The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-16

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his side,
"Read It." he said hurrisdly. "Yor
will find II 10 receipt in full for thu
amount you owe me, fifty thousand dol
laEs.n ---'-'-----'
The old man read 1t slowly, his lonl
lace flushing hotly, his snRky eyes begin
ming 10 CLEAN.
"Corect-qulte correct" he said, pres
emily, looking up with q spArkling anl
exultant vaEs.
"Good /" Observed Desmond, extending
the other hand, "Now do me the fIvol
to cast your eyes over this."
The Major took the paper handed him,
his countenanGe kindling with an almost
Ieroulous Joy,
lars," he said, "drawn on the-bank o.
Charleston, and payable to bearer"
"Itis the amount" said Desmond, VI
promised to pay you Tor your assistance
in"
His voice here sunk to q whisper
shuddering as II II were cold, he sudden
ly sprang from the seat, into which he
had Just flung himself, and, muttering In
coherently, walked away to distant pari
Of the room,
At the same moment, lolseless % Q
shadow, Major Wentworth arose, gllded
across the eCholess carpet, and, WhiskinH
through doorway, disappeared,
"Ha" exclaimed Desmond, turning
and at once perceivIng that be was alone,
"Whst in Satan'a name is the meaning Of
thlsP Flames Of shsol! Are you about
TO hetray me, old manw
Uttering these words In q deep and
menaclng voice, he advanced toward the
doorway through which Major Went.
worth had disappeared with long and
rapid strides.
simultaneously the white aud jeweled
hand OF a woman thrust aside the lacs and
velvet draping one Of the deep Windows,
aud swilGly beautiful face, marble-cold,
white.llpped, illmiDg.eyed, started forth
from the outer backness, looking In upon
him.
In the same breath, however, the heart
shaped flames in the great cluster Of gilt
teriug glass globes near the ceiling began
rapidly contracting; and the shadows
brOoding in dim corners Of the room
heightened and expanded, stalking forth
like mOnstrous shapes Of wrath aud gloom.
Gaining the doorway, Desmond uttered
a low cry Of rage.
"HoI" he growled. "Why have you
turned of the lights, old man?'
An evil, moCking laugh iloated toward
him out OF the gloom that reigned in the
hall.
"You are coward" said the MAJORS
ieering voice. ~ have turned off the gas
in order to give you courage!"
Desmond ground his teeth.
"You lieI" he muttertd, "Lead on!
l will show you that you liel"
He moved forward as he spoke, and the
two dark figures, silent as speCtres,
glided forward down the long and gloomy
hall.
Psusing at last before door on his left,
Major Wentworth noiselesaly threw II
open, and, pointing to the luxurious and
dimly illumlned room beyond, said in 3
husky whisper:
"Thiu apartment Is Juanita's boudoir.
On the opposite yonder Is door commu.
nicRting with her bedroom. Now, In tell.
ing you this, have l fulfilled every prom
lee made your"
"Good! Then you have no further
claim on mef
"None."
II am free to quit this mansion at any
moment l zee 6t 70 do so2"
lyon are."
Every we'll, But before I 90 one ques.
ton, Dlrke Dasmond"
"What Is it?" demanded the other, i'm.
patiently.
A conyulsiye tremor passed through the
old mans frame, causing him to SILVER
from head to foot. In q faint and hollow
voice, his lips writhing with momentary
anguish, he said slowly:
"You mean to keep faith with me do
you not? You S vi marry that girl-save
eyes" replied Desmond, looking at
him strangely. "But why"
"Enoughl" interrupted the old man,
turning upon his heel and gliding hur
riedly away. "My debt Is paid. There Is
no reason for my remaining longer here"
A low, coarse Bigh escaped Desmond's
lips. Gazing after the reCeding figure un.
I'll 1t was swallowed up In the gloom Of
the hall, he muttered In a half moCking
Though faltering voice:
wretch! lB 1t possible that you can
feel the pangs OF remorse? A moment
since you called me coward II 10 you
who are the Coward-not Yet alter all,
yours Is the greater crime. Whyf Be.
cause you betray the innocent creature
who trusts In you. You let down the
bars Of the fold and say to the thirsty Il.
gers, enter. You point out amid the
shadows the form Of 0 helpless and trust
ing victim. Again you speak: The vic.
tim Is young; the victim Is tender. II.
ger, do you fear 10 striker Aye, the tiger
is afraid he 10 q coward Curses on itW
grinding his teeth with sudden fury.
1.-THE tiger Is coward and fooll"
Utterlng those words, Desmond, draw.
ing his heavy mantle more closely about
his tall form, passing through the portal,
and stole like o shadow toward the oppo.
site door.
Around him draperieB OF purple silk
and fllmy lace swayed and rustled In the
perfumed breezss Of the night. In sha.
dowy angles din goblin shapes seemed to
rise up and stretch and peer as he passed.
From each cleaning mirror 0 mantled
figure advanced upon him In irightful
silence, with pale, shaking lips and darkly
flaming eyes.
Shuddering in every limb, he REACHED
the door, aESiretohing forth h's hand to
grnsp the bolt, he hesltated, listening, ex.
peCting to hear from beyond some faint,
vague sound.
In vain. His ears were filed with o
dull aud hollow booming. His broad
chest rose and fell with MIGHTY heavings.
Burning up with the fever Of intense and
maddehing excitement, he felt that no waG
sutIoCRtlng. CllngIng TO the bolt with one
shaking band, he threw back his head,
CluLChlng at his throat with irep1ied
fingers as he Easpsd Tor Slr
A moment however, and the weakness
had passed. Then, smiling In bitter self
contempt, he nolBele6Sly pushed open the
door before him, and, with a OAttlike loot
fall, entered the room beyond.
Like the one he had iust quilted, II wal
only dimly illuminated, o silver lamp OIL
unique design, burning on q small table
Of FlorentinO mosaic, throwing over III
rich and beautiful appointments mellow