Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-20

In Dora's mind even the viper that came
out of the fire was not altogether M
applicable to the present state OF Al
fairs.
any paor brother has a viper hanging
upon him. she said to herself Il knew
that misery would come out OF that
marriage, but did not think that It would
take the form of bloodshed."
Lady Darnel consented to lie down on
sofa wheeled near the fire, to please Grace
rather than from any hope Of relief to be
obtained from repose. A rug was spread
over her, and she lay silent, with eyes
closed. The other two women might sup
pose that she was sleeping.
Had you not better go to your own
room, Aunt Doras" said Grace, lit
tie worried by the sight of that calm
white-robed figure and the open Bible.
Grace was firm in religious faith and
reverence for the Scriptures, but she could
not seat herself down to read the Acts OF
the Apostles with folded hands in tho
midst of domestic CONFUSION.
1T is nearly 2 O'Clock, Aunt Dora Do
go to your own ROOM" she said, hardly
concealing her irritation.
mo, Grace, like to be near Allan. Ny
own room is at the other end of the house.
hope am not in your way heres'
Not at all,n said Grace, shortly; and
then she got up and went out to the corrl-
dor and listened at her fathers door.
Not sound. But he might die, and she
would hear no more than she heard now.
1t was all so sad, 30 inexplicable. Her
father at deaths door; he who had kissed
her and bade her goodnight in his cheer
lest voice only few hours ago. How had
it happeneds She had hardly been calm
enough even to wonder about it until now;
but now she began to ask herself how this
tragedy had come to pass.
Could it be the result of accidents Her
father, an old cavalry soldier, the hero of
two Indian campaigns-was such a man
likely to be playing with firearms as chill
dren and Cockneys play with such things!
Was he likely to handle revolver so
ignorantly or so awkardly as to lodge its
contents in his side? And again she had
understood that Sir Allan had gone to bed
and that Lady Darnel was writing alone
in her room when she, Grace, knocked at
the door
She longed to see her dear old colonel.
He, perhaps, might have told her some
thing; yet what could he know more than
She since he had only appeared on the
scene after the catastrophe.
She walked up and down the corridor
for half an hour or more, till the cold
drove her back to her room. 1t was very
cold in that dead hour of the night, and
poor Grace was shivering in her muslin
dressing gown when she went back to her
room.
Dora Darnel was sitting by the fire, just
as Grace had left her, steadily blowing
through the Acts, as if she had been
divinity student preparing for an exam
nation. Lady Darnel lay with her face
hidden, motionless. silent.
as she asleep? Inquired Grace, in a low
voice
II believe So"
Grace threw herself on her bed, and
cried herself to sleep-a troubled sleep,
easily broken. She had slept thus, hardly
for one moment losing the consciousness
an agonizing cry.
She started up from her pillow to see
Dora Darnel standing beside the sofa in
the dying freight looking down at her
brothers wife.
Glare was lying on her back, with her
clasped hands above her head, her eyes
wide open, and the eyeballs fixed in an
awful stare.
"My fault, my fault" she cried. II
murdered him."
The aunt and niece looked at each other,
appalled,, horror stricken. These words
were the words of a dreamer, and dreams
are widest fictions; but such words at
such moment had a thrilling effect.