The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-29
MURDER OR MERCY.
A Story Of To-Day.

: huge logs blazed in the two Arr
places, but no lamps or candles ha.
Deem brought in to disturb the n
tlmacy OF the twilight hour. Tea a
Milton Court was always drunk b.
nreiight on winter afternoons
darkness IL such an aid to scandal
Lady Minton used to say; clog can
we pull our neighbors to s,sspss IN the
glare of those edisss iampsf Hall
the best tA;ags 7 have ever heard
have been told me in the dusk"
The -Four of tea was a sociable one,
ED the surroundings were thorough.
| ly feminine. The morning room was
furnished in that heterogeneous man
ner which is the characteristic of our
time. There were many screens, and
palms in brass pots, Indian mats
and Japanese tables, Turkish tiivans
and Smyrnese carvings, while NUM-
Der of Rajon etchings, framed in
black, made sad note on the Pom
peian red walls, giving the other
wise over-luxurious room thst touch
OF studied pathos with is ever pres
ent in the complex and many-sided
life of to-day. The curtains were not
yet drawn, and far off, apart from
the group OF dainty fingers who were
clustering round the tea-table and
the fire, stood young girl with her
face pressed against the window. 1t
was cold, melancholy afteroon, and
outside a heavy white fog was gath
ering over the frost-bitten ground,
making fine contrast to the gay
and CHEEKY scene within doors. Std
denly she turned with q cynical little
laugh from the window. "What a
fool / am!"said the girl to herself.
Il have been standing at that cold
window for exactly twenty minutes.
And for what reason? Because DIR,
Brooke chose to go out for a walk
owes the moors on particularly i'm.
possible day, and hasn't come back
yet. LIS that a reason why I should
go without my tea. not to mention
the awful possibility of catching
cold in my head, and having a red
nose? Oh, thanks, Capt. Egerton,
l should like some tea, awfully''-
and repeating helast sentence aloud,
Alison Bligh came forward into the
freight.
Even In the Pickering fire-rays she
revealed herself as a very striking
girl. There was an unmistakable
touch of consciousness in the full lips
and in the clear-cut nostrils, which
were the best part Of a nose which
was somewhat too thick for a wom-
an, and in the fine curves of her
shoulders and bust. But intellect |
was not wanting, as her broad, we'll
marked forehead proved; nor deter.
mination, which was revealed in the |
square lines of her jaw and chin; nor |
certain amount of ideality, which |
looked out of her somewhat dreamy
eyes-dark, Southern eyes which were
in direct contradiction to the twists
OF pale red-gold hair which crowned |
her head. In sum, very danger
GUS young woman, whom Lady Min
ton was wont to declare she would
not trust with her own husband, al
though Sir Francis was past 70, and
q model of the conjugal virtues.
Miss Bligh felt her spirits rise sud-
denly as she took her place in the
CHEEKY round and fire, and she smiled
when she thought of her watch by the
window just now. How cold and
miserable she had felt-how ridicu-
ious to have coded to such a senti-
mental impulse! That was not her
way either; she who had long ago
made up her mind to snatch every
moment ofhappiness-every pleasure
able emotion even-life could offer
her. And then the soft voice ofLady
Minton was heard saying: allison,
when you have quite finished with
Capt. Egerton and those mullins,
pass them both on. And do, like
dear child, sing us something"
Miss Bligh thereupon sprang up
and went to the open piano.
"lwill sing you" she said gravely,
Go 1iftlo RON, q roa which boHn1 onoo |
at the Varieties. I believe it has a
moral. Judic used to sing it," and
striking up quaint accompani-
ment, she sang some words familiar
enough on the boulevards.
While the room was echoing with
plaudits on her rather risky
performance, the door opened and q
man of about 35 came in and sat
down in rocking at the far
end of the room.
"Awfully good, by JoveP' cried
Capt, Egerton, who was leaning on
the piano. II could have sworn it
was Judic, herself, only you aren't
lat, you know" The last part of
the gallant captains sentence was
. tender whisper intended for Miss !!
Bligh's ear alone, but, like many !,
other soft speeches, was audible to
the rest of the room. DIR. Brooke
as he moved from his seat
near the door and, coming forward
INTO the freight, asked Lady Min
ton for cup of tea.
$50 glad you're back, Doctor! We
all thought you were lost on !,
said Lady Minton purring !
over her guest as she poured him out !
some tea.
Eyes, we were all looking forward
20 seeing you brought home stiff1y
roZen on shutter!" cried Allison, /!
Who seemed in the highest spirits.
Had she forgotten her impatient
watch by the window only half an /
hour before?
"Ah, the gods don't love me. I
hall not die young" said the Doc l