The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-06


hren betrayed into upkindness-heard John de-
hbtra'ely call Percy thief. She saw IL then
and 70 think what Percy offered her. and what
the world bad given herl Could abe. dared she
tell Johu Of Der prospective marriage now. after
that accusation Of PercyT
She Immediately made mp her mind what re-
NAMED for her to do.
She went abroad and found Percy; she told
him he must slope with her. delay was danger
GUS
''Why7r he demanded eonfussdly. "rhyfs
Because / shall nos trust myself with John
any longer-dont ask me what be has said and
done. it was simply dreadful Hs-oh, he
suspects yonl'
Don't ask. Let il be tomorrow night--the
the elopement John would prevent 10 IL be
knew, l am sure Of that, for he accuses you
Penelope. nothing should hinder my ac-
tancss-r
He paused. evidently expecting her to take MP
the thread. She did not for some time. AT last
she said eloomily: HNu
II think can take q thousand dollars for i'm
mediate expenses and shuddered.
Take IL indeed
Angel he cried. and kissed her. Penelope
shuddered the more at the celestial appellation.
She hac made up her mind to rob Johns fire.
proof.
'.At Any rate she walled to herself, ''it viii
only be as a wedding present to me-
She turned 70 Percy and saw in him . hquide-
rou OF all her Indebtedness to john OF all the
old-fimes indebtedness to her and wrought upon
and excited her one aim was for q possible hap
piness that had eluded her long ago, for the loss
of which she had never been compensated.
How the next day passed she never knew. ex-
cept that il was one continuous shock.
AT last the night came. JOHN in-6is sleeping
room. and Penelope glided down to his Office.
First let me impart v.ist Was further on her
mind-she meapt.J~hen she was safely escaped
win fercy &id in car. to inhale chloroform,
49,. -
% nl1Ds'<r had married him TO her and
I@ her TO 60 back would be impossi-
'Dse. Penelope's ideas of the action Of an anes
thetic being fgurative: for Johns new anger
wounded her sorely. and his mention of rouge
snd Sam Smiths opinion OF her worked nightly
ia her mind. and made her fear that she ought
to rcu from Percy rather than with him. which
must be preposterous. So in her pocket an she
vent down to Johns Office was bottle of
choroform ready for the journey later on IN the
night
In one hand she carried a bag of gun powder,
which had been left over from Johns autumnal
weeks shooting; in the other hand was box OF
matches. She meant 10 blow open the safe. as
she bad heard of burglars doing, for she never
knew where John kept the keys of the safe.
II think Ill put my fingers in my ears and
close my eyes while IL goes off, said she. Pene-
lope also having original ideas of the action Of
explosives
She happened to think there might be some
noise.
all smother it, she said, and went for robe
OF flannel and wound il about the SAFE She
was past all wavering now.
just as che struck the first match she heard
Johns step and put ont the light. He caught
her. She had one of her spells. When she had
recovered he said sorrowfully: Il don't blame
you, Pen; you're only tool in the mans hands
Tell me-did no escape by the Window"
''Whatl
al know that You were with him when he at
tempted to blow open that safe, which would
have blown the roof of as we'll You were with
bin. or else how did that flannel robe come
herei could swear that he has been lettering
about the house for hours Where is bel"
Had Percy caused her downfalll And he was
lettering around 20 her safely away. for
PeDelops had arranged TO 60 alone and meet
him in the cars thus keeping him apart from
her as long as possible And he was accused of
attempting to force the SAFE Poor PERCY go
to your room" commanded John. II see you do
notintend to answer me. shall lock YOU in
that room If 1t Is necessary. shall take care that
you do not wander around the house anyhow.
have warrant for the arrest OF this man.
There! 1t shall be served on him early in the
morning II you've any modesty at all you will
keep in your apartment and not make spec
tscle of yourself before Sam Smith if he should
happen to drop in"
Hurryne up to her room, Penelope set about
tearing up her bed clothes. Then. lost in
thought, she sat down. Up she rose and threw
some things in bag. placing the immortal al
be separated from that book which had once
rested under her pillow. Then she wept
John is beside himself. dear. kind brother"
The thought came 10 her that it was miserable
to leave in anger the only soul who had loved
her for years-John. She would, she would
She would 60 10 Johns bedside and kiss him as
he slept But he must not know il, he must not
wake TO hinder her from going to Percy. She
wetted her handkerchief with chloroform he must
inhals that lest he should wake and interpose.
She believes to this day that she grew crazier
every minute Of that night She crept through
the dark house to Johns room, guided 20 his
bedside by his even breathing Her handker-
chief ready for action, she stretched out her
hand To find the pillow, when her fingers struck
against foreign cold body, and mebody else
WAS bending over her brother. Penelope was
very bold then; she let the saturated handker-
chief fall on Johns face, for he must not be en-
dangered in combat with an intruder, and she
plunged forward and erasped the foreign cold
body-a pistol In the hand of body not quite
foreign.
Percy she rasped. would you commit
murderous crime to gain possession Of met
Merciful powersm
He had the chloroformed handkerchief to his
eyes when she led him repentent from the room.
She hurried him away-yes. she must go with
him II only to prevent nameless horror; she
mus esen 60 without the thousand dollars she
mad promised, and must depend upon Percy's
remttances coming In time. She sped from the
room and threw from the window the line she
had MADE OF the best clothes. Tor she dared not
pass Johns room again, and she would do this
exiravacant thing in order TO merit y blame
vhiehsshe knew she deserved. and which her
brother iealoucly guarded her from. She was
wild indeed.
When the late night train left the station. one
of its very few passengers was nervous shak-
ing old woman who, when the cars were fairly
in motion, made movement as though she
would GET out; but on looking from the window,
and, seeing John Budd and Sam Smith running
along the platform, she sank back grooming.
HE was in my room, he chloroformed me-"
John was yelling Thus was Percy De Ia Roche
wrongfully accused once more.
At the next station the old woman few to the
car door as though she would get off here at any
rate: John Budd and Sam Smith were on the
platform. Again she sank back. The old
woman glanced about her.
Thank the powers there is no one but me in
this car
Her thanks were scarcely expressed whom the
door opened cautiously aud Percy de la Roche
insinuated himself into the aisle, bundle in
his arms-his elopement bundle. He crouched
upon a seat like q hunted man. not noticing the
old woman at the other end of the car.
That old woman was hysterical, she fumbled
at her dress pocket her fnger-nails ratified upon
n bottle there. She hobbled through the lane
formed by empty seats
..Who are your painted Percy De la Roche; 1T
thought was alons. Ihave been hiding under
the car- I am bruised ami shaken Did vou sea