The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-02

hour approached. Vera lauGhinglv eN-
cuSci, herself, and left her guests After
going up stairs, she stole forth nj a side
door, and walked swiftly in the direction
OF the summcr-house-
Ii was the signal Tor which ! waited
Proceeding 10 Tigers kennel, and looslnS
his chain, babe him follow me.
The summer house was quaint struct-
urr OF two stories, standing in a remote
part Of the grounds. Dense shruDJery
shut il in.
Taking Tiger by the collar, drew him
under cover Of some bushes near the
door. where b. WAS entirely concealed
from observation
Lot no one pass, sir said in fierce
whisper, ami the intelligent animal gave
4 low growl, rs though he fully under
stood what was expected OF him.
\ flight oi stairs led from the ground
floor 10 the more comfortable room above
Neras face was n study when she
heard my step, and, looking up, saw me
standing in the open door. The Hush
died suddenly out OF her cheeks, the
eager light from her ewes. She started
mp from the rustic seat, Pallid and trem-
bling.
"Whv, Roger, what brings you here -
she stammered. Did you come 10 seek
me 2'
YES, Vera" I answered, drawing her
down beside me upon the bench Come,
be seated again. IL viii be 50 nice 10
have tctc-a- tcis for once, away from our
guests
| spoke calmly, but she must have seen
something unusual in my face; or she
NAV have hoped 10 get me away before
her lover appeared. All at once she be
gan 10 struggle IN my arms
Let me 90, Roger. l cannot remain
here. Our guests will wonder at our alb
sence, and take ohense. Let US return %
the house. At once
WAIT. Sing Just one OF the old songc
with which YOU used TO enChant me
Another time, Roger. Reilly
She was struggling again. held her
Is in = wise.
Suddenly a step sounded in tho path
below. Vera grew still a. death al at
once look OF awful terror creeping over
her livId face.
While We remained motionlesS, staring
into each others eyes, hOarse grOwl
came T. our ear, succeeded immediately
by Il will, terrified cry. Vera seemed
To comprchend the truth Instantly
Tiger" - she painted rather than said.
"You have let him loOSeI'
Then sh" dropped ON her knees, AMI
lifted her cl sped hands
.Roycr, hr iucrciful, Call off the brute.
Murder viii be done. Go, Tor Heavens
sake! or it Will be too late
! listened with smiling lips
\ suIriiDE sound came from below,
mingled with means oi pain. Evcn these
died away II last.
Vera made a desperate effort, broke
from my hold, and rushed screaming
down the stairs.
l followed.
\ horrible sight met my gaza when I
reached the lawn. Royal Eavnc lay
across the path, bruised and bleeding,
his white face and staEins eyes uptUrnci
to the pItIleSs sky. Tiger still CrDuChcI
beside h!s victim, his jaws dripping with
gore.
sell across the dead l'p ~ OF her lover.
"Dh, Heaven, he - dead
Her wild grief Iuajdcuci mn. ! seized
her roughly by the arm and Fitted hcr mp.
The white dress She Wore, with its gay
knots Of pretty pInS ribbon, WIS spotted
and dalsDIrd with blood.
4 sort oi frenzy seemed TO take posses
sion oi me.
Yes I hisseI. r'Tiger has done his
work well | knew the faithful brute
couli be trusted to guard my honor Nou
would rather Join your paraHOur, no
doubt, than live with ne?H
"Nc-,' she barely whispered. "You
know al, and | viii not disguise the
truth. ] lo.rd him"
Then she lifted her face, all her voice
coming back.
lille is valuelcss to me now. Kill me,
too, and - complete the work OF venge-
anCc.'
Il VIII" was nv answer.
And drawing knife, L plunged it into
her bosom.
She expired with scarce sign. A
smile of heavenly sweetness seemed to
hover about her lips ~ she fell back
upon the grass, her llfz-b'oD mingliu-s
lis stream wiki ROYAL Haynes. Ah,
Heaven, how beautiful she waS-lov,.-
licr than ever in the icy en- lra = Of
death. The fatal beauty th-t had been
oi those two the hIne-
was stunned for 4 while but finally
my senses returned. Something must be
done to conceal the crime | had COM
miJtei.
Raising V-ra'slifclass body in my arms,
| Dor. IL 10 tn" rear of the su unWcr-h0us.,
where some stones forming tac iOgn Il
ton wall were luoS., and tG-usting l.
through tha aperture, replaced every
thing precisely a. | IA ld fpun it. After
ward / returned To the house, uIin-ling
freely with tine guests. NJ one seemed
10 notice anything unusual IL my appear
ancc.
As the evening wore on, sly whisp rs
anl significant glInccs were cNclauy Il.
The continued absence Of Vera anl
Royal Raync WAS being commented on
and one OF the elder ladies sail, III An
audible whisper:
"Oi course, they have fled. II s strange
how Mr.. D-lmar can remain ignorant of
what is so patent to everybody c.s-."
The next morning Rayn-'s body was
discovered nearthc summer house, where
i had left IL but there could be no un-
init a -. hon l,a h.1 f.ta.
The imprint OF Tigers t. tn was all too
visible III his purple throat.
Everybody WAS startled, and there was
n great conimotiOn.
Then the natural query arose: What
had become OF Vera The goSsips were
not long in stepping to the front with I
theory she had been CrazeI by the
sight of her dead lover, they said, and
was wandering aimlessly about the
country.
To encourage this belief I sent scout
ing part .es in every direction; the whole
ncIgdbOrhOOi joined in the search.
From all sides came expressions of
sy-Gp5thy and coincidence. l WIS looked
upon is a martyr.
But oh! the long, dreadful days and
horr bile nights Often did | wakel from
troubled dreams, 4 cold sweat believing
my lOrchcal, u see Vera : dead lac;
staring Al me out OF the darkness.
An inlefinahie fascination drew mo
daily 10 the spot where ! hal concealed
the holy. ! felt morbid longing To b.
hoLl her agIin and marx the changes
death had wrought
Oa- morning, unable longer t. resist
the impulse, l stole secretly u the sum
mer-houSe, and, removing the stones,
DRAGGED forth the 10 ly of INV victim
/ Ia scarcely done this when a strong
hand tITrfI'g4.l An. . l..
law was standing n my elbow.
Il suspected you from the first" he
sli !, with Ter. "Now there can be no
dOubt o. your guilt. 1t becomes NV du,v
u place you under arrest for the murder
OF your wife, and"