Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-25

Sir OsWalds room: the gray light showed
me also a glinmer of steel, and [ knew, al
most by instinct, that that silent figure car
ried Sir Oswalds keys in its hands.
In moment had taken my resolve. l
pushed my door to- but did not close it;
took off my slippers, lest they should make a
sound, and followed the figure down stairs
As / have said before, the DarrellS We're nev-
er towards; no dread came to me: / was in
tent upon one thing-the detection OF the
wrongdOeT.
Not more than a minute passed while
was taking off my shoes hut when | came to
the foot Of the grand staircase light and tig-
ure had both disappeared. | cannot tell
what impulse led me to the library-perhapS
the remembrance Of Sir Oswald'S money be-
ing there came to me. l crossed the hall and
opened the library door
Though had never liked Captain Lang
ton, the scene that was revealed 10 me came
upon me as a shOck-One that shall never
forget. There was Captain LangtOn with
my uncle's cash-boX before him and the roll
of bank-nOtes in his hand He looked up
when | entered, and terrible curse fell from
his lipS-a frightfuI curse. His face was
fearful to see. The room lay in the shadow
of dense darkness, save where the light he
CdltiC SllOllt IlhS d ldlllL Sldf. L U6 lace IL
showed me was one L shall never forget; it
was drawn, haggard, livid, with bloodless
lips and wild, glazing eyes.
He laid the bank-notes down, and, going
to the door, closed it softly, turning the key;
and then clutching my arm in grasp of iron,
he Kissed rather than said:
What tiend has brought you here2'
He did not brighten me, Vane; have
!;
murderous hate, and l had an idea that he
would have few Scruples as to taking my
life.
$50, Captain Aubrey Langton,' l said,
slowly, you are thief! You are rObbing
the old friend who has been so good to your
'lIe dragged me to the table on which the
money lay, and then [ saw revolver lying
there, too
lone word, he Missed, 'one whisper above
your breath, and you shall dien
Il know my face expressed no fear-noth-
ing but scOrn and contemplation his grew
more livid as he watched me.
cit is all your faultr he Kissed into nv
ear; it is your accurSed pride that has driven
me to this! Why did you not promise to
marry me when my life lay in your hands?'
Il laughed-the idea of Il Darrell married
10 JnlS mldnlSuJ tnlet!
Il told you / was a desperate man. he
went on. L pleaded with you, prayed to
you, laid my life at your feet, and yOrt
trampled on it with scOrn. | told you of my
debts, my difficulties, and you laughed at
them. If | could have gone back to London
betrOthcd to YOU, every city usurer would
have been willing to lend me money. l am
driven to this, for [ cannot go back to face
ruin. You have driven Inc to it; you are the
thief, though my hands take the money.
Your thrice-accursed pride has ruined mep
8 1 shall go to Sir Oswald said, and
wake him. You shall not rob himr
YES he returned, i shall. I defy you.
dare you; you shall tell no one
''He took the revolver from the table and
held it to my head; felt the cold steel touch
my forehead.
Now he said, your life is in your own
hands; you must take IN oath not to betray
me, or will fire
{" 1 am not afraid to die; l would rather
die than hide such sin as yours You can
not brighten me; shall call for assistance
"Wait a moment he said, still keeping
that cold steel TO my forehead, and still keep
ing his murderouS eyes on my face; listen to
HlittI L NiAttIi no. ne llOlHGllb YOU CIV out L
shall fire, and you will fall down dead-I
told You was a desperate man. Before any
one has time to come | shall place the bank
notes in your hand, and afterward | shall tell
Sir OsWa that hearing a noise in the Ii
brary, and knowing money was kept there,
fastened down, and finding thief, [ fired
not knowing who it waS-and you, being
dead. cannot contradict me-
Won Inra or ho I'D + inI
II dare anything-I am desperate man.
| will do it, and the whole world will believe
me; they will hold you thief, but they will
believe me honest
And, Vane, | knew that what he said
was true; knew that if | chose death
should die i'll vain-that should be branded
as thief, who had been shot in the very act
of stealing.
will give you two minutes he said,
and them unless you take an oath not to be-
tray me, L will fire.
Il was willing to lose my life, Vane," she
continued, ''but could not bear that all the
world should brand me as a thief could
not bear that a Darrell should be reckoned
among the lowest Of criminals VOW to YOU
1t was no coward fear for my life, no weak
dread OF death that forced the oath from my
lips, but it was shrinking from being found
dead there with Sir Oswald's money in my
hand-a shrinking from the thought that
they would come to look upon my face and
say to each other. Who would have thought
with all her pride that she was thief" 1t
was that word thief burning my brain, that
conquered.
Y on have one minute more said the
kissing whisper, and then, unless you take
the OATH
- will take it. replied; i do so, not to
save my life, but my fair name
1t is well for you. he returned; land then
he forced me to kneel, while he dictated to
me the words of an oath so binding and SO
fast that l dared not break it.
"Shuddering, sick at heart, wishing | had
riSked all and cried out for help, repeated
1t, and then he laid the revolver down.
~ on will not break that oath he said.
The Darrells invariably keep their word
Then, coolly, as though | had not been
present, he put the bank-notes into his pock-
ct, and turned to me with a sheer.
You will wonder how | managed this
he said. L am clever man, although you
may not believe it. | drugged Sir OSwald's
Wine, and while he slept soundly took the
keys from under his pillow. I will put them
back again. You seem so horrited that you
had better accompany me and see that do
no harm to the old man.
He put away the box and extinguished
the light As we stood together IN the dense
gloom | felt his breath hot upon my face.
"'Ihere is no curse a man can invoke up
on the woman who has ruined him. he said,
that do not give to you; but. remember ]
do not glory in my crime-I am ashamed of
it
ain the darkness | CROPPED my way to the
door and opened it; in the darkness we pass
~ al