Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-06-15

door caused her to start with an ex-
preston of pain on her white face.
Walter Clarke was on the stepl
Idyl opened the door to him and
fastened her eyes upon him when ne
stood in the glare of the parlol
lamps.
"This is terrible, Idyl," were his
first words. "The Commercial has
lost its best president and you one OF
the kindest of relatives.
She never took her eyes from him
while he spoke. and there was accu-
satiOn in her look.
1T is dreadful, she answered
slowly. When did you hear it?'
AT an early hour this morning.
was at the breakfast table, and upon
receipt of the intelligence hastened
to tho scene of the tragedy He,
your uncle, was quite decd; the sur
geons say that the dagger struck his
heart. But why am i telling you
this, Idyl? You haue heard it before,
and my repetition will alright you
anew We, as you know, were not
on worry Sood terms; but L bore him
no ill-will, and / feel that have lost
a benefactor, for your uncle, Idyl,
made me- all that I am
A cold smile wreathed her lips, and
he shot her a look OF perpleXity
which she met with question that
made him start.
what were you doing in my un-
cIe's house last night?'
1t might have been her manner
that paled his cheek, for all color
suddenly left it. and he gazed at her
gazed at her several minutes before
he made a reply.
Last night?" he repeated. 4 in
your uncle's house last night? Why,
Idyl. you must have been dreaming.
"Oh, no, my eyes We're wide open,
she said. with determination. Il do
not dream that I see men emerge
from houses in the haunted hours o
night. Last night, when j stood at
my window and saw you leave uncle's
house l was not dreeming. No. Wal
ter Clarke. / know that / saw youl
Tell me, was he dead when you left
him in his library? Answer me, in
the presence of your God and the
WON an who has promised to become
your wifel"
Her voice was stern, yet full OF Bit
terness; it was evident that the terri
BILE accusation was rending her heart
that all the happiness of her life
was going out with her words.
~Idyl, are you mad?" he cried
grasping her arm. Upon the soul
God has given me, L declare that j
did not enter or leave your uncle's
house last night"
Idyl faced him with eyes fastened
on his, as though she would look
through them and read the secrets OF
his very heart.
"You have been dreaming, girl" he
continued drawing nearer her, "and
oil what horrible dream it has
beenl Come Idyl, say that you did
notsee me in the flesh last night, stand =
ing on your dead uncle's steps
~I cannotl L cannoti' she cried,
slipping from him, and staggering to
a sofa, upon which she dropped with
a groan of intense agony. Leave
me. Walter" she continued. with
averted face, but with her hand wav-
ing him back. "For the love OF
heaven and the alteration of Idyl
Montgomery! gol OH would to God
that L had not drawn the curtains
last night for since then, / have
looked into world OF misery; my
life has been blighted, and my eyes
have cursed its future existence
Go! gol leave me alone"
He stood in the center Of the room
with indescribable horror written on his
face; he looked like q mad man, and
his white lips shook like aspen leaves
as he sprung forward and grasped
her arm
"Idyll Idyll L am innocentl" he
cried. Tell me that / have the priv
ilege of proving myself So"
you shall-only go-leave met
she cried. Il will keep the terrible
secIet."
"Then she buried her face deeper
in the rich upholstering OF the sofa
and with IA look full of pity and over
flowing with agony, he turned oil hi:
heel ond left the room.
The closing of the door reused
her.
"Gonel" she cried, seeing him not
in the room. walter Clarke, was il
for this moment that | was born
You can deceive, and l must keeI
the secret. My eyes were not CLOSED
i was not dreaming when / saw yor
last night stand on uncle's door r-steI
in the full glare of the gass. How
you left him is best known to yor
and your God; but / must believe
that you know more about poor un
Gle David's terrible taking off thai
you will tell. Prove yourself limo
cent, ard drive this hell OF agony
from the breast of the woman who
loves you with her whole soul.
She walked across the room will
the last sentence falling from hel
! lips, and parted the curtains half me
chanically.
The street lamps were burning bril-
liantly, and the air was full of snow
flakes that came airily down, and fill
ed up the foot prints of the pedes
/ trians. Her uncle David's hous,
stood out in bold relief. silent now
for its owner lay dead in the grea
library, and the stiffness of the grav'
seemed to enshroud it's walls.
"Poor Uncle David" sighed Idyl
"One knows not when the grim mon