Sword and shield., 1885-11-21
FROM FIRST PAGE. I
A FAMILY AFFAIR.

anguish Wrltten IN every lmeaments gazing
at her mistress's window like one bidding the
object, the dearest ON earth, an eternal fare
well-eternal because even the eons0ling
hope of a meeting in some future state is abb
sent But Beatrice, who, in the earlier
watches of the night, had been awake for
hours with her sorrow, slept on until the sun
was high. Perhaps it was well for her she
did so.
The poor sCSfappOinted instrument for
working the Divine Will, had, after she left
the scene of her dark work, wandered about
the outskirts of Munich, aimlessy and hope
lessly. Had it been broad daylight, and had
there been persons to see her, an occasional
stifled moan and a wringing of the hands
would have been all that showed the agony
of mind she endured. But it was not as
might be supposed the agony of rem0rse. 1t
was agony at the thought of the further sacri-
flee which such sense as still was hers told
her she must make, IN order that the desired
and predestined results might follow the act
of the night.
She was mad and she was not mad. On
what may be called the religious side OF the
question, her mind, as may be guessed from
her deeds, was gone past redemption. IL
may be that this had been her true state Tor
years; ever since she had accepted as true
the inexorable logic of creed which she had
partly been Taught, partly framed for herself.
The FIRE may have been burning Tor years,
giving now and again transient flashes, ana
only waiting for certain circumstances to fan
Il 10 consuming flame. The fierce burst
was now over, but the fire would burn and
not again be hidden until it had deyOured
- Teason.
s. d murdered this man in all
but cold 3D. Apart from the horror at
teRdant Oh the actual execution of the crime,
q horror which begin TO haunt her and be
ever with her, she lelt no poignant misery,
no maddening regret. In her wild disJolnted
way she lamented, not the mans death, Dui
the fact that she had been chosen to bring II
about She lamented it even as Judas might
have lamented the hard fate which, IN order
that prophecy should be fulfilled, singled
him out. and decreed that he should betray
his master. And, if it be true that prOyi-
dence saves and SlayS, who shall say that the
wOman's mad reasoning was uns0und? Are
not faith and logic mortal foes, who shall
only be reconciled when the lion lies down
with the lamb?
Miller was, as yet, sane, or nearly so. She
could look forward, plan, and even carry out.
And the anguish which racked her mind was
the homecoming of the truth, that her act
must part her and her mistress for ever.
Here was the cr0wning sacrifice. Here was,
perhaps, the earthly punishment Never
again to gaze into that dear face; never again
to hear that loved voice; never again to be
near her to minister to her wants, to aid her,
scheme for her, and, if needs be, sin for her.
Never to see her in the happiness which had
been so dearly b0ught Here was the Sacri-
flee! 1t must be made, and she must find
strength to make it. and skill to insure its be-
ing of use.
To see her MISTRESS to meet her even once
more would be to ruin all. She must never
know whose hand it was bore her freedom.
She would never suspect that her servant
had been the means of cutting the knot which
it seemed no earthly power could have un-
done.
So when at last the morning broke grey,
and trees and other objects lOOmed phantom
like, and unreal through the mist, Sarah Mil
Ter planned and schemed, seeking the way to
insure what she had so dearly bought. All
her thoughts reached one end. She must fly
far, far from the spot. Beatrice must never
hear of her again; never know that she left
London. If her proximity to the dead man
became known the trutl might be guessed
and all be lost.
Yet before she went she must see the house
in which her darling lived. She must stOop
and kiss the doorstep on which those loved
feet had trOdden. She must watt her one
passionate and unheeded farewell, then leave
the place and be as one dead.
She struggled against the desire but it over
came her With the first streakS of daylight
she entered the sleeping city, and utterly
worn out stood before her miStreSS'S window,
and for while watched it as one might
watch the last fading ray of sun which has
sunk never again to rise and tighten the
darkness which shall be eternal
At that early hour of the morning the street
was silent and deserted. There was no one
to notice the strange-lOOking creature who
stood and, with wild despair in her eyes, for
ever gaZcd on one spot. Her look for the
time was such that no one, not even the one
most preOccupied with his own concerns,
could have passed her without feeling his
curiosity raised as to why she was lingering
there, and what gave her that appearance of
dire distress.
After some minutes spent III thls manner,
the woman crossed the road. Her limbs
dragged after her and made her exhausted
state apparent She leant her head against
the door of the house which held her mis-
tress, and sobbed cOnvulsively. A dizzy feel
ing came over her, and she felt thlt she was
upon the point of fainting, and falling sense
4. d. off
she reused herself and shook off the incipient
Stupor. If once she sank down her weary
limbs might rebel and refuse to do her bid
ding. She might lie there until her presence
was discovered, and that discovery ruined all.
No, if she were to sink and perhaps die, let
it be as far away from Beatrice as her wan
ing strength could carry her. Sweet as ii
would be to breathe her last within reach of
her mistress, even such poor comfort could
not be vOuchsafed to her.
1t speaks volumes for the iron strength of
her will, insomuch that it struggled with and
Overcame, not only the woman's physical
fatigue, but also the craving for one glimpse
Ct Peatr.ce which chained her to the spot.
She tore herself away and without once look
llsg back. forced her tired limbs to bear her
considerable distance. Here she found
et doorstep on which she sat unmolest-
fought against her exhaustion,
"a time as She would be able to pro-
Il twas net long before, slowly, little by lit
tle, unit BY unit, tie city began to awake
Here and there the shutters went down from
shop, and at last the weary woman saw all
but facing her bakers window. She enter
Xt
q glass of water. Not for her own sake, but
foI the sake of another, she was called upon
to eat and drink.
She ate her bread, and then somewhat
strengthened again began her pilgrimage,
She crept through the streets until she reach
ed the railway station. Here she ascertained
at what time tile next train for the west
would start.
She had a long time to wait She hid her
self in one corner of the waiting-rOOm, and