Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-14

too well Will do what can 1of you, pus
it must be in my own way. Oh, vaien-
tine, why do you follow in the fatal road
that your father trod to his DOOM The
habits of the drunkard and the gambler
ruined him, and they'll ruin you if you DO
not reform. Think of his dreadful end-a
murderer. a lunatic. Be warned in time.
No, my poor son, it is not yet too late. l
will help you. Twill visit you, befrlend
you in every way, If you will only show
a real purpose of amendment And now,
for PHYS sake, leave this house, before Sir
Allan overhears anything. Are you lodg-
ing in the village."
II have been lodging under the hedges
and haystacks since yesterday evening.
When l landed in Newhaven yesterday
morning 1 had just enough to pay for
third-class ticket to Scadleigh. l have
been roaming about ever since with empty
pockets and an empty stomach, watching
for a chance of an interview with you or
or Grace"
THANK God, you did not see Grace-in
this dreadful plight. Poor creature-poor
unhappy boy" said Lady Darnel, glancing
at the clock. "Ten minutes to IL; they
will hardly have gone to bed at the Coach
and Horses, for they seldom close until
after II. You had better go there and
get room for the night. There is shell
tered lane at the back of the inn garden
a narrow lane with tall hedges. will
meet you there at tomorrow morning,
and we can talk quietly, we can make
some plan for your future. And now, go.
There is not moment to be lost, II you
want to get shelter tonight"
II don't want to sleep under hedge"
he said, sullenly, moving slowly toward
the window, reluctant, undecided"
At this moment the door leading into
the corridor was opened little way, and
sweet girls voice said, Mother, are you
still up:"
Lady Darnel rushed to the door, and met
Grace before she could enter the room.
ayes, dear child" she said, going out
into the corridor, and shutting the door
behind her. "Oh, Grace, why are you not
in bed? 1t is close upon midnight, and you
wer up at T."
II couldn't sleep wink if went to bed.
Mayn't l come into your room for a few
minutes chat?"
mot tonight. 1t is too late"
"How pale you are, mother. Are you
insn
mo, no. not ILL, only little tired. I
have sat up too long. Now, Grace, shall
take you back to your room, and you must
go to bed instantly"
The girl was in her dressing gown, her
splendid brown hair hanging loose upon
her shoulders. Lady Darnel put her arm
round her and led her along the corridor
Graces and the visitors rooms were at the
end of the house, just beyond those in
habited by Sir Allan and Lady Darnel.
These three had exclusive occupation of
IS, Thn fra1
of the first floor was taken up by picture
gallery and billiard room. Miss Darneps
rooms were in the northern wing.
"What has made you SO wakeful,
Gracie?" asked Clare when she had taken
the girl back to her room.
Grace hesitated for few moments,
looking at the ground and playing nerv-
ously with the lace frilling of her dressing
down.
She was longing to tell all her troubles
to her step-mother, yet dared not. Fear of
her fathers anger kept her dumb
"Oh, don't know" she said. Perhaps
it was the exciting idea of our Italian
tour. At any rate, couldn't sleep, and
thought if you were up should like to
have talk. But you are too tired, and
you ought to go to bed. You are as white
as a ghost"
ayes, am very tired. ood-night, dear
child"
Good night, mother" ond with an
affectionate kiss they parted.
Lady Darnel did not go back to her
room Immediately. She wanted time
first, to be sure that Grace did not follow
her; secondly, to recover her GOODNESS of
brain, to consider quietly and calmly, if
possible, what was to be done with this
foolish son of hers He would have gone
when she went back to her room, perhaps;
or, if he had not gone, she would be better
able to reason with him after a few
minutes quiet.
She walked up and down the corridor
two or three times, thinking deeply, try
ing to hit upon some line of conduct which
might save Grace and reclaim the
prodigal. Grace must on no account
know that her lover was in the neigh
borhood. Girls are so foolish. His
wretched condition would appeal to her
pity There is no knowing into what
foolishness she might be entrapped
The stable clock and the church clock
struck twelve-the last with silvery,
solemn tone, heard from afar across the
elms and oaks, the dells and slopes where
the cattle were lying at rest. Lady Darnel
took one turn more.
"Harki What can that bes"
No doubt as to what it was. The report
of pistol. What it meant was another
thing.
For a moment or so Clare Darnel stood
motionless with terror. Then there came
the thud of heavy fall
at is my room," cried Clare beside her
self with apprehension, remembering the
revolvers in their case on the table, the
open case with dark red velvet lining
glowing in the lamp-light. She had
looked at it absently while Valentine was
talking to her-looked at it with mind so
distracted as never to consider how fatal
q thing a revolver may be.
"He has killed himselfI" she cried, dis
tractedly
She rushed to her room, tearing at the
door with convulsive hands, which made
the mere turning of the handle seem q
work of time and difficulty. She expected
to see her reprobate son stretched upon
the floor and weltering in his blood. She
knew not that worse evil had befallen
her
She went into the room. The easement
was wide open, and the night wind was
blowing in. scattering the papers on her
writing-table. She doorway leading into
the bedroom was open, the velvet por.
there pulled aside, and Allan Darnel was
lying across the threshold, bleeding, dead,
as his wife thought in the supreme agony
of that moment
While she stood looking at him. with
clasped hands, his daughter rushed into
the room, and saw what had happened