The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-03
MY MYSTERIOUS LANDLORD.

sudden resolution, I turned into the
stairway and followed my landlord in my
stockinged feet. He stayed moment ut
the next landing in the darkness, and his
wife came to her bedroom door and en-
treated him to rest. He answered her
doggedly, babe her back to her bed, shut
her door after her and went on. l went
on. A slight twist in the landing showed
a steep ladder, whitened by the moon,
that streamed through q small window.
Ny landlord sped up this as agilely as if
he were not stout. l watched him to the
top of it. He Enclosed his hand and put
key in the door that fronted the ladder.
The lock turned noiselessly and he went
in, leaving the door aiar. Up that ladder
1 crept carefully. l was not so corpu-
lent as the landlord, but my feet blum
dered and were not certain.
reached the top without making
sound. Then I pushed open the door
and stood within room that knew was
the top loft.
In one moment saw its pecrliarities,
in another saw its mystery. The moon
light was radiantly cold within its COM
pass; there was nothing unrevealed. 1t
showed an attic with q lean-to roof, and
the rafters above were rough and splin-
tered. 1t lit up, with the height of con-
trast, black hangings that were nailed
against the walls. It shone into the
empty, blackened, ill-shaped room, and
lay upon the pile of red rug that COW
cred the center of the floor; and upon
box wich silver handles raised high in the
midst; and upon an old man groveling
before it in posture that was too I'M
L. L.. k<,0 knpsIvy Il 10.
based for devotion.
And I, with senses alert, and with cold
veins, moved heavy step further into
the room. My landlord sprang to his
feet, and stood before me, and looked at
me, and spoke no word. I spoke.
"You are found out at last, Mr. Fern, !"
I said.
He looked at me, and waited for the
words to form sense within his brain.
Then, with sigh and unmoved acquies-
cence:
Eyes, at last"
scarcely knew what to say next; the
man did not defy me; he only looked
nonplussed.
'"rhe law has reached you through me,
Mr.. Fern; you must submit to it"
"Yes, yes" he said, quietly; "but l
have duped it this three year come
October"
"Great heaven!" / cried; "can you
talk coolly of your crime? Are You
hardened to the most awful foam Of MUIR
der"
"Eh, what" said the man, dazed at
the first word, and indignant and furious
at the second. II murderer? Curse
you! God Judge you, sir, as You have
foully judged me-"
He laid his great hand upon my arm
and shook it. The tears were running
down his cheeks, while the deep curses
of broken heart thronged to his lips,
and stayed there for powerlessness of
utterance. / looked at him and at
the silvered coffin and at the desolate
room, and wrenched my arm from his
grasp.
"Then, in the name of your Judge and
mine, what is that ?" l said, pointing to
the sepulchral box.
His anger died; his passion was
quenched he covered his face with his
hands and CROPPED his way to the little
coffin and laid his head upon it and cried
with words unintelliglble some names of
endearment that were framed in sobs. l
felt a movement behind me, and turned
to see Mrs. Fern. Her face was
as white as the light that illumined it;
but the strength of her bearing was I'M
shaken by the funeral room or the
stricken husband. She had put on o long
gown, and beneath it her breath came
and went quickly; otherwise the form of
her mien was calm.
She looked at me and passed me, and
went to her husband and put her arms
around his neck He moved to her
touch, and laid his great touseled head
upon her shoulder, The passion of grief
which shook him showed the balance of
that loyial temperament. She smoothed
his face with her hand as if it had been a
baby's; she bent over his head her in
domitable one, fearless, tender powerful.
And, after time, with q slight move
ment she brought his eyes and hers to
the small window and pointed to him the
heavens, from which all the clouds were
drifting.
He lifted his small eyes to her face
with curious expression, like the APP
peal of the dumb brute that begs for q
translation of the feeling that it cannot
give tongue to- There was no shade of
sentimentality in Mrs. Ferns spoken
answer to this mute speech.
Why will you not look there instead
OF heso?"
He turned back to the coffin and hid
his face from the suggestions of the far
away heavens. His words were thick
and his voice quivered.
Because this is her. The bit of flesh
T.