The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-27

& Tor MS purpose OF iuLttnlQ4blOus royal
stepped into the room aud called han by hii
name.
But Leo did not answer, not even when
advancing TO the bed he raised bis voice.
{ And yet be was not asleep, for he seemed
to be talking TO himself, aud upon Royal. in
srne fear, pushing him by the shoulder
over on his side, his eyes showed wide open
though fixed in set, dull are, which be-
traved their blindness to external objects.
The lad indeed had been So long without
sleep IN his troubled state that the fresh air
Of the street had acted upon him as a sort
Of opiate, throwing him into a kind Of de-
hTOus stupOr.
YES, have done it, !" be muttered, turn
Ing his head heavily from side TO side. but
still keeping his eyes fixed Ill the same
/ strange, vacant stare and speaking in hol-
I low, gasping tone whion Of itself told how
/ his thoughts found involuntary utterancs.
. This is the eud-the end Of all. Father,
/ you at least will never know. | meant to
spare you this, both OF you dear ones. but
! dared not trust myself. or might do that
! other sin. And veto, no, no-now that it
/ is done cannot face it out They will
/ come aud take me soon. will go away,
| will 20 away"
| Royal did not understand the meaning of
all this 5abbling. at least not that it pointed
| 60 a confession. but it occurred to him that
! even in this sleepless sleep he might begin
his tormenting of the young man. and be
was not slow to make ths experiment.
IL succeeded; his strong will, as it
were claiming the others feeble
senses, and so holding them to
easiest manner posi- le, he actually was
able TO lead them TO the end he so fiendishly
wished
Thus as Leo seemed In fancy 70 be bent
upon trying to escape from his enemies, his
tormentor assumed that character and
crossing his gaze with one as set and steady,
said in clear, penetrating voice, such as
some such power:
81 eonard Ferret, arrest you in the name
Of the queen, for murder
For moment the lad seemed TO try to
escape from the spell put upon him, but too
weak and poWerle,s he sank back with low
agonizing moan.
''Too late! Too late"
And then the stupor deepened, so that
Royal feared all sense would vanish but
after a little the rambling broke out again.
"Is this the COURT All yes, see the Judge.
the jury, the crowd, all, all looking at me
reproachfully, savagely, because / am a
murderer
not gulltyp asked Royal, in the same tone
as before, smiling as he cunningly followed
up the sleeper's fancy.
mot guilty. Not guilty." replied Leo.
He died, and by my hand, but I did not
mean to fire. didnot want his life, only
to save her. o. believe me, believe me, for
Gods sake. / am not guilty! Not guilty."
"This is the sentence OF the law. You
will be hanged by the Eeck until you are
dead.n
Another aud heartrending moan was the
only answer. But the listener had no
mercy.
"All is ready Prisoner conner he said in
the stern commanding tone as If he really
gave the order.
Leo lay for a moment breathing heavily.
and then in low Awed whisper, which told
Of thu great hold his tOrmentor had upon
him to make him imagine all tie horrors of
the laws greatest punishment, he said:
"Ah, leave my arms free. l will not try
to escape"
1t is the law, you must submit" replied
Royal, in a hollow tone, which even in his
own ears sounded with dread.
"Ah. the cap, to shut out the sun, the
light forever. All. but it will shut out the
sight OF his face, too. The ropel NY God
Alb, no; cannot die. cannot die such q
death as this"
For a moment the sleeper struggled,
fought as II indeed in the hangman's en-
brace, and then fell back with a rafting
sound in his throat as II he felt even the
pangs of death itself.
Royal rev back.
All in a moment the dread Of what he did
cane upon him.
He suffered himself the death agony with
which be had inspired his victim. Gasping
for breath, IN his turn he staggered to the
window and leaned against the balcony
rail, prey TO far worse terror than even
Leo himself.
The boy, meanwhile freed from the DOW
e-ful hold upon his senses, had sprung up
from his bed, and stared round him with an
almost mad stare.
"A dream now-but ono day-one day, it
will be true" "Truep he whispered to
himself. Then his duh gaze fell upon the
weapon which Royal had placed near at
hand.
HAD it not been 80 he must have been
convinced that 1t was the weapon with
which he. had taken the huuchback's life.
AT first sight Of 1t he recoied in horror.
then the former stupor seemed to have re-
turned upon him, and he became as it were
attracted to it, until, with sudden move
ment. his hand went out and be snatched
it TO him, placing the muzzle against his
temple.
A moment, al instant more, and Rovaps
fell object would have been attained.
But God in his mercy willed that the
innocent should not suffer for the guilty
the evil triumph over the good.
In his horrible abstraction Leo had not
heard the door open.
Pausing at the door, whittier Mrs Grimms
had conducted her wonderingly, guardian
angel said, in tone of sweetest question
ing:
"Leow
"Nellie!" he said. and then stoon motion
less, believing his senses had once again lef {
him.
Yes, it is l. Why don't you come to me
why don't you speak to met Leo"
And with a swift, gliding step-very I'M
| like her usual hesitating one-as il some
hew she knew the horrible danger which
| threatened her lover, the little blind girl
reached his side, her hand going out straight
to his, touching the weapon it held.
| AT the touch Leo drew back
! No, no, keep away. Leave go. leave
| 60" he cried, fiercely.
| But with all her might needless of her
! own danger-for she recognized the nature
! OF the weapon she touched-she chung to his
| hanc.
Give it to me. give it to me, Leo" she
| shrieked Then, as be still struggled fiercely,
| almost thrusting her away, she controlled
herself by an almost superhumau effort,
! saying quietly;
Leo, l command yon to give it to me. {"
His face was livid, his whole body culver
! ing with the passion Of his desire for self
destruction; but at her command he had no
! will butte obey He let her take the pistol