The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-25

tlon toward you. What nm l to do2 am act
ing in q very BorlouB matter, and acting entirely
in the dark. have no choice but to be guided,
not by tho spirit, but by tho letter OF my instruc-
tions. You undorstand me, l am sure? You
know, II [ had not boon feitered in this way,
how gladly should have accepted your serv-
.fSsy no moro 7" returned Obenreizer. "In
your place I should have done the m My
good friend, I tako no ofense.. thank you Tor
your compliment. We shall be travelling com
psnionS' at any ratio, :. added oOohrelzer' lou
"At onco. / must speak to Marguerite first,
OF course |"
':surolyl surolyi spoak to her this evening.
Come aud pick me up on the way TO the STATION.
We 60 together sy tue O. mail nIah train q tonight"
II was lntor than vondalo had anticipated
whom he drove up TO the house in Soho Square.
Business difficulties, oeoaaionod by his sudden
departure, had pressed themselves by dozens.
A cruelty largo share OF the time which he had
hoped to devote to Marguerite had been claimed
by duties ct his Office which 1t was impossible to
10 his surprise and delight, she was alone In
the drawlug.room when he entered 1t.
Eve have only o few minutes, George" she
said. "But Madame Dor has been good TO me,
and we can have those few minutes Alone" She
threw her arm round his neck, and whispered
eagerly, "Have you done anything to offend MIR.
Obenrelzer |"
ali" exclaimed vendale, In amagement.
"Hush |" she said, "Iwant to whisper 1t. You
know the little photograph I have got OF you.
This afternoon 1t happened to be on the ohim-
ney-piece. He to x it mp and looked att, and I
saw bis face in the glass. I know you have
offended him ! He is merciless; he Is revenge
full; he is as secret as tue grave. Don't go with
him, George-dont go with him
MY own love" returned Vendale, "you are
letting your fancy frlghten you Obenreizer
and I were never better friends than We are at
this moment"
Before q word more could be said, the sudden
movement Of some ponderous body shook the
floor of the next room. The shock was followed
by the appearance OF Madame Dor. "Oben-
~reizerl" exclaimed this excellent person in Q
whisper, and pumped down Instantly in her re-
gular place by the stove.
Obenreizer csmein with Q courier bag strapped
over his shoulder.
"Are You ready 70 he asked, addressing
Vendale. "Can 1 take anything for you 2
You have no traveling-bag. l have got one.
Here is the compartment for papers, open at
your SERVICE"
"Thank you," said vendale. 81 have emily
one paper OF importance with me-, and that paper
I am bound to take charge Of myself. Here it
IT," be added, touching the breast-pocket Of his
coat, "and here it must remain till we get to
Neuchatel."
As he said those words, Marguerite's hand
caught his, and pressed 1t significantly. She was
looking toward Obenreizer. Before Vendale
could look, in his turn, Obenreizer had wheeled
round, and was taking leave OF Madame Dor.
- "Adiou: my J charming 9eE niece sas.d be Isl said ,1;d turning 1ay
Neuchatell" He tapped Vendale lightly over
the breast-pocket of his coat, and Led the way to
the door.
Vendale's last look was for Marguerite. Mar
guer,te's last words to him were, Don't goF
ACT III.
m THE VALE
It was about the middle Of the month OF Feb
rIlary when Vendale and ObenreiZer set forth on
their expedition. The winter being 0 hard one,
the time was bad for travellers. sc bad was 1t
that these two travellers, coming to strasburg,
found it's great inrs almost empty. And even
the few people they did encounter in that city,
who had started from England or from Paris on
business journeys toward the interior Of Swift
zsrland, were turning back.
Many Of the railroads in Switzerland that tour
lists pass easily enougnnow, were almost or quite
irapracticable then. Some were not begun; more
we're not completed. On such as were open,
there were still large gaps of old road where
communication In the winter season was often
stopped; on others, there were weak points
where the new work was not safe, either under
conditions Of severe frost, or OF rapid thaM. The
running Of trains on this last class was not to be
counted on in the worst time Of the year, was
contingent upon weather, or was wholly aban-
doned through the months considered the most
dangerous.
At Strasburg there were more travellers
stories aaoat, respecting the difficulties Of the
way further on, than there were travellers to re-
late them. Many OF these tales we're as wild as
usual; but the more modestly marvellous did
derive some color from the circumstance that
people were undisputably turning back. How
ever, as the road TO Basic was open, Vendale's,
resolution to push on was in nowlse disturbed.
Obenreizer's resolution was necessary Vendale's,
seeing that he stood at bay thus desperately;
he must be ruined, or must destroy the evidence
that vendale carried about him, even if he de-
stroyed Vendale with it.
The state Of mind Of each OF these two fellow
travellers toward the other was this: Obenreizer,
encircled by impending ruin through Vendale's
quickness OF action, aud seeing the circle mar
rowed every hour by Vendale's energy, hated
him with the animosity of o fierce, cunning
lower animal. He had always had instructive
movements in his breast against him; perhaps,
because of that old sore Of gentleman and pea
SAINT; perhaps, because OF the openness Of his
nature; perhaps, because OF his better looks: per-
haps, because Ofhis success with Marguerite; per-
haps, on all those grounds, the two last not the
And now he saw in him, besides, the
huntar who was tracking him down. Vendale, on
the other hand, always contending generously