Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-10-23

She needed danger, scenic effect and
pleasure. heightened by terror. Once or
twice in the early time. she was reckless
enough to leave her home during the night
and to return before day. But she was
obliged to renounce these audacious
flights, finding them too perilous.
These nocturnal interviews with Eu-.
gene were not very frequent, and she had
usually received him at home.
This was their arrane ement:
There was an entrance to the garden
from a side street. This entrance was
through an archway in the stable build
ing. The room over the archway was oc-
cupied by the head coaehman, a middle
aged man, who fully enjoyed his masters
confidence. Indeed, so thoroughly did
the Senator trust him, that he often sent
him to distant places to execute commits
sions for him.
It was the time of these absences that
Cora Elliston and Eugene Cleveland
chose TOR their dangerous interviews at
night.
Eugene, appraised from within by some
understood signal, entered the Enclosure
back of the sta bles through the archway,
and thence crossed the garden, and SO
reached the rear of the mansion.
Cora always charged herself with the
peril that charmed herewith keeping
open one of the lower windows. The
ordinary custom of lodging the domestics
in the upper story gave to this hardihood
q BOrG OF BecuTlLy, NOTWITHSTANDING 1IS
being always hazardous.
On moonless night, at this period of
our story, one of these occasions, always
impatiently awaited on both sides, pre-
sented itself, and Eugene at midnight
penetrated into the Elliston garden.
At the moment when he turned the key
in the door of the archway he thought he
heard slight sound behind him.
He turned, cast rapid glance over the
dark space that surrounded him, and
thinking himself mistaken, entered.
An instant after the shadow of a man
appeared at the angle of pile of lumber,
on the site OF a new building opposite.
This shadow remained for some time
immovable in front of the windows of the
Elliston mansion and then plunged again
into the darkness.
The following week Eugene Cleveland
was at his club one evening, playing
whist with the Senator. He remarked
that his uncle was not playing his usual
game, and saw also imprinted on his fea-
lures painful preoccupation.
Are you in pain, uncle?" said he, after
they had finished their game.
mol mol" said the Senator; Il am only
annoyed-a tiresome affair between two
of my tenants up the Hudson. I sent
Johnson-my head coachman, you know,
and good fellow-up there this morning
to inquire into it.
The Senator made a few steps, then re-
turned to Eugene and took him aside:
My young friend" he said, Il deceived
you just now; I have something on my
mind-somet hing very serious. I am, to
tell the truth, very unhappy"
What is the matter?" asked Eugene,
whose heart sank.
L shall tell you that probably to-mor-
row. Come. in any case. to see me to-
morrow morning, won't your"
Yes, certainly"
Thanks. Now shall go, for am
He squeezed his hand more affection
Rtely than usual.
Goodnight. my dear boy" he added,
and turned around brusquely to hide the
tears which suddenly filed his eyes.
Eugene experienced for some moments
| lively disquietude, but the friendly and
tender adieus of the Senator treasured
him that it did not relate to him. Still
he continued astonished and even af-
! fected by the sad emotion of the old man.
Wasn't not strange? If there was one
man y the world whom he loved, or to
whom he would have devoted himself. it
was this one whom he had morally
| wronged.
He had, however, good reason to be IN
easy, and was wrong in reassuring him
| self; for the Senator, in the course of
that evening, had been informed of the
| treachery of his wife; at least, he had
been prepared for it. Only he was still
| ignorant of the name of her accomplice.
The one who informed him was afraid
| of encountering the blind and obstinate
| faith of the Senator, had he named Eu-
| gene.
It was probable, also, after what had
| already occurred, that had he again pro-
| nounced that name, the Senator would
| have repulsed the suspicion as a mon
strous impossibility, regretting even the
! thought.
Eugene remained until midnight at the
| club and then walked to the Elliston
! mansion. He was introduced into the
! house with the customary precautions,
| and this time we shall follow him there.
On account of his poor health and rest
/ lessness, the Senator usually occupied a
room by himself. In traversing the gar
den, Eugene saw the soft light of the
night-lamp burning behind the blinds.
! Cora awaited him at the door of her.
boudoir, which opened on a circular
/ passage at an elevation of a few feet.
He kissed her hand, and told her in
! few words of the Senator'S sadness.
She replied she had been very uneasy
about his health for some days. This
explanation seemed natural to Eugene.
and he followed Cora through the dark
and silent rooms.
She held in her hand a small por. able
lamp, the feeble light of which threw on
her delicate features a strange pallor. AS
they passed on the rustling of her dress
was the only sound which betrayed her
| light movement.
She stopped from time to time-alI
shivering-as if to better taste the dra-
matte solemnity which surrounded them
turned her blonde head little to look
| at Eugene, then cast on him her inspiring
smile, placed her hand on her heart, as if
to say. I am fearful" and continued to
proceed.
They reached her chamber, where a dim
gas jet family illumined the som Der mag
niicence. the sculptured wainscotings,
and the heavy draperies.
The flame on the hearth, which flick
cred up at intervals, threw a bright CLEAN
on the beautiful italian statuary which
| formed the chief dacoratinns of fhia