The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-05-13

CHAPTER XVIII.
"YOU WILL KILL ME-"

/ v
murmured. "0h, no! 1t is too much now
to hope for. It is impossible!"
Valentine rose suddenly, and bent over
her friend. Her voice was hoarse and
uneven.
"You were but an infant--a child, not
conscious Of the meaning Of your words,
Of the terrible consequences you were
bringing upon him--your father. Tell me.
Adrienne, If that fearful thing had taken
place when you were old enough to real
lie the terrible effect of your own words
| -"
Valentine struggled for utterance.
Adrienne lifted her head, frightened at
Valentines painful efforts to speak.
"Well, what, Valentiner
"lf, say, you were old enough TO know
what you were doing. and if"
"lf what, valentinef"
"lf you were, as then, thoroughly con-
vinced Of your fathers guilt, would YOU
would you do as you did Them
"What, cause his arrest--inform against
himf Neverv
Adrienne rose to her feet, and approach
ed Valentine.
"But think, Adrienne, if he were really
a murderer yonr mother were dead
dead by his wicked, brutal act!"
~ would not give him up. A child has
no right to cause a parents death. Sure
| ly, Valentine, in such case, Heaven
would not condemn me for keeping silent"
"But Adrienne, could you keep silent
| Would not your mothers blood cry ia
Heaven for vengeance on her murderer
| Would you not die under the torturing
weight Of such secretf 1t would kill
you"
"That is true; but, Valentine, I could
only die. l would not betray my father"
Valentine staggered back, her eyes fixed
on Adrienne's glowing face. For a mo-
ment there was silence. Valentine put
her hands to her head, as II to recall her
scattered thoughts. Adrienne watched
her. perplexed at her earnestness. After
rejecting for short time, she put her
hand on Adrienne's arm, and stared fixed
| ly in her sad, timid face.
"You say that you would shield from
punishment your mothers murderer"
valentine, think to what a horrible,
lingering death should consign him!
Then loving him as ! did, as l do, could !
do It'll Oh. the mere thought Of such an
action on q child's part makes me
shudderr
"And be would thus escape all punish
ment,' Valentine seemed TO think aloud.
"He could not escape his own conscience,
Valentine. To live unsupported OF the
crime, yet tortured by that ever present
accuser, would be an expiation for the
deed"
"You are reasoning on the theory that
no arrest would be made, that your father
being unsupported, the real murderer
would be supposed to have escaped pur-
suit"
"Why, yes, Valentine; and would you
not do the samef"
"Under the circumstances might A
lifelong repentance might atone for the
crime. But, Adrienne, suppose an inno-
cent man were arrested for the crime,
tried, found guilty. and condemned, like
your poor father, on circumstantial evil
dence, to wear convict's dress and drag
chain, as he does, in the streets Of yon.
der cityi'
''Oh, Valentine, you frighten mel"
suppose, say, such easel A guilty
man shielded, and an innocent one suffer
ing the infany, the pain, enduring the
toll the heat, the cold. the insults Of any
brutal person who cared to taunt him
while passing! More than that, the sep
al alton from his own family--perhaps
from daughter like you, and who, like
you, believed in his iunocencel Suppose
/ say, such case. and yourself the child
conniving at the unmerited punishment
Of an innocent man! What--what would
you do then, Adriennef What would you
do then"
Adrienne shrank away, frightened al
the passionate vehemence Of Valentines
voice, at her flashing eyes and burning
cheeks. But Valentine followed her.
Tell me, Adrienne, what would YOU
do3"
The appeal was full Of anguish. ant
would be answered. Adriennes eyes fillet
at the sight Of Valentines sorrow.
"Alas! Valentine, cannot reason a.
you do; cannot comprehend your mean
ing. do not know what should do.
dare not contemplate such terrible posi-
ton. Mine is sad enough, humliating
crushing; but that--that would be-
"Far worse! You shrink from eve,
the contemplation Of child satisfied o
her fathers guilt, and witnessing an limo
cent man suffering in his stead; but,
you were placed in such an awful posi-
ton, with no one to 60 to, no one to he'll
you. Heaven would inspire you, Adrienne
as it will inspire me"
Valentines uplifted eyes. her claspe,
hands, raised in fervent supplication, wa
a sight that for moment held Adrienn
still in mute surprise. Then light brok
upon her. She caught Valentines hands
held them firmly, and whispered passion
ately:
"Why do you ask me these questions
What have you dscovered9 Quick, Val
entine, tell me. You have learned"
A heavy step in the ante.room mad