Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-07-24

ana down the stars. 1 cOuld not see
his face, but guessed by his slow. I'M
steady steps and the cropping of his
hands how agitated he was.
Whatever his secret was this room
contained it. and | was on the brink of
discovering it. Yet at that moment |
turned to retrace my steps. Why
should l seek to know this sorrow
through which Edward Vidal suffered
keenest remorse every day he livedP
1t was his secret, well guarded, in
deed. and / would leave it buried.
But my newly arrived ut determine
/ ton was shattered as the music com
menced again, this time with the ac-
compartment of a woman's low, sweet
voice, stealing like soothing whis-
| per through the noise of the storm. /
drew near and looked into the room,
the door of which Mr. Vidal in his
haste had left open.
In the dim light | could see n wo-
mans form. Even al the first glance
saw that she was young, and the hair
falling unbound down her back was
brightly golden.
She stood at the window, the flashes
of lightning playing weirdly around
]
/ CHANGING over the violin like a thing be-
witched | stood fascinated, regarding
her for long time; but afraid that she
might espy me or Mr.. Vidal return, |
at length withdrew, and, full of Won
dcring doubts and fears, made my way
again to the western part of the
house.
entered the library. The light was
almost out, and through the long win
dow, left heedlessly open, the rain was
falling in a slanting line. At this desk,
with both hands claSped upon book,
and his head bowed upon them, sat
Edward Vidal. At first | fancied he
was sleeping, and cautiously stepping
acros, the room | closed the window,
but as | turned to leave tho room,
something in his attitude, the inert
form. the rigid hands, made me spring
quickly to his side.
The touch of my hand TO his made
my blood run cold. | drew up his
head and found his eyes wide open and
dull, the jaw dropped. Even before
] searched for his heart and found it
still and pulselesS, knew that he was
dead!
ing position! In this gloo my, dread
full old house, with no one nigh but n
few servants, with dead man beside
me, and an imprisoned woman, per-
haps n maniac, for aught | knew.
When the funeral was over-a quiet
one it was too, for the lawyer and my
self were the only mourners-l was sit
ting alone in the library, mentally
carving out my future, when the door
opened and the lawyer entered.
"Mr. Nicholl, he said in his solemn
way, Il have surprising news for you.
Your late master leaves only one rela-
tive in all the world He was n rich
man. and by the terms of this will,
which shall proceed to read to you,
he bequeaths his entire fortune to you
on two conditions"
ITO mel gaspcd, staring with all
my might. Had the weird influence
of MaXton hall affected the lawyers
brain, or was | dreaming?
''One is that YOU will finish the book
upon which YOU have SO efficiently
helped him; the other that you under
take n charge which he leaves you and
which this letter explains.
He left the room, and | sat alone
with the letter in my hand. At last |
opened it, knowing that the mystery
of Edward Nidals life would be laid
bare TO me 10y its story.
when YOU read this it began, Il
shall br dead and YOU will have heard
my will. If you shrink from this task
impose on YOU. renounce it! You
must keep your charge well or not at
all. Remember that if you do not |
shall know it in my grave, and if Spir-
its can return shall come and remind
YOU of IT,
LET Mary, my old, faithful conf
Dental servant. conduct your TO the
east wing of the house, and up the
turret stairs to an unexpected cham
Der there The lvisg reminder of my
crime YOU will find in that room-my
| grand daughter, as fair as an angel,
but with eyes closed and sightless for
ever.
Il was a man of violent passions
once. so violent that at times it seemed
as if devils held my soul in thrall, but
| loved my only son with love be-
yond deScr. ption it was the one soft
enng feeling of my intense nature.
when this son. on whom | had
wasted my love and care. who was the
central figure in all my bright dreams
cheated me. returned my years of long
affection with the ingratitude that is
sharper than serpent tooth, was it
any wonder that ! cursed him? Years
after his fall and disgrace. when he APP
peared to me ONLY as he did to the rest
OF the world a felon, an outcast-he
left me the heritage of his marriage
with some unknown woman, a child, a
little girl. In the light of these calmer
later years | think | was almost insane
at the time. One look at my grand
daughter always aroused me to a pitch
of frenzy which tremblcd even TO re-
call, she had her father dreamy. dark
eyes, the eyes | had once loved, and
she used to watch in such curious
wondering way, that in my diseased
brain ! grew to fancy her some imp of
darkness which he had sent TO torture
me.
IL must spare you description and
,ay that in one never-to- be-forgotten
moment of madness / blinded her!
Think of it-thnk of it! Is il any
wonder that | long for deathp Can
future state be worse than the
hourly unavailing remorse and an
guish of my life since that timeP No;
my curse is greater than | can bear.
Nothing that repentance could do to
expiate my sin have ! overlooked.
Marah- for So i'm my bitter mood |