Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-29
One. Five and Nine.

Il say again, Edmund, l will not
read it. Keep it and gloat over it as
the evidence of your ingratitude and
my misery, if YOU will; but put it out
of my sight, or | will not answer for
my actions"
Still he held the letter toward me,
silently, with the same strange smile
lighting up his boyish face.
why do you torture me-" | cried,
restraining myself with an effort. You
have robbed me of my treasure. You
have destroyed the sole aim of my life.
Let that content you"
You are mad" he said, with an ir-
ritating calmness. IF you would read
the letter you might better understand
the full extent of the wrong have done
yuu."
| tore the letter from his hand and
flung it upon the glowing CRATE. 1t
sprang into a flame and rolled off upon
the floor in three heaps of ashes. Then
| turned and confronted him. The
quiet, Multiplying disdain in his face
acted upon me aS the fire had acted
upon the paper. Every foul and dan
gerous impulse of my nature burst into
fierce flames. But i controlled all out
ward signs and stood looking at him in
breathless silence.
He was leaning against the open door
of the rOomy steel safe which was built
into the wall. Whether something in
his attitude, or some whisper from my
evil heart, suggested it, | know not. but
4 cold, terrible thought crept upon me
as | gazed at him. The safe was empty;
for | had removed its contents earlier
la the afternoon, and | saw with
shudder that il would be possible for
it to contain his body. In the delirium
of my rage and jealousy, the temptation
of AN awful revenge took a firm hold
upon me. For moment however |
resisted il.
"Edmund,'' / said, calmly, leave
me. As you hope TO live another hour,
get out of my sight
mo. / will not, - he returned firmly,
until YOU know the contents of the
letter you have so foolishly destroyed"
| struggled no longer against the
temptation; but | waited to have one
doubt confirmed.
do you love her, Edmund? 20 asked
in smothered voice.
Yes, dearly he replied, with the
old strange smile crossing his lips.
:'And dOes''-the words stuck in my
throat--does she love you?"
Even as do her." he answered as
before.
Then love each other in the next
world, for you shall never meet again
i'm this" | cried, seizing him in my
arms and forcing him toward the safe.
For a moment he struggled wildly.
but in vain. His boyish frame was
like an infants beside my maturer
strength. Then he desisted and looked
up at me appealingly. '
"Would you murder me, Arthur"
he said. hoarsely. "Madman. you
know not what you are doing. In
Heavens name, let me explain.''
Too late 20 muttered, as | savagely
forced him into the safe and crushed
the giant door upon him. With scarce
a glance at the dial plate which regu-
lated the lock. whirle. the cOmbina-
ton around and the heavy bolt slid into
its sockets with dull thud. He was
buried alive in a tomb more impenetra-
BILE than the deepest grave ever dug.
Insanely exultirg over my detestable
crime, sat down to reflect. Surely, i
said, have done no more than justice.
| have administered a well-merited
punishment with my own hands. The
Judas who betrays his friend and bene-
factor deserves no better fate. Fer
did not Edmund owe his very life to
me? Did not take him in, homeless,
nameless orphan, and make him as a
Younger brother to me? Had l not,
when young in the world and strug-
Cling with every adversely, divided my
poor pittance with him, and made every |
sacrifice that he might profit thereby (? |
And how had he rewarded me!
Late i'm life | had met the woman |
who believed might secure to me the i
contentment / had always lOnged for |
but never known. | had trusted her |
when she told me that my love for her
was returned. At my age, love is no
floating waif, but rock whose founda- |
tiOns lie deep in the heart, and l had
my confidant and her friend. / had