The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-09-16
ASTORYOF BLOOD.
By NJ, E. BRADDoN.
CHAPTER XnL-CoNrNuEp.


there was new life at the end of this sudden
Journey. Yes, there was 4 revelation at
hand, about CASTOR. She kept herself calm
and steady while those two others were or
fire with excitement. Between them she
and SuZon Michel carried Kathleen down.
stairs to She fly, the three women got inside,
Kathleen wrapped in thick shawls. Philip
got on the box beside the driver; in crack
or so of his whip they were rattling into the
Boulevard ST, Michel.
1t was lOngsh drive to the Place
d'ltalle; but urged by Suzon, the man got
over the distance very quickly. The dull
slde-street looked mspeakably dreary in
the wintry gloom, the lamps burning dimly
the windows showing little light-slgns OF
failure and poverty on every side.
The fly stopped before that empty house
which Kathleen had noticed In the summer
cleaning. The board was still hanging
above the door, the windows were all blank
and dark; but Suzon opened the door with
her key, while Durand lifted Kathleen out
OF the vehicle.
Garry her upstairs, following me-" said
SuzOn; but she and mustgO into thereon
alone. You others must stay outside"
ut is not trap, is it2' asked Rose, fright.
ened. "HOu mean her no harm"
II mean her all the good in the world, and
she knows it," answered SuzOn, holding
Kathleen's hand which feebly pressed hers
In response to these words.
They stopped at the door of the back room
on the first floor, SuzOn first; then Philip,
with Kathleen carried Onhis shoulder; Rose
In the rear but pressing close against them,
lest there should be danger ahead.
Kathleen slipped from Durand's arms,
and chung to Suzon Michel as the latter
opened the door. The two women went In.
to the room together, and Rose and her hus,
band were left outside.
There was one instan's silence, and then
wild shrek, shrek hat might DO terror,
grief, or joy. One could not tell what II
meant, outside the door.
Rose was in an agony, She would have
dashed into the room, but Philip held her
back.
LET them be for q few moments" no
said. "MOrtemar Is alive. The mystery can
be only that-alive, and shut up in this
house, under watch and ward Of that wO
man."
Two minutes after, the door was opened
by SuzOn, and the DurNnds went in. The
room was comfortable enough within, desc
late rs the house looked outside. The furnl
ture was humble, but neat and decent
There was a fire burning In the CRATE, o lamL
on the table.
In an easy-chair In front Of the fire sat 0
man with his leg In splintS from the hiI
dOwnwards. He was pale to ghastlinesS
and had the look Of one who had but beguL
the slow progress of recovery from q sick
ness nigh unto death. His hair and beart
were long, his hands thin to transparency
yes, 1t was CASTOR Mortemar, and hi'
wife was knccling at his feet, kissing thu
wasted hands, murmuTing sweetest words
nesting her head in her bosom, nelrablJ
happy,
~ give You back your dead said SuzoI
soIemnly. "lle was left for dead when
picked him upand brought him in here, shO
through shoulder and hip and leg with hal
dozen bullets. The surgeon brought Il
him said II was hopeless case; but for Tn,
sake of surgery,as an amaieur,he would tr,
10 cure him. For two months he lay in In
slant danger. For seven weeks he was mat
with brain.feyer-feVer that came from tn
pain OF his wounds. have nursed hin
through oil. The surgeon will tell you II
have been q faithful nurse. And now
give him back to you, not healed, but on the
fair road to recovery although he will be
lame oil his life, poor soul; but that does
not count In writer, does itP lie will be
all the greater with his pen II he has less
temptation 10 roam"
''Bless you'll May God bless and reward
you for your devOtl0np cried Kathleen.
bah There is no question Of blessing
or reward | have been wicked woman.
] kept him like a bird in a cage, and let
you think him dead, and l told him you had
peri I'd on the last day Of the barbados,
ard let him mourn for you. lie was help
less, In my power, and lied to him and
cheated him. But snatched him from the
Jaws Of death; the surgeon who has attend
ed him will tell you that. dragged him
into this empty house, dragged him away
just a5 the last batch Of Srrzier's blood
hounds were turning thecOrnerO Of the street,
whoOping for more blood and kept him
here, closely guarded, hidden from all the
world except the surgeon, who believed
that he was my brother lie could tell no
tales, poor fellow, for it Is only within the
last three weeks that he has been in lis
right wits"
Gaston's head was leaning forward against
Kahleen's, the husbands haggard brow
against the wifc's wasted cheek. Both faces
wcr the IMAGE Of death, and yet radiant
with newborn lfe-the sublime light OF
happy love.
'She told me you were dead, Kathleen,
he murmured.
Forgive her, dear. She saved you, and
] have avenged you. o my love! my love
God Is good. He has given you back to me,
out Of the grave"
How did you manage to occupy this
house, and TO keep your existence here a
secret? asked Durand.
There was no difficulty. was not with
out means. | went 10 the landlord, and Of
fered him half the rent Of the house for the
use Of two or three rooms at the back The
house had been Inlet year and half-the
street Is a fallure--sO he was glad TO accept
my offer, and sthe board was left up over
the door to avert suspicion. The people
who saw me 20 in and out took me for a
Caretaker; nobody asked any questions.
had yan-load Of furniture brought here
after dark from my rooms ttie cremertc,
and made things "a comfortable as could
for my patient II he had any knowledge
Of those dark DAYS he would know that
nursed him faithfully. For six weeks ]
scarcely knew what / was TO sleep for an