Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-01-16
SLEEP NO MORE.

Basest of all men is he who betrays a
trust
Nothing could be urged in the defense of
Edgar Mostyn; not youth, not lack of ex-
perience, not hastiness of action, not
temptation from others, and--as far as one
might judge-not passion. No man stand
ing between good and evil ever had better
reasons than he for following the right
path, and experience would not suffer him
to go wrong by mistake. Yet he sinned-
and the sin was at once great and con-
temptible.
When Basil Retslock had been married
about Il year business made it necessary
that he should leave his wife and home for
several months There were some mines
to be looked after in wild district where
he could not take Eva. A maiden aunt,
old, deaf, stupid, came to the house to
stay, and several of Eva's companions
were expected. But there ought to be a
man about to scare away burglars. Basil IS
best friend was Edgar Mostyn, bachelor
and a man of the world, yet one whose re-
served speech and upright conduct had al
ways repealed the breath of scandal.
He is a man." said Basil-and Mostyn
knew that he had said ito whom
would, without hesitation, intrust every
dollar | had in the world-my own good
name-everything."
So Mostyn came to live in the house of
his friend on his friends request that he
should guard and protect his wife.
At first Eva was never without the com
pany of girl friends. Presently they ceased
to come; perhaps it was accidental, per-
haps she was less urgent in her invita-
tions During the last month, she and the
old aunt and Edgar Mostyn were alone
Of h..t Nlaa
sleepy in the evenings; besides she was
deaf.
When Basil Redstock returned, Mostyn,
who was II man of perfect self control, vel
coined him with cordial smiles and hearty
speech But the weak woman, sick with
terror, scarcely knew what she said and did.
Basil was not suspicious by nature-yet
he was not fool
On the evening of the third day after the
husbands return, as Mostyn sat alone IN
his bachelor quarters, note was brought
to him. 1t had been left at the door by a
woman. In the trembling, lille gibe scrawl
he with difficulty recognized the bandwrit-
Ing of E4a Redstock The note read thus
What have done! | cannot tell how it
has happened; but he knows all He said
he would kill me if did not confess, and
was almost crazy. He means to shoot you
know, for he took his revolver and went
away. wish he had killed mel wish
were dead"
Mostyn stared blankly at the paper for
some moments after he had finished read
ing its message. Here was catastrophe in
form that he had not toreseen for such
weakness was quite out of the pale of his
understanding At last he tore the note
to fragments and tossed it into the fire.
"Well," he said with savage cowl "it
isascrape-a bad one. So he means
to shoot, ehS'
Presently Mostyn arose and opened
drawer in his desk. He took out a revolver
not "A toy article but one of the sort that
can be made to shoot straight and to kill
and began to turn it over in his hands. A
touch on half concealed spring, and tn,
chambers rolled out. From the same drawer
he brought piece of cloth, a small bottle
of oil and some cartridges.
1t took ii little time to clean, oil and loat
the weapon. While he was thus engaged
Mostyn thought the situation over afte
this wise:
''He does not know how to shoot, and i
! meet him on the street and he draws
can safely risk his first fire. | know tina
revolver of his; before he is ready for sec
ond can-h'm, it would be bad business
u
come out anyway, if he tries the shooting
business Ruin me, of course; but dom
care to give my life just because woman
Is a fool. God! what fool she was! |
she had only denied it that would hav
been something-but to confess all! Ie
how If he should come on me from behind
Well that is not like Basil RedstOck. III
is a chivarous fellow, and imagine viii
not shoot without warning"
When the pistol was loaded and in pei
feet order Mostyn slipped it into leathe
sheath and left it upon the desk. Then n
sat down by the fire and thought-not G
the immediate danger-for he was read
now to meet that-but of the man and tn
woman who had that day lived a TRACED
on his account. Such thoughts were surel
not pleasant; yet he remained an hour b'
yond the time when he usually retired
staring into the flames.
The living apartments of Mr.. Edge
Mostyn were two rooms in the second stOr
of a large residence building. The parlo
was in front and looked out over the stree
The neighborhood was quiet, although NJ
far distant from populous thoroughfar
When he was ready to go to bed, Mostly
as was his custom, threw wide open one
the front windows He stood for a momeI
gazing upon the street. which was bright
lighted by the moon and empty of peopl
Then he closed the blinds and went I'M
the inner room.
There was in the lower hall of the hou
large clock which struck the hour
Shortly after Mostyn stepped into bed mi
might sounded. He lay very still for
time and thought of Eva. Then he turnt
over into another part of the bed al
thought about Basil And presently
heard the clock strike /.
Then he became restless and tossed abou
1t was bad scrape, and it worried hiT
Even If he saved his life he must expect
part with his reputation, for the affs