The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-04-04

HCCOfuhB W ntS SotOutothohs WOefo Sa'.c
her to your window.
But he did not take account OF tho fact
that the door by which the girl enters the
that the stairs by which she would ascend
to tho first floor bring Der to the Landing
between Sir Edmund's room and Miss
Lascellos'. Thus, though carrying out her
fathers instructions to the letter, she must
inevitably make her attempt upon Miss
Lascelles' room and not upon yours. Look
at your plan.
Il follow YOU perfectly wel.- said, as
tonishcd by the ingenuity OF his explana-
tion. which had made u perfectly incredible
supposition po5sible-nay. for the moment,
probable.
Are YOU convinced?" he asked, triumph
You have yet to explain how Brace
thought to obtain the diamond by the means
he employed. He would scarcely expect
| that should faint with terror"
who said he would2 Brace calculated
] uroa dealing with heavy sleepefr not
nervous gill The tapping is described ss sss
whether you were asleep or not. The mo-
ment ~ light appeared the sound ceased-
the girl had gone back TO the bay From
tho landing she could see when the light
| was put out. and IL was safe TO recommence
the attack. Tho candle was liz with some
difficulty the second time: Miss Lascclles
possibly stood with her back to tho window
as she held the vcsta Lola may have de-
| tcctcd the first gimmer, and uncertain or
| not whcthoc il was safe to continue. turned
tho blind. and looked through. At that mo-
| mcnt tho wick burned up, and Miss
| Luscelles turning. saw the girls eyes be-
tween the laths. The knocking was not ro-
! peated for a simple rcason-Lola had dis
| covered her mistake. and retrcntcd. Do
| YOU doubt now the purpose with which
Brace has gone to seek the girl today"
| l was forced to admit that his explana-
| ton was feasible, yet / could not believe
that Lola. who seemed sincerely attached
| to me. would consent to aid In my ruin
merely at the instigation of her .ither,
whose authority she habitually disregard
ed. said this to Van Hoeck.
1t is because she is attached to you-be-
caus, she loves you" he replied. with en-
phasis. that she would readily enter her
/ Jathcr.'S project to rah- -you-of the diamond.
The diamond is hor eneny-ft has separated
you from her. and placed you side by side
with Miss Lascclles. Tor whom she has man
ifcste cd 10 jealous hatred from tho very first
What could be more gratifying to her saw
age disposition than to take away the dta-
mond tfut has created this difference be-
tween you and her, aud to reduce you onco
moro TO her level 1t is the only hope she
can have Of getting you away II ON Miss Las
c.llos. and restoring the former condition OF
equality upon which your companionship
| with her rested.
| Again / was compelled to admit the force
OF Van Hocck argument
| But why." askel. should Brace trust
such II pcrilous undertaking to his daugh-
teri"
| For an obvious reason" he replied. If
you caught her in the act of robbing, you
would not raise your hand against her; II
you caught him, you would blow his brains
out. For her you would find excuse; for
him none.
In this there was truth also.
| Talking Of that. he continued. what
arms do you keep about you for defenseT
None" / replied.
Il thought so. Tako this" he said. draw
ing long clasp-knife from his breast
He showed the spring with which the mar
low blade opened, and-tho catch which
ioeked it NJ hsa back of the. herp. andles and
iscd to close my window, which habitually
kept open at night. and to secure the fast
cnil OF that. as well as the door. before
! going to bed. Finally. he cxactcd that l
sho uld OF CO mo. @ inclosc the Hespcr in the
leather case. and strap it 10 my waist tho
last thing atnight. I.
, Tho JUDI ~ did not return until dusk. Ho
was fltigucds and his general appearance
indicated II pursuit through rough and
thn'ny ways.
| Il hrv seen the Kid" he said; but she
would not listen to reason; and not bein'
Altered of sp'iling her clothes she nat rally
got the best of the argument. and played IL
low down ON her father"
lie advocated starving her into better be-
havior and woul have had the door closed
to cut of her communication with the dairy,
but Mis- Lusccllcs would not listen to this;
she would not yield to fear and declined to
change her room or alter her ordinary hab-
i:udes.
} We separated little before eleven. Tho
night was close AMI stuffy had no incli-
nation to go to bed. especially as had given
Van HOeck my word to close the window
beforehand.
4 There was ~ reading lamp in my room.
lit il, put out the candle, and seated my
soli in u comfortable chair with IL book.
/ Not a sound was to -he-heard after the clock
struck eleven read Er6% moHins tIme
to time had taken my eyes from tho book
| md liStpno1 intently-nnt I'm nnticiDatiOp
OF hearing the mysterious tapping at my
own window. but in apprehension OF its
beng rcpaa:c upon Edith's--and az the
last stroke oil midnight rcvcrbcratc'l through
| the still night closed my book and listened
. again. The silence without was so complete
that the burning of the oil in tho lamp at
/ my side was distinctly audible.
: At that moment | heard u board crcak.
: | Ii was so slight II sound that had my attcn-
!, ton been fixed upon the book. should not
q have noticed IL. ! could not tell wheic il
came from; was not sure that il was not
from the floor under my foot as chan :cd
o my position. nstinctively / looked toward
the window. ] could see nothing beyond
h the circle OF light reflected by the lamp
| shade. IL was too absurd to take the lam
I | to the window-thcrc was no board there
to crcak | waited some minutes. and
y | there being no repetition oi TIL" sound.
t rCOpencl my book. hut pause with my
= finger on the page to listen once more. A
shuddcring sigh. like that Of II child who il
= crying itself to sleep. reached my ear.
= went ~ tho WINDOW, drew up the Dlinil
n softly, and looked out; tor tn" sound had
n seemed 10 come from distance. and
{ | thought il might he the nuttcr of leaves in
1 u breeze. But the night was unchanged
| heavy and still. the moon ohscurcd. and Il
$ thin gray veil Of mist hanging over the
|; lawn. as Edith had seen it the night before.
4 ] opened the door noisclcssly. All was
dark. could see only the mulion Of the
4 bay standing out vagusly against the gray
ness. | listened. At night heavy cul tains
V were drawn across the head of tho corridor
l shutting ii off from tho passage upon which
I | IL abuttcd at righ. angles: nevertheless.
could hear the StcrtOrOuS breathing of the
D Judge or Van lIocck from the roons be-
0 yond. Twas sure that tho sound had
heard was not imaginary. and determined.
= If possible. to discover the cause. | went
e. back To the table and fetched the lamp.
| had returned to where | stood by the
< door when my eyes fell upon something
lying at tho threshold Another step
- and ] should have put my foot upon IL.
In steadying the shade. my left hand
| screened the light; ~ L withdrew IL saw
:, | = ut tho Obiact nf nm fact WAS Lola