The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

In dead silence they stood facing each
other for few seconds; then, very low, with
quick sob in her voice, Felice murmured,
Then it was you'll" and drawing her long
Grape veil over her face. she turned toward
the door.
Are you going like that, Felice?" he
asked. without, however, moving one step
toward her.
Yes; it is better. What can 1 say? what
ca& L do?" Still she fingered, and at last,
in a low quivering voice she said: You
will go abroad?"
Yes; perhaps"
Maurice, you must promise me one ing,
not to take your own life"
- u s; If you give me your word TO think
of me as dead-not as if you hated me-"
Hate you'll" she repeated, w0nderingly;
pise0us gaze of her soft eyes drowned in
tears. 1T is because L love you as have
always done that am going like this"
Heaven bless you, Felicep'
His voice was broken and he turned
sharply away rs he spoke. He heard the
door-handle turn, and thought that she had
left him, then suddenly felt the touch
oil t1tterin 1 hands upon his shoulders.
And for one brief moment she stretched
her arms up around his neck and pressed
her check against his breast.
Good-by!' he heard family breathed in
the ar about him and she was gone.
She had not enlightened Maurice as to the
true character of his cousin Marcus or the
nature of the forgeries which had been
practlced on him. OF what good to tell him
now? Let the dead past bury its dead.
Yet at the thought of Marcus deem resenf-
ment was stirred in Felice's mind Ga her
arrival at home she encountered Marcus on
the very doorstep. With one hand he opened
the door Of the cab, the other he held out to
help her descend. Felice glanced at 1.-THE
plump white hand which had traced those
lying letters, turning Maurice back-and the
Indignation and disgust she felt shone forth
in her eyes as she raised them in silence to
his face. A siekly pallor overspread Mar
Gus countenance. be fell back from the
door and with a slight, scornful gesture of
repugnance she stepped from the cab, dis
missed and paid the driver, and entering
the house, went straight up to her own
room
That same evening, while Mrs Fenton
and Felice were making pretense of sup
per, the girl who was waiting at table
vonchsafed the information that "Old
Grierly is locked in with Mr.. Marcus in his
study. In about quarter of an hours
time through the open door they heard the
key In the study lock turn, and Grierly
strobe heavily out. Not, however to leave
the house. for after walking n few steps in
the direction OF the hall door, he turned and
entered the drawing-room.
i've something to say to you. ladies'" he
began. INF Gilmore, he wont hear rea-
son; but maybe You will.'
Grierlv was an old employee about the
place. To Felice's excited fancy there was
something gnomelike and uncanny about
the little, stumbling figure as he stood there
in the doorway, fdgeting with the old seal
skin cap he carried in his hand.
For few seconds not a sound was heard
except the loud and mon0tOnous tick, tick of
the old clock in the hall. Then there was
another clicking sound, as of some ona
softly trying the handle of the door The
noise was so slight that at any other time it
would not have been remarked, but coming
now in the dead silence which followed old
Grerly's words and Felice's exclamation, 1t
was distinctly heard by all the three per-
SONS in the room.
All eyes became fixed upon the door as 1t
opened noiseiessly-at first only by an inch.
and then, as though the intruder guessed by
the sudden silence that his movements were
observed, it was pushed farther forward,
and disclosed Marcus himself standing in
the aperture with his eyes fixed upon that
group in the center of the room.
Grierly was the first to break the stiffness.
Nov. look here, Mr.. Marcus" he began.
"you can't say | didn't go to you first to be
bought of, but you wouldn't pay fair
price Now It's too late"
"Too late!'
Marcus repeated the words in dreamy
mechanical tone, as though speaking to him
self. He fingered moment longer. as
though irresolute, with his fingers upon the
handle of the door, Then with a long deem
drawn sigh he closed the door as quietly as
he had opened 1t and was lost to their sight
A moment later the click of the key told
them that he was locked within his study.
Mrs. Fenton would have risen and followed
him, but Felice laid strong determined
hand upon her arm.
''1n justice to Maurice" she said. 1--WE
must hear every word this man has to tell
MS. Mr.. Grierlv, 60 on"
Mr.. Robert goes out through the gates
proceeded Grierly. dead toward the tran
which guessed had been set for him. Five
minutes after out comes Mr.. Marcus, walk
ing at an easy pace and smokin' a cigarette,
as II he merely meant to take a evenin'
stroll. So followed, and-sly as he was-he
didn't see me. 1t was dusk then, but / ken
him we'll in sight. Mr.. Robert walks straight
into the pitch darkness under the stone
bridge. with the sound of the river rushing
and swirling away in the blackness, | saw
Mr.. Marcus follow him, stealthy like. +
knowed something was gon' to happen. T
creeps into the arch after the two. Suddenly
Mr.. Roberts quick tread stops. A lighter,
cat-like sort of tread stops too. Mr.. Robert
strikes match and looks around. and sees
the white face of his step-brother Marcus,
| seed it too. an there was murder In his
look ~
Mr.. Grierly paused 10 wipe his brow.
The very recollection of the scene affected
even bis phlegmatic temperament.
Robert, he started back You here he
sings out, an calls him by name. The light
went out, but not before l see that lit le
Marcus as is strong as a tiger, spring upon
the others throat an worry him down to