hOys,, just. as i
they'presist - in tretqing me li l .iati•OVer 7 •l
grown baby; instead'cq ti . ;:-.)il art 1 7 '43 , 3 ' 3 iii u rig'
lady -of •eighteen,- . Who.' - :will - giadnatetivith- i
honors -at the cloSel of , ' . .her i terM.,l',, , It. wttO!
'only after you, refusod' an,. in yilation ~rrom :
Virg r inia Miis,whett site,:held..otitlas an
inducement the , -prOspeet.2 : .ot..,niutiterOus
ud. i
flirtltimip;:that I 4 isco.veita . tOrtr error`
:a conceived the lain ide - a4 ko - p- -. '
ing you in the datk - NOW, don't M 61036
wee-beguile,_please,f.or I. will . never crave
the ourageAo' complete:,,my:conissiouil ,
It is all yotir fault if - I.:lido - co - nde-Oeiiii . - : 1
...
ed•t i`ways that are darktricks
and lhat•
are' '4iot vain- l' • You 'e such a ShyJ.tirifid
thing: afraid - of yoOr ovrithadOW . T- verily
beiieve.
.You..seented a • Caversejo:rneet,' . l
i . tig,straiigers-th4t, i; spike of...our.:ekpeot
tug guests as,. a ‘feiv;friOndsi:Whielli,Was,
the
,011111., It
-is ; that itiii:,,lio.oo4,-:lite.r-.
.ally packed.from t0R;1,0 ,- ;hottotri.,:and-•we:
Will. have . an - an i m ated4icile , 1 . 0 the-nest
m,on th, pr this . . piiristi4- : .tit ,i3raltottia
wi1:1 direr . very -inu eh fora „all !Popediug
it. . Now, you • mayi ; scold, if., yo oililile, lnt
it•is.too fate . . to help,.=Yourself -Or, i disap-,
~. • , •
.• . f .
point me. -, i . --, - . .1-71 , 1 . H . .-.
...
Miss Talcott did .noti,i. - 4,i ! . ail...hersellofi
the: permission given i but, there was a
troubled look upon her fabe whioligave
..Aglae a thrill of cOMpimption. ! ~:1: ,-.„,, 5 ,,,
"What an. odd girl ;you: are, ; j - ,iltina r
she broke out presently.',. : 4,miSit .thrope,
and a regular. BraxtOrkia .at
.Your :age,
.what..will.yoo be 'by an by ? 1 , ..w0p'. , •
der what any '.mafr.:ever- 7 did- to you .to
youyou hate. the whole race Of MewaS,
you• d 0 ?,,, - . • , 1
. .1
~• ,--... , .
.., • ._
• Justina's gray eyes dilated with ,an'ex 7 -
• preision Which loOketi . likesudden I terror,
and she shivered in? the- mellow warriith .
of the room. • i'i • ' .•• • I . '. .
.
,
"I begin to realize that .1 was
! chilled ,
through with' ouv "" ride, she said. I"What
makes yi,u think "that I de hate,
Aglae ?" i , i - ,
`Oh, everything in general acrd noth
ing in, particular; ` Mainly, I' ! Suptiose,
that you never hatie rip word to Say, on the
iubject of lovers, Jike all, the .ost of us;
rine, 'even that surly'l , ,old .Graybeard of . a
German professor 'sets you . all i atremble
if' he . comes on •you aurldoly.
.IyOu wor
little timid dove I , hoW are you. -evei.,,go
ing to fight out the batil,e of
,life alont,,l
Should like, to knew ? You will have'..
fall in with nay plan, if only_in Obedience
to the law of self-preservation."
"Your_ plan ?" questioned JuStina.
"Such retiring innocence wciuld wrier
suspect I had a plan if I didn't tell. her
outright.. Well; never mind ; wait until
you See Dolph I 14 ie the one. perfect
idol for my adoration, is my brother,
Dolph. Neal is an rattlepate, but Dolph
is an. angel ! There" is au exception to
every rule, and you have my free permis
sion to hate all created men. if you only
make him the exception." 1 -
"Ziglae !" aghast.. "Oh, Aglae, I am
sorry, sorry that 1 ever came. 'Whatever
comes of it, don t iblame me." i•
•`Silly 'child ! Therclan nothing come
of it except what iwe would all *ish, and
if not that there will be , no harm done,
'rest assiired: .Corpe in I'' Tnere Was a
tap at the door, and at ;_her cOthinand a
tall,, gaunt old negro woman : made.her.
,
appearan....e• !
i; • ,--. , ! -
"Oh, you are Samazitha, _I suppose,"
~ i ,
said Aglae. alter a momentary- stare.—
"YOu see: Justina, my 'own little maid of
old has married and left us , .since the limit
vacation,but I don't feel the loos so much
since a sojourn at Madame . Joliet's has
drilled me into waiting upon thyself. You
may - unpack our trunks; .Samaiath. Let
me see ; what shall I weir to:night ?". :,
"De big trunk,ilioney'_?" asked the, wo,
than, advancing to .take the - key. "Oh
massiful sakes I". ! . . .1 . .:
Aglae looked at her wonderingly. She
was staring with eyes ind,thouth open, as
if in unbelieving astkoniShment,, at, the,
still, little figure crouched in ad.eitsy,chair
before the hearth.; . Misa,Talcott, Was, look
ing straight:before ~,her into ..the !ming
blaze, but evoiy vestuge of color had gone
`suddenly out ot i her , face, leaiing'it , fig
etnotiOnless almo'st' as 'perfect as if Vat
-from: Carara stone. -.There was -au, in=
s tan t 'of intense, Silence; then ! the . blick
-woman, trotted forward and fell upOn:h'er,
knees. ,: ‘' ,
.. ', -,, '.
.._
~.:,
'. "Miss . 'Crecy l'' Brea ..de 'dear,Lerd;
hot you come here,' chile thcNOw-.4e.
good Lord fet o 4 'Say lay:2doOn oia:d*
notalo't'ble and • contentious, ;'since she
, !3 e e, q a t sweet', fade on'c more. - -: Felber
toght to: do it tiebbei I - MisS 'Crecy,
*honey.' Hain'.: ye got jee clue , word for
de tole men what iiussod Ye and Juba ye
like . , ye wor her own.?". , ,
Justi a moved;, and looked with ' her
r f i
,stpady fixed gaze in to_theipleading dusky
face before her.. ;I , - ': ,-...,,, .
"What does. the wothan. thean ? _lin pi ,
: rilise, Aghte' ,
.the tioor thing - t4yee Oie'for
some former mistress; of her , laVin ! , , _,Da
!_getup, that's a gOod creature: . ,
The , wOrnan'a,:mouthi 'Openpd, - ba a.
flash in - 'the eyeS of ‘thg,iti lagged , 6 0
iord4 ; . i.stupid blank groSse er c.P1411-
ten ance, ftien tiht i j wit; 494`)/eLlfeo. iipii4'
slowly. P ' . . , = _. : '., i ,
"Aied -yer pardon, ' .young laijiB;":' oe,
876.
said. i.Dat'• iit, Cought you
,was ',budder
pusson, . Du no what put- it in dislyer,
,toolish lc 111 I chtle to make such ii, 'Mis
take!' l i ' '-. ' '' t -
46. ,
1 1 1141 yu ,are really sera'that you uo
I
not kn w Juz'tina ?"'asked Aglae. . I.
"Sir in st ie. Nebtier seed her afore
,nebber I" 'eiteratee Samantha, Shut•
tili„cr het mo. th• grimly' over!' the 'wards
and gopig, si ently hbout .htfr task:- And
yet' Agate co tld not get.Sover'ihe ihotight
that tit' i tre had been :al mutual recogni
tion ;' ut si was 'not ,Of a suspiciotid
natureliand ..# let the matt - er drop Ontof
her mitid.aa :. thing.cf.no poiisequeo,e.
':,For 4, day or , two Miss THlCOtt.ltin,-
,gled among to guesis. at',Braxtotila Very
shyly She . seemed to 'shrin k ; limn. inn.,
Ake, wits,'quiet and' constrained ;- t,hen
graduaAly 'tl c . timidity gave way to Et
naturalVcaptivating grace, she was Meta
morphqsed i perceptibility int.() anitich,i
i f
sparkli` g,, t cinating little, beauty,Wtiose.
glance' and wits set itiflahittble mason: 7
line he its 'fife. . ', - 'HT' ' ' f -''
Yclii hav put temptation before ute,7
she ,sai4 ,to ~!,her friend, "and_ I am not
strong) etroufgh _to withstand, it. did
Jove. soiety lonCe, and* ',this seems I like"a
glinipstt! of aradise." Theidieech; tiler
rilv be4tin, nded in a; Sigh. . • •' •
'''kOriee I" . epeated -- Agfiie. :_"What -.a.
Muth it 3elith: iWe. have grown ; all ,of . amend-.
den ! How long ago, if I may .veoture
to ask, i did Miss JUstina ' l'alcott, not yet
I emanoipated! from boarding-136110°1 thrill.:
dm,. revel in the joys of "society ?" l' ' '
1 . ' "A ll'Ecy life,:: Did you not know I was
raised n society ?, .But that was before I
lost y 6 a. and I do nut often speak orit."
A cot ain reserve . in her tone jot - bade
fiirthe questioning,,and Agliii remeber
ed the, she Thad 'worn mourning when
she. ,e, tered Madame Joilet's establish
,ment !ne year. before..,, - - ' '''
)--,
Why e this conversation was in progress
in the! friends', apartment, smother, 4s
being held below stairs; of Which giiis
I.`alcoit was Ithe interested subject:, 1 -, -
"Dilph, old. fellow l 7 Neal Brattim
laid his hand upon his brother's shouP
der, at, they chanced to meet quits... , alone
in the Smoking room. "Are we' both
done for in the same way. ?", 1
"I fail to, Understand you, Neal." 1,
"01, yei; we generally fail to under
standlwherelwe haven't the desire fo do
so. But believe me,lt Will be better to
speaklphunlY and act fairly now. There
has never been.a. harsh thought between
us yet, .Dolph Dolph ;, let's make a cOmpact
here and now- that There never shall be.
I am - dead in love with the little Taleott,
so are; you. Shall it be i fair field! amid
no faVor,.each for himself and neither to
speak; until Christmas-Day; andthen no
hard feelings over the result r
The brothers' hands met and *were
clasped over that -compact; and tho Ugh
Neal rattled off his hopes and feat* Rau,
dolphi said not a word. His Bator, was
one with intense depths; he had . capac
ities for good or for evil, yet unfattimed
and 'ineuspected even by himself.: His
brotli'er's . words grated hard upon , his
Superisensitive ear. - ‘,‘Dead in love,'' and
.
his passion was an adoration too sacred
to be breathed inAtille words.
Ciiistmas-day ! A royal Christmaii;
cloth d. in• ermine, adorned With :kilns
that Isparkfed with iridescent , ' ravli:
otheilwords, fresh = 'snowfall, and i.cic7;:
glittering in the sun. ' ,just as, evening
fell,Polpli found hisoPportunity, Riad in
a burst of impassioned eloquence 184 h
as ha'd never passed' his lips befOr'b his
story i waa told.
I ` - 'Y'ou love me ?" repeated Justina, a
sudden catbb in her breath, sudden tev
ror in her eyes. "Oh; forgive m !` I.
was . Warned of this'. hut .I 'would nbt ac=:
Opt the warning. I blame . myself ,moire
than r you can blame me;, , but I :never ,
though t' this could come go' - soon."
"That, is no answer: love ,
you.; I
ask if you love me. -It . seems presump
..tuoui.to say I but I believe that yOu do.
Look] me in-the eyegt unit •_tell , tne it jB-. 116 ti
so,. aid L will „never- trouble.lou again
with Inv But if Lam
blest 'With 'your, love :as's I have 4rg t 9.
hope, 'earth' ,
pbt keep us asunder.
Look, at the; Uustina;' aid tell 'lne - itit is
80." ; . -; v
Boit shel,4id not look ;tbeF , beatatiftil
face was,al)paqi,4 an4,drotwo:„ as i.ti_wit s ll,
some". terrible ta,ard struggi . e, '95;2'0
- 'dared Sh 6. breithed_ t(i - lierieltkkhe
lover's hearibgia`;' , shaip;-„ and he ichi ght .
th' words.,: , ` ft
•
g:That-.is to•prevent, Justine. r ,
The slight„p
imediment of, ariottwr
hUSband voting sir. is Very , bite-,
restinggableau, and regret - the eces
sity 'bywarnitig von 'that I
do net permit , any tpan to- useuthatmaw
ner,and. tone toward my ,wife."„ .
Both started. The; door had 'teti'ed
illently,_and upon . Ihreshold'B oodia
strange figure, a tali old Man, with iron! ,
gray hai
hair .. and beard'and, eyes n like "pent-
up fires," gleaming beneatn shaggy hrowe
a Man harsh alike,; , in- - ; mein and featqe*,
who rernained for momentAi.oo
azl l l,
on them with a kind of savage . trig h::.
:Which Made the girl he had -:clai
hie Wifeshtver and cower in: deadlrped
y , ffeivic
Behind this apparation' 'came We4 . l,r and,
plashing' his
.._ way; past he- -TettoluPtik
Arother. „ . .
"IL :was a' narrow gape
:33ii.N O . - - 1
•••_.
- .
r•.. 1. ,
N e al his
.oice.. thrilling Will) AtifliPa.:
. 1.
tion.:: g' - .N rwbod gave- - ;,the theifollOwing
. . . , .. , .
dine : - 1.
,i . f . -.... , ...,-;
-, -
`'.'lf ,yiiti" ::want. W...know in .re : or. this. • .
e a chat, tres. i . ivito - ' . has . ..been -' thrnitie • all •
.your ;head
~Jwrito there,' he..latitl;: giving,
the ell • add
,eSe„-., .‘I lidvise:yon o, do it-he-
ftire, the in sdhiq sne-inakes-islirretrieva
ble..,lnhi 'iiot aineng . ' her *vidtirtis,:bUt I
.
don't care to
.s.,:e iny.„.frie.hdar Victimized, '.-
.though,'P . M not the- sort : to litint'arty,wo
w
man 'don.' . Well;'..n . did •• write;'thOugh
I ; would6"t, - ;adinit . to ,ii-lyself- thatl sus
peckd her,:qind: to-day' , without knowin c t -
hint !I 'sti'w that taan-at..ith urclLw.atching . .i
her, with a loOk- - thii- - made-...me.', long to •
knOck him down. , After ward : I .(0,11g,f,t
Oico,-.rupaping - .. to, accomplish. „ iny,desitE%., :, ,
lie , ird. his story and brouolt him hear--;
She' la a . vile' adventuress' with a' hniciand'' '
liVing,—thats man. - , ~•.; , .-,.:,:' - ” -1, •E , !I I- ~.
.
"That' Man" antr - 'llie -- "adrentiiress".
were 'facing each ~ o ther. • Suddenli -she
bilinglittlet.liand fromp amid the -fold*of .- .
her silken, rre..s?,, and'-.., carried: • something . t
to 'hem mouth ; ii;i6i:;_lOpkeil . ,4t hint, her ~ .
eyeS full of- a desperate, calrn. ~ .• .• i - :
..."You . - will never -torture me- again,' Y
she said......"Polph I" , i ler fade ...and. 'voice :...
softeuett as she -. turnet:t.r . him: "Bless . .
ye u , foi. the love. Whidli - , wOuid . ,have'.blest
me, had, not ate .inevitable,bartiet . been., : . ;
:, •?,
between. ns.,• J dare, .I o tell :y.ott .0 is : uyiT ; -.,
that I have cheated . him I, have l taken ~
poison; Whiehl haie'carri. d . about 'me :,
fbr t WO. yeara in preparation ; for th is mit...;l•*- , i
. .. s
men t ." ,• - ' ,: -- - .• • , !I t.
What followed was : always,: like' some'„ . ,
Vague, hotrible dtearn in Randlph &ay. .
ton's memory'; a' contusion of frightfdl ,
invectives and: : an -.: Outribur of.'abuse in'. .;
'that Strange..*cnce ;ia .vision of Justina.
falling hack. in her Chair; *With.-a . ghat' ',
death-stricken - facciand of '• poor. of
Samantha wailing oVer.bet.' - . : .
7 , Abi own chile !-_ 14..0Wn chile.!' . Go e ',,
i l l
fotebbet and forebber, and dat .ole vilytin-
..'.
killed her :sure as the hroke her :heart
long ago—'deed 'did •he 1 Oh; *de poor 2 .
bressed !MOO - Tried ik-sUfferin' ! 'deed • !•!
Was she,' de. whitest,; purest' angel dat eb-..
ber trod. dis yerth.n• • ! - .- - S
• - And amid her'. &Ai and., tears an d
. , . , .. ..
writhings,. the old :servant. poured - Out •ii •
tale which:turned. the blocid'of het hear- . - • '
ers cold ; ; .of a child-wife; bought ., witlia. •
price from a . futhet -- wlib,. whatever his
fahltS, ; had been.: indulgent to - het-'atid'
treated. by _ her.'",huabancl! utter ....the Eirst f ,..,
glamot of , the ill-iiiade,match; was ovet, ...
with a brutality' Whidhi. might have'driv- -,
en her mad, *hidh -did' drive her to flight '.
.
at last, but not until. she : had ...borne for
yearn with uncomplining.meekne'is, and:.
.was in feat of .her 'very 'life. With that ..
tale ringing in his 'eate r 'Randolph. Brax
ton
broke fro'm all,' well, nigh ittad . :With ' ,
horror, and rushed out into the darkness
'of the night . ; but '' ,,' not' until Neal ' had'.. .<
laid a restraining and Apou him, and
essayed to utter .werdsr.. Randolph ,turn-
"Curse you r' he
for,your meddling
me all, and 1 wont
him. They say in
killed her, , tut I tel
•
Fur one year, thy- evilAtiassions which
became dominant upon' that niglit, 'he.ld
sway witW ; !bey grew, theyl
ole soul, and upon the next
Christmas-day,. reici;deoe'd his
,hands with
his brother's blood ‘' .
Five, years - Since,' that - day,' Brixton's .
lay with its' sharP loutlinesviost the
'gathering tAvilight,,i and with ligh (a shin- .
lug out.here and there,; and a wanderer
and an outcast ,on he ytee of , the . earth
Was going'hotne atllast, Gotng bane' to
confess his, clime, to ! his re
pentancerand, his good: Work's sines as an • ,"
atonement, forlf ever man truly repent
ed Lifter. eVerWhel Ming sinful , madness
left hiin,,it was this : one,; If ever, man
strived huniblY And persistently by a:life
devoted to, charitable deeds, tiir'self-repres
and seltpurifiCation to' expiate one
dark , erime, it vras , this .one.
'huriie and frie,nds,weM. plose i hefore
Were they? ; For, years' !)e. had". had no
word ' • death have 'been 'in the
'cirelethere -fitid: he "never have heard,..
But ! The parlor, , lights 'were' ablate,- *l,
, and showed , nim , !ivitchillt the" old 4,ther.
and.mother, 4,glae and,s gentlenlakOk f p
traS Aglae husband. r • -
Then he was Withiti'ithe
band;tilidu the; door t :',hut there*. rneh Otlit
weakness, came over him ;`;- beitirned and .T
,en tered - a 'rap m : near. at:, hand, -.Tneaning,'.,
'to collect himself before. he tippeare, , cl to
them, and' etbpped it "Mice
.as• it torn
'ed to stone. • •
*- A vision; rising from the :depths Id 'a ,
great;ehair ,there,; ,moved forward - with , s 1
outstretched ; biutos, arid .0 glad, incredu
ions light tipo4.her t r ace,
1"" he said in an
per. ,
"It" is Randolph; • atlast. - Not Jtuitina ;
but imereeer. before'‘ the 'Others
were made aware; or Ids '.presence, he sat
40m/ there and she tol&`:.hirs the Btol34 7
Vie poison whigh take
*tither so quick 'or so sere as, she haat
-thought; iikinfut medic leit had !beriirt
instantly oalledi'and altars 4
and vu'.
battle, • olit! Wu: , 4 1
0b, 0 1,0 4 , 4 ingrO/W
cried, fiercely,. "But
she 'would . have; `told
'have saved 'her from
there that it Was he
.you it was youl4-yau,