Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-02
CHAPTER XXXIIL

If by any chance Beatrice, who certainly
had trouble enough TO make her wakeful,
had risen with the dawn OF tho morning
which followed the tragedy, and looked out
of her easement she would have seen a sight
which would have caused her much surprise
She would have seen Sarah Miller, whom
she believed to be in England, standing on
the opposite side OF the street, utter despair
and anguish written in every lineament,
gazing at her mistress window like one
bidding the object, the dearest ON earth, an
eternal ewell-eternal because even the
consoling hope of "A meeting in some future
state is absent 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 self-appointed instrument for
working the divine will had, aft5r she left
the scene of her dark work, wandered about
the outskirts of Munich, aimless.y and hope
lessly. Had it been broad daylight, and
had there been persons to sec her, an coca
sional stifed moan and 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 remorse.
1t was agony at the thought Of the urther
sacrifice which such sense as still was hers
told her she must mako, in order that the de-
sired and predestinei 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 Iast redemption. 1t
may be that this had been her true state for
years; ever since she had accepted as true
the memorable logic of creed which she had
partly been taught, partly framed for her.
self The IRE may have been burning for
years giving now and again tran5ient flashes,
and only waiting for certain circumstance,
TO fan it to consuming fame The fierci
burst was now over, but the fire would burn
and not again be hidden until 1t had devoured
life as well as reason.
She had killed, murdered this man in all
but cold blood. Apart from the horror at
tendaIt on thu actual execution OF the crime,
a horror which began to haunt her and be
ever with her, she felt no poignant misery,
no nIaddening regret In her wild, dis
iolnted way she iamented, not the mans
death, but the fact that she had been chosen
TO bring it about. She lamentei it even as
Judas might have lamented the hard fate
which, in order that prophecy might be full
tiled, singled him out, and decreed that he
should betray his Master. And, if it be true
that providence saves and Stays, who shall
say that the wOman'5 mad reasoning was
unsound2
On the other side, the material side, Sarah
Miller was, as yet, sane, or nearly so She
could look forward, plan, and even carry
out. And the anguish which racked Ter
mind was the Homecoming Of the truth,
that her act must part her and her mis-
tress for ever. Here Was the browning
he -
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 he, sin for her. Never to see
her in the happiness which had bean sodearly
bought. Here was the sacrifice. 1t must
be made, and she must find strength to make
1t, and skill 70 insure It's being of use
To see her mistress, TO meet her even oncs
more would be TO ruin all Shs mus. never
know whose hand it was bore her freedom.
She wouli never suspect that her servant
had been the means of cutting the knot
which it seemed no earthly power could undo
All. no earthly power could have undone it.
So when at last the morning broke gray,
and trees and other objects doomed phantom
like and unreal through the mist, Sarah
Miller planned and schemed, seeking the
way 10 insure what sne cdd 50 dearly
bought. All her thoughts reached one end.
She must fly far, far from the spot Bea-
trice must never hear Of her again; never
know that she left London II her prox-
unity to the dead man became known tbs
truth might be guessed and all be lost
Ye. before she went she must see the
house liz which her darling lived She must
stoop a. nd kiss the doorstep on which those
loved feet had troddsn. She must watt her
one passionate and unhseded fare well, then
leave the place and b - ons dead
lToEE cssyIsrEo.