Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-08-27


dea and inexplicable convictions. |
had no sense of hesitancy or scruple ;
and was possessed by the deliberate
and sanguinary cunning Of crafty
maniac.
neither sighed nor muttered eXecra-
tions. But smiled grimly as | arose
from my chair and with stealthy
tread walked from the library and
down the yet unlghtei corridor toward
the musie-room.
The door was ajar, and felt not the
minutest surprise rs peered into The
apartment and baheld the conlirmatory
scene which was being enacted there.
There indeed Was an intruier-a tall
man cloaked like n brigand Of ro-
mance-a handsome man, whose broad
rakish hat flared back from counte-
nance impressiyely pallid and haggard
His arms were about my Lyric, her
golden head dropped against his breast
and she was weeping bitterly.
''I could not helieye you would re-
main from me so long if you were a.
mong the living" she was sobbiug just
andibly. "Can nothing be done Can
we not plan something that may be
near you p-that you may come to mo
sometimes p''
"You were happier to believe me no
longer among the living. You viii be
happier, too, if we shall meet again no
MORE" the man answered with some
fierce passion kindling in his haggard
black eyes.
He lifted her dropping face, he kissed
the beautiful brows, he unloosed her
pleading hands-and then he turned
swiftly away.
AS he vanished through the opened
easement of the yeranda, she glanced
up ana perceived me advancing toward
her.
With the glance her great blue eyes
dllated and darkened with unmistaka-
BILE terror. Perhaps my accusing gaze
affrighted her and she feared, she knew
not what for with scared little cry
she shrank back aud hid her paling face
in both her trembling hands.
But | did not heed her ! Any emo
tion of hers whether of fear or Ie-
morse or shame was nothing to me
then. I was intent only in the pursuit
of cloaked figure vanishing outside
flying shadow where all was shade.
had been impelled to the belief that 1
was wronged as man was never wrong
ed before but had no upbraiding
juss then for her-my vengeance was
meant for him for whom she had cared
before I met and loyed her, perchance,
and for whom she still cared
The stormy moon was just visible "a
mong the thickening clouds the wind
was beginning to sigh among the
great naples the gumbling OF the
river sounded nearer and more near, so
FASTENED onward, hearing now and
then the uncertain thud of reckless
footsteps, or seeing rakish hat loom
ing like black silhouette against a
CLEAN of white moonshine.
On and on I hastened in stealthy
pursuit, through the extensive grounds,
across wooded inclosure of knolls and
hollows, and so emerged upon an aban :
doned road "a deeply excavatec curve
which somewhere intersected the high
way.
The cloaked figure with the rakish
hat had become altogether invisible,
but of his propjnquity I was certain.
For saddled horse was nibbling the
lush swampy grasses in hollow down
the roadway, and there were vaguely
suggestive rustlings among the vines
and elders between me and the river,
which just there widened to sullen
and almost bankless current.
"The clump of elders is his last CO.
vert" I thought, grimly, as l descend
ed into the curving roadway and stalk
ed toward the marshy crescent OF
ground which flanked the river.
And he was there, indeed but not
erect and hostile and defiant. He lay
prone upon the earth, moveless, as if
he had composed himself for slumber,
and totally unaware that Cain had
tracked him to his retreat.
What denunciations l uttered do
not know only know that clutch
ed his brigandish cloak, that 1 dragged
him to an upright posture, and that
some murderous thing glittered in my
determined giip.
"a man with broken bones and emp
tied veins is not likely to defend him
self" / was at length conscious he had
said in strangely strengthless tones.
And as glared upon him l perceiv.
ed that his garments were drenched
with blood, and that one stout foot
dangled uselessly beneath his cloak.