Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-08
ASkeletOn in the Closet

u
She had stolen up behind him
noiselessly, she had snatched the
loaded pistol from his desperate
hand and hurled it through the
open window into the bay below.
And not one instant too soon to
save him from the crime of self
destruction.
He whirled around upon her, and
they stood facing each other with
eyes flaming defiance.
How like, yet unlike, were these
fierce, beautiful creatures - twin
sister and brother!
She, with her slender, well
rounded, lissom form; with her
small, fine features and clear, dead
ly.pale yellow face, darkened by
great, deep, hollow black eyes; the
whole overshadowed by heavy,
clustering auburn curls-a subtle,
wistful face.
lie, somewhat taller, fuller, and
more supple, like another human
snake, Of a little larger growth,
with a paler complexion, darker
eyes and darker hair.
They were the orphan niece and
nephew of Christopher Coyle,
Esquire, an old bachelor living on
his ancient patrimonial estate of
Cloudland in the north of England.
Now they stood glaring at each
other a full minute in silent menace
Then both spoke at once:
"Aspirita!"
"Brandonw
"How dared you stop me?"
"How dared yOu raise your hand
ag.,inst your own life ?"
=" l dare do what / please" he
answered, sulkily.
$50 do l - except = except tc
rush from life to death-from thu
known to the unknown she re
torted, solemnly.
"There can be no more perfect
perdition than ] suffer now! WI,
did you stop me?" he cried, with
groan of anguish.
"Because | would not have yol
destroy yourself for the sake of
;peevish girl. Come, Brandon
Rouse yourself. DO be a mani
she exclaimed.
81 cannot live without Arielle?'
he walled.
"What mooncalf you are, to b
crying after girl! If you canno
live without her, then why don
YOU live with herr" scornfully de
nanded tho girl.
"'Liye with her2' You knoy
she is to be married to Valdimi
Desparde tomorrow" replied th
young man.
"She is to be married tO,mOrrOaO
but this is 10 day; and there
many slip 'twixt the cup and
but proverbs are vulgar, and yo1
know what mean."
81 do notl"
"You must stop the marriage
Brahdon!"
".StOp the marriage?' | wish
could! Stop the warriageP IIo'
am / to do that, pray you?"
"Hush, Brandon! Come and s.
down here on the sofa by me, an
| will tell you what to do to brea
off this marriage, near as it is, an
to win the bride for yourself, muc
as she is now devoted to her al
anced lover" whispered the girl.
The suicidal phrenzy in him wa
lad for the moment, even thong
it might return.
"Now attend to me, Brandon
Before he became your successfl
rival in the favor Of Lady Ariel
Montioie, Vladimir Desparde wi
vour most intimate friend, was Ii
notY inquired Aspirita:
"Of course he was" exclaime
Brandon, grinding his teeth.
"You were in his entire conf
dence?"
eyes"
"You have often heard him rt
gret, deplore the unfathomabl
mystery that hangs over his ow
and his sisters childhood"
"Oh, to be sure. Haven't l to-
you so often enough?"
"And he rather resents his qua
dams, Lord Beaudevere's, reticent
on this subject?"
eyes, yes; but what has all tn
to do with the question of this d
testable marriage% exclaimed Bra
con, impatiently.
"It has everything to do wi
stopping it. But you must be p
tent, my lad. Calm yourself, al
collect your thoughts; for | mu
put YOU through a cross-examin
ii n, and then feel my way"
al don't understand You."