The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-07
CHAPTER V.


flowers, scattering around tiny make-be-
Heve snow flakes, which Mother Earth, as
If to tell of the renewed warmth IN her
frozen limbs would not let rest moment
on her breast.
Que marks such fancies as these in nat
ure's garden, the country; but in the town
it Is different. There the feet OF those VINO
come and go tread down the pretty Whlte
arrows as they fall.
1t was so upon one night, when certain
distinguished looking young man, in furred
coat, passing Huntingford house squai e,
glanced up, and, seeing the name over the
portico set forth in thick gold letters, and
the lights and hurry and hustle within,
paused, like many of the other passers-by.
II was Ralph Royal, the one being on earth
who knew the secret of the owner Of the
house and yet was not permitted TO share
his position.
The Rat had made this stipulation, that
Royal was merely to receive an increased
allowance, not in any way to enoroach
further upon the relationship between
them.
1t was a necessary condition, for the Rat
knew that in the new sphere OF lie which
he was entering as Sir Lawrence Hunting
ford, it would not do TO entertain fellow
of whose antecedents he could say nothing,
while it was best at once to let his partner
see that the new plan must not De enoao-
Rered by any rashneSs such as he was sure
30 fiy to if be had the chance. They were
60 see each other when business required 1t,
but beyond that to keep entirely apart.
ROYAL had consented readily enough 10
che plan at first.
OF late. however, he had changed his
mind upon the subject. looking upon IL as
his right to share the advantages OF the
trick TO the full So far, the work which
they had done had not brought in very
HaGnItR
which the Rat could now do the plant
tnR," be had TO be doubly careful lest he
should betray his two-fold identity.
The sums Royal had received would have
been more than enough for him had be
been living in any degree honestly, but
since the irrevocable act which had laid the
sin of murder on his soul, he had given
reins entirely to his love of luxury. He
cared not how he came by the money nee
ceSsary for his pleasures; he had even
started gambling club at his chambers
For this he had two reasons.
Despite the efficacy Of the vow by which
she had bound herself TO him for good or
FIJI, his wifes plans to reclaim him had so
far produced absolutely no effect. 10
seemed as if, indeed, he had spoken truly
when he said no power on earth could save
him.
1t almost seemed as If In the end, instead
of couqueriug, she would herself be con-
Quered, that the great good IN her would
give way to the evil in him. because OF her
greater love.
OF don't blame her, if sometimes, when
we had fought most nobly for his sake,
into the after weariness would come sort
of frenzied despair, which almost drove her
TO do the thing that she most abhorred.
It was almost" not quite" Some
angels watched very closely over her, or
her husband would have dragged her down
with him into mire, until he could fling her
aside without fear.
This was his fiendish aim, on which his
heart was set as fiercely as hers upon re-
claiming him. But victory fell as yet to
neither. The angel could only hold fast In
faith.
Royals brow darkened as he passed by
Huntingtord house. He had just come
from one OF those terrible scenes with his
wife which were almost Of daily occurrence
now. He had never struck her. Brute as
he was, the consciousness Of her weakness
and his own strength. and fear that, did
he once give way, he might lay upon him
self second charge OF murder, from which
he might not escape as easily as the first,
had hitherto always held him back.
But this day, stung more by her steady
yet gentle refusal to obey his will and sub
init to fresh degradation than by any
scorn or defiance she might have flung al
him, he had caught her savsgely by Que
arm, and holding her in grip OF iron
which must have given her exquisite pain
lifted his clinched fist TO dash 1t down upor
the lips which quietly gave him his answer.
But there was something in the white
face, lit up by no light now save the tcorch-
ing beams Of an agony such as rends the
very heart In twain, the beautiful marble
features, the great dark luminous eyes look
tng up into his own, shadowless. fearless
which stayed his arm.
IL she had fiinched or cried out, II she haC
spoken her pleading for mercy, he would
have struck her down, even If In his mad
rage it had been dead at his feet.
As it was, he felt as il all force had gon'
out of his arm.
:; Loosing Cher without word, he flee
away from her, cursing the fear which
made it an impossible thing for him to placS
the whole earth between them.
In this mood the sight of the state bis
partner kept at the Huntingford house en-
ragged him still more, especially as he re
membered the cause Of his scene with his
wife, a run of ill-luck at cards, which, in
spite of his knavery, had left him not only
entirely dependent on what chance might
bring, but had considerably mortgaged his
share in the Rats next bit OF business
which was TO take place that night.
But there was no use to Royal in the
trick now, if he was not to reap any reward
from w. buOuRn ue ulubb pay DIS O6DtS, or
his pigeons were sure to be scared away,
a contingency which just then was not al
all to be wished. Thus lis thoughts natur-
ally turned to new game, the connections
of the new baronet. There was a chance
to pluck downy birds wholesale ana at lit
tie or no risk under the shadow of such a
mighty friendship.
And, too, in spite Of his first eagerness TO
be out Of the country, so as to make all
chances of his being tracked by his father
or of meeting him impossible, now that the
means which had before been wanting had
been found, young Ferret seemed to hang
back. He kept his nArue secret and was
hidden away in lonely lodging in a dis
tant part of the town waiting for the nee
essary supplies. At first be had refused tc
quit his room, fearing daylight and the
presence of strangers as il they might read
his secret in his face and convict him of his
guilt, an inclination which his keeper found
too convenient to wish to combat. But
alter while Royal saw that If he pursued
this course the lad would break down en-.
tirely before he was got safely out of the
way. v hat happened after that had been
accomplished did not matter-the sooner he
moped and haunted himself to death the
better-butit would be awkward in every
sense to have it happen before. There
miglt be an inquest, an inquiry, and env
amount of suspicion.
Thus Royal prevailed upon him to take a,
least enough exercise TO keep him in health
If IL was only hurried walk in the dusk of
the evening.