The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-13

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he had lost her forever, he found he had
mistaken his own feelings. lie looked
round his gloomy horizon and realized
too late that he did love her; it was not
great and penetrating love like Will
liam Hopes; he was incapable of such
a sentiment; but what affection he had
TO bestow, he had given TO this sweet
creature. His house was dark without
her; he was desolate and alone, and,
horrible to think of. the instrument of
her assassination. This drove him to
frenzy, and his frenzy took two forms,
furious excitement and gloomy despair:
this was now his life by night and day,
for sleep deserted him. AT the mine his
measures were all wise, but his manner
very wild; the very miners whispered
amongst themselves that he was going
mad. AT home, on the contrary, he
was gloomy, with sullen despair. He
was in this latter condition the evening
after the explosion, when a visitor was
announced. Thinking it was some one
from the mine, he said, family, admit
him." and then his Respondent head
dropped on his breast; indeed, he was
in a sort of lethargy, worn out with his
labOrs, his remOrse, and his sleepless-
ness.
In that condition his ear was sudden
ly Jared bya hard, metallic voice whose
tone was somehow opposed to all the
voices with which goodness and humani-
ty have ever spoken.
well, governor, here's a slice of
luck"
BARLEY shivered. 'Is that the devil
speaking to me% he muttered, without
looking up.
NO" said Monckton, jauntily; "only
nd nCt
friend"
"My friend?" said BARLEY, turning his
chair and looking at him with sort of
dull wonder.
say" said Monckton, "your friend;
the man that found you brains and
resolution, and took you out of the
hole, and put Hope and his daughter in
it instead; no, not his daughter, she did
that for us, she was so clever"
Yes" said BARLEY, wildly, "it was
you who made me an assassin. But for
you, / should only have been a knave;
now l am murderer-thanks to you"
Come, governor" said MOnckton,
mo use looking at one side of the pict-
ure. You tried other things first. You
made him liberal offers, you know; but
he would have war to the knife, and he
has got it. He is buried ut the bottom
of that shaft"
God Forbid"
"And you are all right"
IL am in hell" shrieked BARLEY.
"Well, come out of it," said Monck-
ton, "and let's talk sense. IL read the
news at Derby, just as / was starting
for London. / have been as near the
mine as l thought safe. They seem to
be very busy clearing out both shafts
two steam-englnes. constant relays of
workmen. Who has got the job in
hand?"
81 have" said BARLEY.
"Well that's clever of you to throw
lust in their eyes, and put our little
game off your own shoulders. You
want to save appearances? You know
you cannot save William Hope"
81 can save him, and l will save him.
God will have mercy on a penitent as
sassin, as he once had upon a penitent
thief"
Monckton stared at him and smiled.
"Who has been talking to you-the
parson?"
my own conscience. abhOr myself
rs much as | do you, you black villain"
"Ah!" said MOncktOn, with wicked
glance, that's hOWa man patters be-
'ore he splits upon his pals, to save his
own skin. Now, look here, old man,
before you split Oh me ask yourself who
lad the greatest interest in this job
You silenced dangerous enemy, but
what have l gained? You ought to
squared with me first, rs you promised.
If you split upon me before that, you
will put yourself in the hole and leave
ne out Of it,"
"Villain and fool" said BARLEY. "these
rifles do not trouble me now. If Hope
md In,
hat mine, I'll tell how they came by
heir death, and I'll die by my own
land."
MoncktOn said nothing, but looked at
him keenly, and began at last to feel
uneasy.
"a shaft is but a narrow thing" Bart
lev rejoined: "why should they be buried
alive? Let's get to them before they
are starved to death. We may save
them yet" -.
"Why, you fool, they'll denounce us!"
"What do care? would save them
both tonight if was to stand in the
dock tomorrow"
Sand swing on the gallows next week,
or end your days in prison."
I'D take my chances" said BARLEY,
desperately. "I'll undo my crime if l
can. No punishment can equal the
agony am in now, thanks to you, you
villain"
Then turning on him suddenly, and
showing him the white of his eyes like
a maniac, or dangerous mastiff, he
Missed out, "YOu think nothing of the
lives of better men; perhaps you don't
value your OWN?
"Oh, beg your pardon" said Monck-
ton. "That's very different thing"
ooh, youdo value your own foul life?"
"At any amount of money!" said
MOncktOn.
"Then why do you risk it?"
Excuse me, governor, that's u thing
I make a point of not doing. risk my
instruments; not my head, Ben Burnley
to wit"
"You are risking it now" said Bart
ley, looking still more strangely at him.
"How so, pray?" said Monckton, get
ting little uneasy, for this was not the
BARLEY he had known till then.
BARLEY took the poker in his hand
and proceeded to poke the fire; but
somehow he did not look at the fire.
He looked askant at MOnckton, and he
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