Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-08-08

as to the reason of this strange behavior
on the part of the old master, but even II
the truth were guessed, they had no way
of ascertaining it.
1t was observed, however, that there
was little love lost between the two men,
and this seemed to prove that the one
was somehow in the power of the other.
Lawrence Richmond had been more
moody than ever. He watched Capt.
Grant from under his shaggy white eye
brows with almost a glare in his eyes,
and once in a while there might have
been seen upon his face an ominous
scowl.
Evidently it would have done the old
man good to have been able to get his
strong fingers upon the throat OF the
soldier, and have choked the life out Of
him.
Serene in the enjoyment of his power,
the captain thought not Of danger, and
yet he was not the man to be caught
mapping
The secret that lay between these two
men dealt with the past, and it hung
over the head of Lawrence Richmond like
the knife of the guillotine. The captain
/
rope, and when he willed 1t, all that was
necessary was to let the weapon drop
and off went the head of the master OF
Richmond Terrace.
Every day that passed served to in
crease the feeling of mingled dread and
hatred which the one bore toward the
other, and Lawrence Richmond was fast
becoming desperate.
This last demand on the part of the sol
dier for his daughter served to cap the
climax. In spite Of his terrible temper
and strange actions at times which would
seem TO belle the fact this man sincerely
loved his child.
She was the only link that bound him
to past that had been full of happiness
and sunshine until that dreadful blow
came which deprived him of his loved
ones except Carol, and left him behind
to mourn when he could not be COM
forted.
The Captain held his secret, and il must
needs be a terrible one to cause man Of
Lawrence Richmond's iron will to bow
the knee to one whom he looked upon as
his inferior. Could it be, then, that this
frightful devastation in his household
was the visitation OF Providence, as a
Just reward for the crime OF the past?
Alone in his library the master OF the
Terrace paced to and fro like Gagged
tiger
His hands were behind him. his head
low upon his breast, and his every step
quick and agile, showing his irritable.
nervous temperament. That he was
To- t.ft
could be plainly seen, and there was only
one thought that had power enough to
chain his mind at present.
So earnestly was he engaged In this |
strange species OF amusement that he did |
not notice the presence In the room OF |
the captain, until the latter gave utter |
ance TO low, metallic laugh.
1t was strange thing for him to he |
hunting down this old man while at the |
same time he had an avenger on his trail /
in the shape OF his antagonist In the duel /
Nora Warner, the wronged wife OF |
Roger Darrell, who had escaped from the
mad house and was on the trail Of VEN
geanee. But II is ever thus with human /
nature-diamond cut diamond-the world /
over and il would be indeed hard TO find
any object in the shape Of mankind so
low and Insignificant but what there may
be some TO do him homage and fear the
nod OF his head
The old man looked up quickly, and
the keen-eyed soldier noticed a wild, half
eager look upon his face that he had
never seen there before.
He has settled upon something
can see it by the glitter Of his eyes and
the way he shuts his teeth. Have care,
my old gentleman, or you will find your
claws nipped still closer, for no man ever
plays with fire unless he gets his fingers
burnt, and TO you and the secret hold
constitute that fire."
Thus he muttered, as he waited for
Mr.. Richmond TO speak.
"You here r said the other at last;
''what wonder knew it not. for gen.
orally feel tho evil influence Of your
presence like a deadly vapor falling from
the horrld upas-tree.'
"You are disposed TO be both sarcastic
and complimentary Mr.. Richmond, but
under the peculiar circumstances / can
forgive you. / am come to ask little
loan OF you, which / am sure
you will not refuse--a matter OF mere
or two"
Curses on you and your loans you
viii drive me TO distraction yet What
IL l should 60 mad? Why, man.
would tear you limb from limb, l hate
you so. Do you ever think Of the risk
you are running in prosecuting me thus
The old man certainly looked wild
enough when he spoke, but the captain
only laughed. He would have laughed
had he been standing over a powder
magazine to which the fuse was lighted,
ana, indeed, to tell the truth, he was ac-
tually doing that now. and he knew it.
Il have done nothing so terrible. my
dear old gentleman. The case lies in a
nutshell. You had your choice between
providing for me with a small portion of
your immense worldly goods, or else los
ing the whole OF them, your liberty and,
perhaps, yourlife That you have chosen
the former only proves your wisdom.