Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-20

Win the letter, and there was no recalling
him. The rest OF his work he would do by.
and-by, and there was but one way of saw.
Ing Basil Brandreth, and that was by open
confession.
No. that would never do-the bitter work
must go oil to the end.
OF all the days Of her young life. Vida
had never known one like that which fol.
lowed.
Ii was no, pain. or sickness, or fear, or re
pentance that assailed her, bat q wild
watchfuness and soul WEAKNESS that was
inexpressibly horrible TO bear.
II slept very little last night" she told
Ruth when she expressed some anxiety
about her health, 'and my head aches.
think shall spend the day quietly in my
ROOM"
Shall read TO you?" Ruth asked.
"Yes; read to me-" Vida said.
Vida lay upon her couch with the curtains
drawn TO dim the light, and Ruth, choosing
"Eyangeline," began 10 read that charming
story OF woman's pure faithful love.
Ii Jared upon Vida's ears she turned her
thoughts to Basil Brandreth
She knew he was at Briarwood, spending
few hours with his people, and burning
with Impotence 10 mount his horse and ride
10 his lady-love.
In the depths Of her aching heart her an.
guish boiled and dubbed like oil in caul.
dron.
~ lie were burning TO come 10 me-" she
thought, how different my life would bel"
What did you say, DEAR" Ruth asked.
Nothing" she replied. II did not speak"
II thought you did. Shall go on read.
ing?"
mo, thank you. think If you leave mo
now shall sleep, and if 1 do not wake ia
dress FOX dinner, do not disturb me-"
But Basil is coming" said Ruth.
ITO see YOU" replied Vida, smotherinS
some harsh words that rose 10 her lips. ~ on
will be good company enough without my
poor society. | will join you at tea
Ruth left, and "a il was then four in tho
afternoon Vida knew she would be disturb
ed no more.
TO guard against the possibility of vis.
tor, she went 10 the door and locked it.
TO her couch she did not return, but sat
down By the fire and tried 10 warm herchill.
ed hands and feet, which seemed To have
been turned 10 ice.
In vain, the life-blood would not return to
them, and, shverng she arose and walked
about the room.
Every few minutes she looked at her
MY lover with the tigers eyes will keep
his word" she said. Basil will not be here
tonight. But where and how will he stop
him"
She felt that Bardolph nigh. be trusted,
but as the time for the arrival Of Ruth's
lover drew near. she became restless beyond
all endurance. One moment she would
have stopped the murdcrer-for Bardolph
could be nothing less than that to be sue.
cessful-and the next moment she was ready
To take share in the deadly work.
Now hot, now cold, she paced the room
until she could bear il no longer
81 must 20 out" She thought; ~ must
have air."
She took the fur-lined cloak she had worn
In the morning, and wrapped il about her.
just outside in the corridor there was
staircase seldom used, that led 20 small
door in the north tower.
Mr.. Moore used it occasionally for phi
vate mode Of entrance or exit, but nobody
else ever went that way.
Opening the door o. the room softly she
listened. All was still without
Now" she said ~ can leave safely. u
is the idle hour of al at Goydonfells."
She locked her door quietly, and with a
light step descended the staircase.
As she passed her unce's room, she heard
him with II humming u tune.
"Ali are merry here but me, she thought
bitterly.
The door below turned back on It's hinges
without noise, and she passed out, closing
il gently behind her.
1t was already night. and the moon was
rising.
Il will walk here" she said, and paced
W. and down the terrace once
Then She was drawn bya mysterious pow
er that WAS Irresistible towards the ROAD by
which Basil would come.
She crossed the park and avoiding the
lodge, reached the main road by gap in
the fence she knew OF. Once on the high
road she went forward swiftly.
A reyulsion of feeling had again come up
on her.
Il was fOolish--inad. she.murmured. u
must stop That gypsy bloodhound. II Ruth
gets the letter can say that il is 4 jest.
Harl is that not horse cOming"
She stopped and listened and the patter-
ing OF horses hOofS fell upon her ear.
The sound came from distance
lie is coming she said: the gypsy has
been false 10 his promise. No. Oh, my God!'
The report OF a gun or a pistol echoed I'D
the night air.
Ia a moment the sound was repeated, and
then stiffness followed
With hurried feet and trembling in every
limb, Y ia gided swiftly over the ground.
She reached the bend of the road, turned
IL. ard came upon scene that sent the life
blood back upon her heart, and for mo
ment stopped lis beating.
On the ground lay young fellow with all
the grace of cary handsome manhood Ia
his face aud figure, an unmistakable scion
OF gentle blood.
lie was quite s;ill, and lay a if he had
fallen asleep upon the road.
In tie distance horse was galop,ns OF
in alright.
Not far from the trembling Vida stood
van, roughly dressed, with a mask cover.
ing his face.
Vida drew near to the fallen man, and
with wild eyes and hushed breath scanned
him over.
Suddenly she fell upon her knees beside
him.