Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-04

the Mill House. She was not to b,
defeated. even II Lena and Clirort
Peregrine were In Abbotsford. judith
would keep them apart until she coult
appear on the scene herself to claim
Lena as her lawful guardian, and
having obtained possession of her
Gustave should be made TO marry he,
at once.
at will be easy to obtain anothe,
cheque, she unused, as her heart nj
ready relented toward him; II can In.
vent plausible story about the de.
struction OF the other. And now ]
Will take something to eat before ]
start. l must hunt up Gustave on my
way to Abbotsford and take him down
with me-"
She passed into the dining room,
and, going to side board, she took
| out cake and a decanter of wine.
She drew a chair to the table, cut
some cake and ate it slowly as she ar
ranged her plans, then she poured out
and drank glass of wine.
No sooner had she placed the glass
upon the table than she became con-
scious OF strange sensation stealing
over her. She tried TO cry out, al
though she knew she was far from aid
OF any sort; she tried to rise to reach
the door, the open air-but in vain.
She could not move or make a sound !:
her hands dropped helplessly down,
and she became unconscious; her
frame twitched from time to time;
then there followed a sudden spas
modic action, and she died.
When Gustave left her he had not
attempted to visit London-the driver
did not even turn in the direc-
ton of Fladgate. Gustave had leaned
back lazily in the fly, smoking, while
he was driven through pretty pieces
OF village scenery, passing peaceful
graveyards, prosperous farms, black
smiths forages. roadside inns, and
seaside cottages.
People glanced at him, some with
admiration and some with envy; but
he was trembling from head to foot
with dread, with hope, with horror of
himself that he had so successfully
placed the poisoned draught within
his aunts reach. She had tempted
him-she had shown him the fatal
cheque-she had driven him to des-
peration in order to escape this hate
full marriage and yet secure the mar
riage portion. He was as obstinate
as Madame Dumasque, and he deter
mined no one should cucumber him
with wife when he wanted the
money to save himself from ruin and
keep him going in his evil ways. Ju-
dith always told him that he was like
both his parents; but, having no re-
membrance Of them, and not being of
an emotional nature, Gustave never
troubled to ask questions of anyone SO
long as he was supplied with the
means to lead a gay and fashionable
life. There had been sister of
Madame Dumasque's who had married
a Victor Dumasque. They had gone
abroad and died there. and this bow
was regarded as their orphan son.
If, after all, Gustave reflected,
Madame Dumasque did not touch the
wine, his plan would fail, and the
proof OF his murderous desire would
remain In the Mill House; but, if she
did fall victim to his evil deed, then
he must remove that which would
criminate him. He returned to the
Mill House in a few hours to learn that
his plan had failed; but he resolved to
repeat his visit the next evening and
to invent story if she was there, or,
II she had left, to force an entrance
and remove the poisoned draught. He
told the people at the hotel he should
dine out and return home late; and
then he went down to the sea and
strolled about in such misery as none
but the murderer can feel AS the aft |
ernoon gave place to evening he once |
more drew near the fatal house, dread
ng every step which brought him |
nearer, and hoping his aunt had left |
,he place long since.
He went up to the front door and
'apped two or three times; but no one |
answered, and every window was
closed and fastened.
"Gone!" he muttered, with a sigh of
'elief; and then he tried the handle of
he entrance door. 1t turned at once
md he entered. He called his aunt by
lame, but all was silent. Going up
tairs he found Madame Dumasque's
travelling attire, with her travelling
Jag, lying on the bed. His aunt must
20 in the house, he thought, for here
we're her bonnet, her veil and her
'loves. He tried the bag; it was lock-
ID, as If in readiness for starting.
hen she must be there, and was per-
laps hiding on purpose to watch his
novements. He tried the windows of
he bedroom; they were fastened and
he blinds were lowered. The back
DOR was also secured, and the win
ows at the back OF the house-every
lace was neat and orderly, and no
ign of any meal was visible. He came
ext to the front of the house and
rent cautiously into the drawing-room.
he place was stripped of the books
nd music and instruments-theyh had
cen packed and sent away; but it was
eat and elegant, and many trifes
| daily use had been left behind, as
lough Madam Dumasque meant to re-
lin possession Of the house for a
me.
There now remained only the dining
Dom, to which he hesitated to pro-
eed. He crossed the hall and saw
he door OF the room was slightly open;
peeped 10, and started back to the
apostle wall as he caught sight of the
lids OF q silk DRESS It's golden hrown