Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-05-13
CHAPTER XVI.
DAYLIGHT.

Of the old people, and after discussing all
the prevailing ailments returned to Gordon
fells.
Luncheon was ready, and they simply left
their hats and mantles i'm the hall, and went
In.
Ruth drank only water, and Vida rallied
her upon il.
You will need little stimulant before
Basil comes" she said. 1T will never do
TO meet him with the face Of ghost"
1T is Basil who will bring back the roses"
said Mr. Moore.
1t was, on the whole, dull party. All
were strung up to pitch of excitement that
kept them from talking much, and, occu-
pied with their own thoughts and specula-
tons, they sat for the most part silent.
just as the meal was concluded, Barker
came in with his face picture Of joyous
vivacity struggling with solemnity, and laid
an envelope containing telegram by Ruth's
side.
Messenger waiting to hear IL there Is any
answer" he said.
Ruth opened the envelope, glanced at its
contents, and passed 1t to her mother in ST.
lence. Words failed her at tie moment
II was quickly handed round, as look
7
with you at four O'Clock"
That was all. but how pregnant with glori-
Gus tidngs. And IL was then two o'clock.
Only two hours, and he would be there.
After few moments their tongues broke
loose, and the news Of BasiPs coming was
promptly conveyed TO the domestics by the
feverish Barker who, while lingering about
outside. accidentally" heard the contents
/ of the telegram.
! Ruth was the first to leave the dining.
room, and Vida followed.
Where are you going, Birdie?" she asked.
Il feel that l must be alone" answered
Ruth. IL am going to shut myself in my
room.'
MAY l not come with your
mot now, dear"
But by-and -by-before he comesg'
"Yes, little before. / feel that shall
want you by my side"
With an evil light In her eyes, Vida glided
away.
She thought she had all safe now.
! 1t was at twenty minutes TO four that Vids
sought Barker and bade him bring some
/ wine 10 her room.
Port will be the best, think" she said,
anu ia i've minutes Barker, Guessing for
I whom IL was needed, brought IL 70 her with
/ two glasses.
Thank you, Barker; that will do"
lie left the room, and in the left-hand
! glass Vida poured half the contents OF the
phal.
: Il was co!or!ess, and without any percep
tble odor.
| Now for the last scene of this eventful
story" she said. and went to Ruth's room.
| The door was unfastened, and she enter.
I ed. Ruth was walking to and fro, pale and
trembling.
'Come TO my room," said Vida. II have
some wine. A little you must have, or you
will break down"
( She did not see Phoebe standing in the
shadow Of the curtain, and, Ruth passiyely
obeying they went out, Phoebe following.
! They entered Vida's room, and still she
saw nothing of Phoebe. The door was left
open, and Vida poured out some wine.
. Here, Birdie" she said, pushing forward
the fatal glass, "drInk"
''liark!" cried Ruth; Il heard the sound
Of wheels"
J She rushed to the window, and Vida fol
lowed.
A carriage was coming up the drive.
1T is Basil, my love-
] Come here and have some wine," said
Vida hurriedly, you will faint IL you dc
not. Here, drink
She took up the glass, and Ruth hastily
drank the wine, Vida at the same moment
emptying hers.
Now" she said, Ego and meet him.
| Ruth lost no time. Warmed and stimulated
by the wine, she walked quickly from the
! room. Then Vida for the first time saw
Phoebe.
What are you doing here?' she cried
hastily.
II came in with Miss Ruth" replied Pho
be. II have been here all the time"
: A sudden spasm caused Vida to start
( there was look in the girls face that ap.
paled her.
Girl" she shrieked, what have you
done?'
Il don't know" replied Phoebe, trem.
bling, but was afraid THAI you meant to
do harm to Miss Ruth, and while you were
at the window changed the glasses"
The awful truth burst upon Vida with
lightning force, and she staggered back.
! The girl had not lied, for already the poi
sonous fires were leaping and darting with.
in her. In a few moments she would be
dead.
She heard vehicle stop at the door, a gla ad
cry from Ruth. and the CHEEKY tones OF
Basil's voice mingling with the welcome Of
father and friends; then all the fury of a
disappointed woman took possession Of her,
and she rushed on Ph9be.
! The girl was taken by surprise, and fell
back. The next moment she felt the small
hand Of Vida upon her throat.
o.. t,,L L..v
ears, and Ph9be gave herself up FOR lost.
But the poison was her friend in this dire
extremity. Its death-dealing power came
into full action just I'm time, and with a
groan Vida loosened her grasp, rolled over,
and lay still.
Horror-stricken. but still with sufficient
control Of herself no to make any great dis.
turbance, Phebe rose up and staggered
from the room.
Reaching the head of the stairs she saw
that Ruth and her friends had Just left the
hall, but the Inspector was just entering the
door.
She glided down. and ere he could ask
for Mr.. Moore, laid hand upon his arm.
! ''Come upstairs" she said, II have some
thing to tell you"
She took him up and showed him the dead
I Vida, and told him all she knew. lie list.
ened like man to whom a long-sought sc.
cret Is being revealed.
''Do not disturb the family" he said when
she finished, but so and quietly bring Mr..
Moore to me-
! Rutls peace was not disturbed that night.
, They told her that Vida was not well, and
would keep her room, and when the morn.
Ing came Mrs. Moore took her 10 Briarwood,
accompanied by Basil and Mr.. Brandreth.
| They led her to believe at first that dan
! gerous illness had come upon Vida, and aft.
(, er few days that she was dead. Then liz.
| tie By little the whole of the sad truth was
(, told. Much Of 1t was known TO Basil ere he
| returned.
| Vida was buried quietly, and the world
| learnt little Of her sins. The sagacious In
spector saw that no good could come to him
by making any fuss about the affair, and
Mr.. Moore amply compensated him for any
| loss he could possibly have sustained.
'let her sins be forgotten" the uncle
| said, and In sober truth they we're soon laid
aside. and thought as little Of ss possible.
But all could never be quite forgotten,
and one evening some seven years later,
/ when Basil Brandreth--''Hands0nie Bran.
dreth" he was called--was sitting by VIM
! dow at Briarwood with his loving wife, lac
called up the past for few moments.
II have been thinking, Ruth, y he said.
s.th.t vida ,nust have been mad, aftor NJ.