Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-21

should think you have bus one prospect to hold out for yourself" Neil answered, feeling little at a disadvan. tage, in spite of his pride and authori- tativeness. Evidence is too strong against you even for you to hope for life. Four people saw you fling Jeffrey down the shaft of the old mine. Few men care to commit murder in the presence of so many witnesses.
 Fitz sose quite leisurely. and, leaning against the chimney opposite Sir Neil, ously; no sign in face or attitude of the great, cold qualm which almost stifled his heart-beats.
 "Life p he repeated, ironically; "and suppose I do not hope for life. How are you noble distributors of justice going | to relieve me of it ?"
 "These questions are absurd" inter- posed Sir Neil, growing uncomfortable under the gaze of the clear, dauntless eyes. "You know what the law de- mands of those who take life, and you know how you have taken life to-day. By love didn't come to tell you of it, but to have you taken, and-and to" Sir Neil Athelston was not doing him. self credit in this interview, and he knew it. He had entered the cottage for the purpose of annfhilating the murderer, without condescending to lower himself to explain anything; and here was the | murderer questioning him with 0 man. | ner cool and proud and self-possessed as his own-or more so. Beside that, he had come to ask a question on another subject, or make some hoped for discovery and here he was hesitat- ing over the question. and as far from being Pble to discover where Lima Ches- ter might be as he had been out in the darkening valley, where he had sought | for her in vain.
 "Have the pleasure of receiving you as an amateur policeman, then ?" asked Fitz, calmly.
 We have no need of amateurs in the case, " rejoined the young baronet, with sternness. "There will be professional ones here presently"
 "Then you may sit there, near the door, keeping your self imposed guard, {" l remarked Fitz, with a slight, naughty gesture to one-the most distant from | the fire-of the three chairs which were ali the room contained. "Did you bring the handcuffs p
 Neil Athelston was as incapable of sounding the depths of scorn and defi- l ance hidden under these leisurely words as he was of understanding the intense | muscular earnestness of the man before him. What could he comprehend of tho teachings of proud, wronged, hunted life like this? How could he fathom a heart that had been bright and brave and | hopeful through years of the deepest l humiliation which can be suffered under | Gods wide and nerciful heaven? What | had his pampered nature ever had to battle with, that any experience of his | could bring him near enough to this man to understand anything in his words l beyond their arrogance But yet he | treated them in the wisest way in which wiser man could have done, for he treated them as if they had not been uttered.
 Passing the chair which had been SO coolly assigned him he came up to the table on which the artists block and brush lay. And now the only earnest purpose which had ever stirred him gave his face an eagerness which Fitz, from his lounging position opposite, studied with keen intSntness.
 "Where dld Miss Chester % after she left the lakeP" he asked. "Tell me that, Spendir; We have no other matter to settle now-you and | "We have another matter to settle now, you and l, echoed Fitz, contempt uoasly. It may be just as we'll settfeS here. and now, though have the satis. faction of being able to look forward to another interview in larger apartment, and where more comfortable seat will be at your disposal. The prisoner and the High Sheriff will not need to say much to each other then; though your position there will make no more differ. ence in my valuation of you, Neil Athel- Rton, than my position there will mako in your valuation of me. If you were Sheriff of a hundred counties, he went
 on, his eyes feverishlY hot, while Sir Neil hardly comprehended the keenness of the satire of his last words, "you don't suppose could look upon you, or on any of your house, with anything but scorn and contempt. Your house, mind; l am in no hurry to call 1t mine. Yet such fame as mine will be tomorrow. as mine has been for years, is but a fitting one for the head of such a | house"
 1T do not understand you" put in Sir Neil, feeling it 8 trouble to try to do so. "Will you tell me where-" l Don't you understand me ?" ques- tioned Fitz, with slow emphasis.
 "Well, I will try to make it clear enough for your intellect, if you will kindly assist me by exhibiting some sign upon your face when a gleam
 of intelligence Teaches you. Do you recollect this little sketchp You have seen it before, and I asked you then whether you should recognize the spot if you saw it. Perhaps you may never see it ; but I shall. In spite of the handcuffs and the dock, I shall have liberty for that. Look at it we'll: not to criticise it as you did before, when l you bored yourself to death here for an
 hour, because Mis Chester came-your long pursuit of her has been 8 hlscker crime than that which you kindly say will hang me but look at it." he re- sumed, checking his hot words with a strong and violent effort, "to fix it on your mind. In that church was cele-
 brated. and is registered-is registered the marriage of Sir Gerard Athelston
 and his first wife; the wife whose
 name was the same as the name upon i l~,Aa Il