Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-12


 emphatic nature The village gossips claimed to have a very profound knowledge of the lniquity of young men. It was said openly that Master Jack had no doubt played the girl sad trick; was, as like as not, at that very moment marrying some one else in London town, and that the best thing they could do for Miss Eva was to take her home, put her to bed and treat her for mysteries; whether she showed them or not
 Poor young crittur! So sweet tempered and nice looking to be trickit in such way!'
 There were comments on Mir. Philips white face, which led on to comparisons between the two brothers. These were not markedly adverse to the elder son, but upon the whole they were in favor of Master Jack" who was the more free with his money.
 Hell marry sine, hisself, yo'll see," said one woman very positively
 "What-now? Instead of his own broth CT! do call that
 "Oh, you silly" was the interposed re- ply-'not jest yet, O coorse. They'll wait a bit-yoll see"
 Three minutes to II, and still no bride groom!
 For an explanation of this unusually
 
 back three days Philip Dantin had striven to keep his rage against his brother within due bounds, but had failed. His stuffed specimens in the subterranean rooms could not console him, nor could his live beasts either. These underground rooms were quite n remarkable feature of the Great House. They dated from the sixteenth century, if not earlier. For 100 years or more they were disused Philip how IaI fot tA money in making them tolerably habit able and very suitable for the kind of museum he had accumulated. The fur thermOSt of them was the very sane tum sanctorum" of his operations. At its extreme end there was an ancient door way of chiseled stone several inches in thickness, and beyond that utter darkness and the beginning of labyrinth which had not been explored for ages and was left to itself. It was believed to have no issue. On this third evening before the day that was to make him a happy fellow, Jack Dantin found his way into his brothers den to have chat with him. For a time Philip bore with his high spirits uncom- plainngly, though Jacks praises of Eva were like so many thorns in his side. Eventually, however, his patience gave way. He uttered an exclamation which made his brother start in surprise.
 " lA, oIl IellON, NHaI lS lne matter! You surely don't'- He stopped. There was that in Philips face which told him much.
 "YeS; you have guessed it. said Philip, with a shrug of the shoulder. Tt is rather hard. but the less said about it the better. Twenty years hence it will not matter n straw"
 Jack was silent. He sympathized with his brother more than he could tell in words Then it was that, like a lightning flash, the dreadful suggestion rushed into Philips mind. Oh, by the way" he said casually, Il wish you would oblige me by giving a hand to this skinned thing. want it out of my road for d time"
 Certainly, Phil. Where shall we cart it:' was the reply as Jack surveyed the Srcw-onle body of a hayetl alligator, upon which he elder Dantin had been operating. The passage is just the place for it. I'll find the key
 The key was found, the heavy stone door was swung open, they carried their disgust ing burden into the corridor, and then Philip, who was nearest the room, slipped back, banged the door and locked it and had sped up stairs and into the park in a remarkably short space of time. He threw the key into one of the ponds, and then fell to congratulating himself upon his diabOl- ical conduct.
  scum. The doors were all fast locked. No one could get access to them. If Jack Dantin shouted till his lungs burst, no one would hear him.
 It may be imagined what q wretched yet fearfully glad time this interval before the wedding today was for Philip Dantin. He professed to be entirely ignorant of his brothers whereabouts, but hinted at hay ing seen him striding across country toward a rart ain 1artr,l town hence tbars wa@ constant train connection with Lon tlon
 The elder Dantin and the servants had every confidence in Jacks reappearance in time for the wedding and that until the eve of the day itself. Philip, too, expressed his agreement with this view of the matter In fact. however poor Jack, when he re alized what had befallen him, gave himself up for lost. It was terrible to remember where he was under such woeful circunl- stances, and stunning to recall that il was his brother who had incarCeratCd him. As the hours sped by, he saw clearly that he was destined to die and that Philip meant to profit by his death. Like most habitual smokers, he carried matches with him. For a time he was lavish with them, then he husbanded them. The hours passed. His watch told him that it was night. He wound it mp, slept, reawakened and struck more matches.
 In the meantime he had thought of many things. But in one thing only did he take any interest. The passion of self preserva tion was strong in him, for his own sakt and for Eva's. He resolved to try the pas sages to see if haply he might prove the truth of the old legend which made them { sort of arterlal connection between the church and the Great House The first day was spent in these grim gropings. whict seemed like to be only too futile. Thei only result was to make him lose hlmsel in the stifling maze. That night he slep he knew not where, with a block of chis eled stone for pillow. A match light haC shown him that he was in a sort of cul-de sac-a pile of stone fragments, earth anC bits of iron barring the way. as it seemed to future progress in that direction.
 This second night was n sorrowful on, indeed. There were times when the poo fellow felt he should lose his senses. A last, however, he slept, and when he awok | he struck one more match and then, a Providence willed it, espied on the ground morsel of colored glass, as if it had falleI at some time from window The sigh instantly made him forget his maddenin) hunger and despair, and he set to worl upon the barrier that was before him.
 How he toiled at his task! At first h burrowed with his fingers; latterly he use, sharp edged piece of stone shaped like chisel. All day he worked. The wall di unfinished in thickness. A sudden breath o air in his face told him he had made clea breach somewhere, though he could not fee where. He worked on through the night His wedding day dawned above, and he wa still boring in this noisome hole for dear If and his bride.
 Gradually the current of air increased i volume, and at length he had made a pa sage through which he could worm hi way. He looked at his watch by the ligh of his last match but one. It was Q o'cloc