Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-03-13
MONA SCULLY !;
rhe fish Bride of an EngIishman.
STORY OF THESE TIMES.

the silence Is DIOktu- II IiOloC upon tIiC
gravel outside. quick rush up the bal
cony steps: some one energies from the
gloom of the night, and comes into the
room through the open window. Mona
utters passionate cry of relief and Joy.
1t is Godfrey!
Perhaps. Just at first. surprise is too
great to permit of his feeling either as
Constituent or Indignation. lie looks
from Paul Rodney to Mona, and then
from Mona back to Rodney. After that
his gaze does not wander again. Mona,
running to him. throws herself into his
arms. and there he holds her closely, al
ways with his eyes fixed upon the man
he deems his enemy.
AS for the Australian, he mas grown
pale indeed, but is quite self-poSsessed,
and the usual insOient line round his
mouth has deepened. The dogs have
BY no means relaxed their vigil, but sui
crouch before him, ready for their dead
iy spring at any moment. 1t Is PIC
tIlre. almost a lifeleSs one. so m0tl0nleSS
are all those that help TO form 1t. The
fading fire. the brilliant lamp, the open
window with the silent night beyond,
Paul Rodney standing upon the hearth
rug with folded arms. his dark insolent
Face lighted up with the excitement of
| what IL yet to come. gazing detiantly at
| his cousin. who is staring back at bIm,
| male but determined. And then Mona,
| in her soft white gown, somewhat IN
| the foreground. with one arm IRON
| which the loose sleeve of the dressing
gown has fallen back. leaving the far,
| rounded flesh to be seen thrown around
| her husbands neck. is watching Rod
ney with an expression on her face that
| is half haughtineSs. half nervous dread.
| Her hair has lOOSened. and IS ripping
| over her shoulders, and down far below
| her waist: with her disengaged hand
| she is holding it back FROM her ear,
| hardly knowing how picturesque ana
| striking is her attitude, and Ii v 1t be
trays each perfect curve OF her lovely
| figure.
Nov. sir. speak, . she says, at .ength,
| i'm rather tremulOuS tones, growing fear
full of the heightened silence. There is
| a dangerous vibration III the arm that
| Geoffrey has round her. that gives her
| warning to make some change III the
| scene as soon as possible.
For an instant Rodney turns his eyes
| on her. and then goes back to his sheer
| ing examination OF Geoifrey. Between
them the two dogs still lie, quiet but
| eager.
Call off the dogs" says Godfrey to
| Mona, in a low tone: There is no long
| er any necessity for them. And tell me
| how You come to be here, at TINS hOur,
with this-fellow."
| Mona calls off the dogs They rise
| unwillingly. and, walking into distant
| corner. sit there, as though still await
| ing a chance of taking some active part
| in the coming fray. After which Mo-
ma in few words, explains the situa-
! ton to Godfrey.
"YOu will give me an explanation at
| once saws Godfrey. slowly, address
! Ing his cousin. What brought you
| hcrcf-'
Curiosity, as | have already told
Mrs. Rodney" returns he, lightly
"The window was open, the lamp burn
ing. | walked IN TO see the old room"
! who is your aCcompllHe?' asks
| Ge0fIrcy, still with studied catnHfss.
You are pleased to talk COnun.
| drums says Rodney, with shrug. II
| confess myself sufficiently dull to have
| never guessed one,
II shall make myself palmer. What
! servant did yOa bride to leave the win
| dow open for YOU at this hour?'
! For brief instant the Australian s
eyes flash fire; then he lowers his lids
and laughs quite easily.
You would turn farce into trag,
| edy." he says. mockingly. why should
| | bride a servant TO let me see an Ole
room 10y midnight?"
WHY. indeed, unless you wished tC
possess yourself of something i'll the
| old ro0m?'
'.Ngain | fail to understand" says
Paul; but his very lips grow liyid. Per.
| haI,s for the second time, and with the
same delicacy you used at first, you vii
| cOndescrnd to explain"
is ii necessary" gays Godfrey, very
| inSOlently in his turn. u think not
| By the bye. is il your usual practice tC
| prowl round peoples houses at tive
| o'clock in the morning? ! thought al
| such festive habits were confined t
burglars, and blaCkguards of that or
der"
1--WE are none of us infallible," says
! Rodney, i'll curious tone and speaking
| as if with difficulty. "GOu see. even
you erred Though | am neither burg
lar nor hiackguard, |, too enjoy a wall
at midnight"
Liars says Godfrey, between his
| teettl, his eyes fixed with deadly hatret
upon his cousin. Liar and thiefl''-
| lie goes few steps nearer to him, anC
| then waits.
Thief" echoes Paul, in a terribI,
| tone. His whole face quiVers. \ muir
derous light creeps into his eyes.
Mona. seeing 1t, moves away from
| Geotfrey and, going stealthiIy up to TIL,
| table, LAYS her hand upon the pistol
| that is still living where last she left it
| With a quick gesture, and unseen. ShC
| covers il with a paper. and then turn
| her attention once more upon the tWG
| men.
LAY. thief" repeats GeOifrey. in low
| voice, but fierce. 1t was not without
| q purpose YOU entered this house 10
night, alone, uninvit Tell your story
| to any one foolish enough to believe
! you. do not. What did you hope t
| find? What help towards the gaining
| of your unlawful cause"
"Thief!" interrupts Rodney, repeat.
| ing the vile word again. as though deaf
to everything but this degrading a"cu
! SatiOn. Then there Is o faint pause
| and then
Mona never afterwards could SAY
| wulCn man WAS rne nrSl 10 maze iiig
| attack. but i'll second they are locked
| i'll each others arms IN a deadly EN-
| brace. 4 desire to cry aloud, to sum,
| mon help. takes hold of her. but she
| beats it down. some inward feeling
| clear, hut underlined. telling her that
| be eminentiy undesirable.
Godfrey is the taller man of the two
but Paul the more 1.-THE and sinewy
For a moment they sway To and fro,
| then Godfrey, getting his fingers upon
his Cousins throat, forces him back,
ward.
The Aust ~alian struggles for a mo.
ment. Then, finding Godfrey too many
for him. he lOoSes n,.e 81 lbs hands, and
tnruSuug IL between ms SlnrU ana Waist
coat, brings to light tiny dagger, very
fiat, and lightly sheathed.
Fortunately, this dagger refuses to be
shaken from its hold. Mona, feeling
that fair play is at an end. and that
treachery is asserting itself, turns in
stinctiVely to her faithful allies. the
bloOdhoundS, who have risen. and, with
their hair standing straight on their
backs, are growing Ominously.
Cold, and half Wild with horror. she
yet retains her presence of mind, and
reckoning 10 one Of the dogs. says, inn
periously, AT him, Spiee!" pointing to
Paul Rodney.
Like flash of lightning. the brute
springs forward. and. tiinging himself
upon nuuneS, TasUens ms JeeJn upon
the arm of the hand that holds the
dagger.
The extreme pain, and the pressure
the actual weight-of the powerful ami
NAL tell. Rodney falls back and with
an oath staggers against the mantel-
piece.
Call off that dog" cries Godfrey,
turning savagely TO Mona. WheTeup-
on, having gained her purpose, Mona