Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-18
VIII.

VIII.
The next day, about the middle of the
forenoon, Austen and Lund re-entered the
court yard of the inn arm-inarm. The
former was trifle unsteady on his legs,
but Lund, to all appearance, was in the
full possession of his senses, though there
was peculiar dry brightness in his eyes,
and nervousness of movement that in
Dictated his having passed sleepless
night. Both men looked rather dishevel-
ed, and Austen, at least, was obviously
very sleepy
The suave and uneXceptionable Hor-
kins met them at the entrance with an in
dulgent smile.
"Ah, gentlemensthat was 'ardly treat
ing us right to be hoff in such 'urry and
me on my way to the cellar after that bot
tie of Volnay. But | know how it is,
pleasure is pleasure, and young gentle
men will be young gentlemen all the
world hover. What will you ave for
your breakfast, gentlemen-soft-bo boiled
st-coffee-chops-"
Bring some strong coffee for Mr.. Aus
ten and pint of champagne for me, in
terrupted Lund eve supped rather late
and are not hungry. Be lively, now - he
added in a sharp tone, land keep your
grins and observations till they're asked
for ~
Poor Horkins retreated in discontinue,
and astonished that the quiet gentleman
should ave took him hup so sharp" The
two boon companions went up stairs
AS they entered the long and rather
dark passage which led to their rooms, a
young woman appeared advancing to,
before she had made three steps, Lund
had recognized her as Mary Lambert.
The three met just opposite the room
door she was about to pass on one side,
with a slight bow of recognition, but
Lund, suddenly relinquishing his friends
arm, placed himself in front of her.
"No further, without toll, Miss Mary
Lambert ~ said he, with a gay air you
wouldn't drink claret with Austen last
| night but you shall drink glass of cham
payne with me this morning, and leave a
kiss in the cup, too ~
matter VII you ~ interposed Austen,
catching hold of the other arm. Miss
Lambert, you must 'scuse this man he
don't know what he's talking bout ~
But Lund had thrown his arm round
Mary Lambert's waist, and with his other
hand he opened the door of the room and
drew her in, Austen following. Then
Lund set his back against the door and
contemplated his captive with a smile.
Come, now, my dear, be as Obliging as
| you are pretty" said he, in a voice that
grated little. Were all among friends,
| you know no conceament am not | as
good looking fellow as your old admirer
here and isn't variety the spice Of life ?"
Mary did not scream, nor did she visibly
tremble. She stood i'll the center of the
room, with her hands pressed across one
another on her bosom, and her eyes rest
| ing upon Lund She seemed to be search
ing his face for something that should be
in it, but was missing.
"Some one has robbed you, SIR" she
said at length in a sad and penetrating
tone. You have lost what you had when
| you spoke to me yesterday"
4 Ey1l,, 4 4
WISDOM" returned Lund, with a laugh /;
land to make up for it | thought, yester-
day, that you had something which my
wisdom derived from this gentleman
tells me you lost long since"
She stood more erect ut this, and, for
the first time, looked at Austen, who
leaned against II chair with his chin on his
breast, biting his lips"
Has Mr.. Austen anything against me ~
said she.
"Speak up, man, and put the hussy to
shame !" cried Lund, savagely.
| Its all u piece of confounded non
sense ~ muttered the unhappy creature
between his teeth. Fact is Miss Lam
bert-I don't half remember what hap
pened-but | was drunk and lost my tenn
per, and told him a pack of lies, and he
like fool as he is-swallowed the whole
of it Awfully, sorry-beg everybody's
At this moment his glance happened to
fall upon Lund and he instantly sprang
back, raising the chair as he did so to de-
fend himself Yet Lund had not as yet
stirred from his place, but the expression
that had suddenly stamped itself upon
his features might have frightened a
Drawer man than Austen. 1t was an eX-
preston so utterly savage, lost and des-
perate as to seem scarcely human and
yet 1t was the human quality in it that
gave it its most appalling horror
You have ruined me, you accursed
devil, in this world and the next" said
l4und, in strange, high voice. my
dream was true, while | was pure. Now
that I'm polluted, false-the dream-God
everything and can never find her !
But'-and there his voice broke into a
wild roar-"I can tear your false heart out
of your body ~ and in the same moment
he made his spring.
Austen struck at him with chair but
he might as well have struck at an ava
lanche. For breath or two there was an
Understandable, furious struggle; one could
only see that it was in Lund' favor. They
had whlrled themselves into the vicinity
OF the fireplace. Just then Austen's foot
slipped he gave himself up for lost, and
a cry of terror broke from him but it
was that slip that saved his life He fell
backwards. Luud stumbled and fell over
and beyond him with force that shook
the house his head struck the iron corner
of the CRATE, and there he lay, whose life
an instant before was so fierce and fran
tic, marvelously still. 1t did not seem
possible he was dead. Surely he must be
alive somewhere
Mary Lambert drew the body back from
where it had fallen, and, kneeling on one
knee, raised his head until it rested upon
the other At the same time Austen
dragged himself to his feet, and looked
down on his late antagonist
you are witness that it was no fault of
mine," painted he.
"Yes," said Mary Lambert land yet
you are guilty of two murders ~
We have heard both Democrats and Repub-
llcans say that there is nothing better for a
| cough than Dr. Bulls Cough Syrup; this old
reliable remedy dever fails to cure cough or
cold ut once, and may be obtained at any
drug store for % cents bottle