The Portland daily press., 1878-08-07
A Skeleton in the Closet.

A Skeleton in the Closet.
BRANDON CoYLEl ARE YOU MAD?"
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. sasa9
He whirled around upon her, and they
stood facing each other with eyes flaming de-
fiance.
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,
deadly-pale, yellow face, darkened by great,
deep, hollow black eyes; the whole overshad-
owed by heavy, clustering auburn curls-a
subtle, wistfM face. sa
he. somewhat taller, fuller, and more sup
pie, like another human snake, Of little
larger growth, with paler complexion,
darker eyes and darker hair. $1,000
They were the orphan niece and nephew OF
Christopher Coyle, Esquire, an old bachelor
living on his ancient patrimonial estate Of
Cleveland in the North Of England -aase1
Now they stood glaring at each other full
minute in silent menace. Then both spoke
az once: scr
AspTitap W W M
s-oBrandon ~ ------s-...s
GLOW dared yon stop meo'
"How dared you raise your hand against
your own life?'
II dare do what 1 please" he answered,
sulkily.
$50 do I-except-except to rush from life
to death-from the known to the unKnownW
sn1 Te.Orteu, soiemniy.
AIele Eau pe 10 mole Perlect pefoItion
snan suHer now! Wny ald you stop me!''
NC .s I1iou, VIII gIoan VI anguish.
,rs eIs use Nv wou,a aos nave you Destroy
y pdo ior p Due sake o. PeevIsn glrl lone,
Italuon' MUSE youlsoh! Nv pe man
sue sT TA aa. H.. -,,,. ....,,. -, -,
cannot i've without Arlelie! ne walled.
.,,or n AZ, ln1pncaii you are, 70 pe Crying
tho, Snii you Ianno. Mse .ose ~, ner'
. .nHn WY uon you I'VE ~S'" her scorh-
'uay IG iua 1r;th h sne d il w. 10
10y =. WIZ W. hsl nou know sue Is 70 "
ma,,led .I 70 y alaimir Desparde tomorrow"
!sSha :; ;ae ~ yDons . mam ). ht .,,;s
o1e Is 70 3e married tomorrow; Dut .nis
cnn and,Ibnt nrnverbs are vnInsr. and Won
know what meant, - -
:. 81 do notP, -r- I.
aYou must stop the MARRIAGE Brandon =,
sStop the marriagep' Wish T conld
sStop the marriaoep How am T IN do that
nrav Won p; ~" an' ! " w 'n"'' :
aHnsh Rrandon, Coma and elf down
here on the sofa hv me and will, tall Won
what to do to hreak Of this marr;aoe near 90
r. is and n min tho hid CO.. Ma,,rso,f ,,a,oh
AZ she ia now devoted TO her al; suceJ lover ),
whisnered the GIRL " A' GA" "'n"no ~" 'o'e''
ne su;o; SI s,,hro, ., H.. ,.;a .o
the moment even thonoh Il mab M@ retn ,ria 'o
s.Now sttsnJ to , me- Rrand M P IsS ho
hooo,on no,'r suo W. IL, D;,ni ne
T,adu Ar;elIa NTon.;o;a Waid,,,;r nosnoS 10
Was your most intlmate irlend, was ne not9"
aOf course he was, exclaimed Brandon
lyon were in his entire confidence ~"
,m es.
"You have often heard him regret, depLore
ms OWL, ana MS sisters chlld1oodT'
-, 70 pc sure. Haven't told you SO Of
tea enough :.
ana ne rather resents his guardians,
Lora beaudeVerss, retlcence on this sub
Jectf
eyes, yes but what has all this to do with
the question OF. this detestable marriage ?"
exclaimed Brandon, impatiently.
SIT has everything to do with stopping it.
But you must be patient, my lad. Calm
yourself, and collect your Thoughts: for
must put you through cross-examination,
and then feel my way.''
81 don't understand you.''
"No? But you will as go on. Tell me,
first, exactly how much Vladimir Desparde
really does know of his early history. He
has told you, suppose ?"
"Yes; but it is very little. He knows only
SO much as he remembers. He has heard
nothing. Lord Beaudevere, the only person
in possession of the facts, firmly refuses to
tLord Beaudevere's reserve is very merci.
ful."
"What do You say % ~
fTsHR Beaudevere' reserve is, For.,--.-.
ct NIL, e',,ye;- .s.rs, ~
,ol -" ~ S Nasa:p lcSenIy. DuI go on anu
h;s aa ~. on Iu ae.ul Despafoe mas toio you OF
~ ct 10y - -, .n r.; ~ UL,
inc ..;th IL sl.na ~! ne remembers NY
VIZ VIII lls motner ana ms little sister, in
,rast p o;t. iJsans, ~ tIe narrow street OF
S ;sL v,sy' Mnose aame ne mas 1orgotten, even
a es ever learned It."
en- fa ~ = IL WIS Souutry :,
si w. E Iur ne gIosse1 water 10 come mere"
ssryo for t5e Wei ,,aro p,,,;,, o,.;.,
nla who ;,,haSy;,o1 I'll ~ Ingnsn-speakins peo,
hlacI sorvants ~ III Iu1 oiIy, anu lucy nau
NJ. VI ~. - NJ. Sn,uAe IL aust naVe ueen
An,ar;cor o;t,, ,o" o'ieans' or some otner
ssNaw 0 rss ,,.,.,
blacks Ri,t @ az ~ piU'aoly IL tney nao many
= ssTha nom ms ~ ae o4 H. ill.,. -
conn,rv &c ios. - S Suc Guy, anu even OF tne
his Do y, - - i. a W n III tne morning MIST OF
sThnra ,n.o snnoa3h; .,
err. the e, %a 0 Wad;no;g concerning ms IaIn-
how eve ha'dooa a,ulmlr Desparde, whom,
seen Rat ~ h LUsS LII aelnemper ever 10 nave
haad oa pus us e. mo.ner never held up her
hs sister and nav 10y ~ ~ W Try over nm anu
out Of this World nd nS of4 w 'a s men .h
evil to come, ''-N '"'o 'Aon 'ionA 'no
MS AZ &C.
everv uord ~ az s, as she listened 70
AT IonrtL ~ ais nst,e stoly.
ron, .,S;af' sno motner LOOK 10 ner PED,
n,;r Mnon que an never arose AGAIN, one DAY
wrota ,et,o ra tnr , anu sat py the PED and
w.o.o ieceer ior ner, Wnlcn was sent away.