The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-26
I shall like it very much, if you put on your

Il shall like 1t very much, If you put on your
jacket"
Grace ran up stairs, obtained the latest bulle-
tin of her fathers condition-always the same
hopeless report-aud came down in her sealskn
jacket In another minute she and the Colonel
were out of doors, and beyond the searching eye
and the keen ear of Dora. The night was moon
less, but not altogether dark. The stars were
shining above the tree tops in the park, sweep
ing line of foliage which shut out the world be-
yond.
ANY newsa' asked Grace, exeitedly, hanging
on the Colonels arm.
mot word. l believe that unlucky young
fellow has got clear off, and you may wash your
hands of him and his fate
Il cannot do that, said Grace gloomly; II am
under promise"
IN o promise can hold good with a criminal
answered the Colonel
"a criminal! In heavens name what do you
meant
II mean that detective has been at Darnel
this morning, and that he has discovered the
footprints of a stranger across the flower beds
just such footprints as would be made by that
wretched down at heel creature we saw on the
common. There was a considerable sum of
money stolen out of Lady Darnels morning
room money which We all know to have been
there on the Mi ht your father was shot 1t is
clear to the man from Scotland Yard that Sir
Allan was wounded by stranger who entered
that room and stole that money. Now, my
reading of the story is, that this Camillac was
hanging about the house on that night, IN the
hope of getting an interview with you. that he
was on the balcony for some time, saw the
money put away, and took advantage of Lady
Darnels leaving the room to enter and possess
himself of that money. He was surprised by
your father, and turned upon HMM the man
ner we know
mo, no; it is too horriblei The man I once
loved, the man promised to marrv-a midnight
robber-a murderer! 1t cannot be-" protested
Grace. Surely am not an utter fool. know
that man was gentleman by BIRTH gentleman
by education and breeding"
Gentlemen drift to the gutter; gentlemen
join the criminal classes every day in the year,
my poor Grace, said the Colonel gravely. Il do
not suppose for a moment that you would mis-
take cad for gentleman; but there is such q
thing as reckless man gone thoroughly to the
bad, and I'm afraid your Victor de Camillac is
just such anone. All we can hope is that he has
got clear off, and that your dear fathers wound
may not prove fatal"
Fatal! Oh. God if it we're, should be my
fathers murderer-for it was my folly that
brought that man to this house. Oh, why
should so trivial sin bring such a terrible pun
ishmenta If my father were to die L should
never lift up my head again. should pray God
to end my days. | never, never could know
peace Of mind any morew
She chung to her kind old friend sohbing hys-
terically, beside herself with horror.
My dear child, don't give way to such grief, "
said the colonel soothingly. God grant your
Idtnef may recover. ana, dlIer ali, CHlS SuSpl-
cion of mine may be wrong. The criminal may
be a stranger of whom we know nothing. Re
member 1t is only conjecture on my part.
IF you were right, if it were he, my sin would
have been the cause of my fathers death" said
Grace, and then she remem bereG that bitter cry
of Lady Darnel's, those awful words spoken by
the lips of a sleeper. my fault, my fault, l
murdered him."
How strange that those selfaccusing words
uttered unconsciously, should be echoed now by
Grace waking and sentient
No, will not believe it," she said presently
After all, there is evidence to go upon. There
is no real ground for such a hideous suspicion. |
believe that poor creature fell down somewhere
i'll or dying, and that he never came to Darnel
Park"
"You may be right, Grace. My view of the
case was only a succession of conjectures. /
should never have thought of it If that man from
Scotland Yard had not set my wits at work
There is something infectious in the manWuvers
of these people. Only thought it right to tell
you everything, more especially you insist
upon considering yourself bound to this advent
urer."
II insist upon acting as woman of honor
should act" answered Grace, with a heroic air
''Y on men are always talking about honor as If
it We're a peculiar property of your You
pretend to think that we poor weak things don't
even know what it means. Now want you to
understand that you are guilty Of scandalous
injustice. Fine Frau Elm Wort"
And you consider yourself bound to be a
beggar."
Il consider myself bound to him till he releases
me. | know he would release from my
promise if could only see him and tell him
everything
Indeed! There is something that he must be
tod then?"
YES murmured Grace, hanging her pretty
head
Colonel Stukely lifted the bent head between
his hands, and kissed his goddaugkter's fore
head
MY pet, begin to understand" he said. 81
suspected all through that dreary dinner that
you had something to tell me- You have found
out at last that frank, honest young fellow
whom you have known since childhood is better
worth loving than an unknown foreigner whom
you met by chance in picture gallery"
'Mr. Colchester was walking in the shrubbery
with me this afternoon" faltered Grace. ''and
he asked me to be his wife. 1t very, very
sudden; and he took me so by surprise that I'm
afraid allowed him to think that am rather
fond of him.
what was it you said, Grace9"
ut was not anything said to him. 1t was
only my manner"
was it? There is good deal in manner. And
suppose by the time you left the shrubbery you
had engaged yourself TO young Colchester, in
spite of your promise to the Frenchman. This
is your view of 'eine Frau Elm Wort, take it,
at time"
You insist upon your mean opinion of me"
cried Grace stamping her feet. mo, did not
engage myself to him. l tried to tell him that
did not care for him. but my lips would not
speak the false words. ] know now that [ do
care for him, that the other was only fool
ish infatuation, of which have good reason to
be ashamed"
II am glad you have found out tho truth at
last, Grace Now my darling you mustn't fret
any more. Leave everything to Providence and
your old god father. Hank, there are wheels
coming up the avenue Who can it be at such
an hour? The doctor paid his last visit before
dinner
1t was Mr.. Penwern in fly from the village
Colonel Stukey hurried back to the house.
dreading vet eager to hear the detectives ac-
count of his investigations. Mr. Penwern was
shown into the library, where the Colonel found
him closeted with Dora Darnel, who had not lost
a minute in going to him
well, Mr. PenWern what's your news?"