The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-30
BOARDING SCHOOL EPISODE.


self to be particularly calm-his heart
was beating at its normal, placid pace,
| his mind was clear He was unaware
that his fingers were nervously tapping
the arms of his chair, and that his view
of the fire was gradually growing blurred
and indistinct
The library table was thickly strewn
with papers, and Wyndam's brother
leaned heavily against it, knawing his
| discolored lips.
AT length Wyndam broke the strained
! silence. He arose from his seat and
placed his arm upon his brothers Shout
| der, said: DO you see the biting Jest
! fortune played us in removing our father
! before he could remove these pleasing
! documents For | have no doubt he fully
intended to destroy them"
The younger man impatientIy chafed
under his brothers words He threw
| back his head as if to shake himself far
| from the thoughts which pursued him
Il am not sorry he had not time TO de-
| stroy them, he returned laboredly; "he
tried to teach us to the full the meaning
| of hOnor-perhaps with the idea that we
would be able to do what he was not
| strong enough to accomplish 1t only
remains with us to make restitution"
! Wyndam looked at him in establishment
ceiving the blow.
THAT is all that is left of us, he agreed
slowly, land we can accomplish it only
by our death; otherwise the world would
| know of our dishonor. Fortunately,
Howard is the next in succession and will
come into his own without need of dis
closing to him our shame"
The young man was unable to restrain
the faint look of protest which momen-
tarily flashed into his heavy eyes Then
the blank hopelessness Oagain enveloped
his features, as he echoed: 'Only our
death can right the wrong"
He recognized that the case required
that drastic measure; he wished no re-
peal from it, for every breath he now
drew was poisoned; but the thought of
death, which only an hour ago had seemed
so far distant, came upon him with some
thing of a shock.
at will be well for us to make our exit
as speedily as possible" Wyndam pur-
sued: "There will be the usual wonder
ment at our hasty deed; but, at least,
there will be no suspicion of the truth"
| He commenced to separate the papers
with his usual customary methodiCal pre-
cisiOn, quickly bringing order out of the
confusion which had reigned. He was
hindered rather than helped by his
brothers assistance. He deposited in the
fire the confession which had laid bare
before them unguessed infamy, and the
two stood watching until the flames had
mercifully devoured the last bit of paper
which could have avowed their dishonor
Then Wyndam said: 81 am now going
to my own apartments. 1t will probably
take me an hour to arrange my own af-
fairs. At the expiration of that time
shall end my life"
81 shall do likewise" declared the
younger man, who had now regained the
-. L, IL i
| but his face was like death-mask in its
stiffened, unnatural repose.
There had never been any strong liking
| between them, but as Wyndam shook his
hand upon separating from him at the
turn of the corridor, he was stirred by a
momentary thrill of pity. He knew his
brother well enough to realize that life
could now hold no possible charm for him.
but it seemed sad that he should be forced
to leave it while he was still possessed of
the eXaltations peculiar to youth
| Wyndam closed the door of his own den
and set about the completion of his task
There was not one letter over which he
fingered before committing it to the flames,
yet many of them were from the one
woman ne had ever loved, and to whom
his marriage was imminent. He had
always been able to keep his mind from
the disagreeable, and he was determined
that in this last act he would still main
tain his admirable composure and not try
himself needlessly.
He refused absolutely to allow his
thoughts to dwell upon what was to hap
pen within the hour, and he noticed, with
a Subdued throb of dissatisfaction, his
unfaltering nerve.
He debated with himself for some mo-
ments over the advisability of leaving a
few last words to the woman who was to
have been his wife, but ultimately dis
missed the thought as savoring of the
dramatic. In fact, he felt he could derive
no consolation from writing to her, as he
could frame no possible excuse for his i'm
pending action.
He walked compOSedly to the drawer
which contained his revolver, but paused
before the mirror to push back from his
brow the hair which had become dis
placed. He also noticed that his cravat
was somewhat awry, and rearranged it.
He was unconsciously taking mental
note of his condition. He had more than
once before proved himself to be possessed
of more than ordinary courage, and had
felt assured he would meet death, when
| it came, unfiinchingly Yet as he unhesi-
tatingly leveled the weapon at his heart,
he congratulated himself upon his cool
| ness.
AS he was about to pull the trigger he
heard, indistinctly, the mutf1ed report of
but plSIOl WHICH udN Uoel UFeQ IN q room
further down the corridor. The sound
FASTENED GIN, snd he at once pulled the
trigger.
He fell into the chair beside him, his
hand pressed to his heart, hoping that
death would not be long delayed, for the
pain he was suffering was intense He
could feel the warm blood tickling over
his hand, dyeing the bosom of his shirt
vivid red.
His eyes fell upon his trembling hand
which still clutched the pistol II was
not smoking, and suddenly there echoed
| in Wyndam's ear the dull fall of the ham
mer. He realized that he was not shot
that the pistol had been unloaded
| The mirror, which he faced, uumerci-
fully reflected him. The color had fed
from his face, his eyes were fixed and dis
| tended. his lips were twitching. He gave
some contemptuous commiseration to the
abiect figure, failing to realize immedi-
ately that it was himself.
The weapon dropped from his nerveless
| fingers, and he buried his face in his
hands. He continued to sit in this hud-
died position for some time, then, after
several fruitlesS attempts, got to his feet.
He CROPPED his way blindly to the cart
| ridge, and when he at last had the box in
| his hand slowly retraced his steps to the
pistol which lay upon the floor He low
cred his hand for it. but he could not pick
il IN. he had lost control of his fingers