The morning call., 1894-07-29

III InIs RlDa ming hour tnaL SHouiu INV
been most sociable. That. Mark
should be aciturn was nothing un-
usual; but Janet Craig. too,
seemed distracted and restless; once she
asked Edith to change her place ana SIT on
the other sofa. and once she maze some
excuse Tor changing her own seat. Pres
emily some casual remark brought up the
subject of J-wels and their settings, ana
Mrs. Brentham exclaimed. ION, Edlth,
do show Janet your beryl." Edith unfas-
tened the brooch, which she was wearing,
and Mark, who was sitting between her
aud Miss Craig, took the trinket to pass II
across to the latter. She leant toward
him, gazing at it intently, but made no
movement to receive il as he held it out,
and when at last she raised ner hand 1t
was not to touch the jewel, but to take
hold of his.
Wait" she said in a strange whisper.
gazing at the gem, on VIII ch the hrellght
and The last pale CLEAN of daylight met as
1t lay in his palm. Give ME your other
hand-sO."
Can you see anything, Janet? asked
Mrs. Brantham eagerly. "Ob, 90 tell us
what you see."
"Wait-hushv whispered Janet. The
silence in the room grew deep, ana 1t
seemed TO them all that it lasted long.
They could see Janet trembIe. At last
with Shudder she let 60 Mark RuHord'S
hand.
II saw" said Janet Craig. after pause.
in low, suppressed voice, "a mana tall
man, with fair hair and beard, the beard
cut square. hair lhick and wavy-he had
no coat on. striped blue and white shirt
and broad leather belt" There was a
pause. then Edith said trembllngly and
with effort:
You are describing Mr.. Hume-my
usoand-as he was-On the last day.
Eraiu laH q : ii
Your hugbandr' she replied, shudder-
ing. Your husband" And still Mark
RuffOrd stood silent. Was t the twilight
that gave that strange. CHASTITY, llvld look
10 his face? For few minutes it seemed
that no one could speak At last Janet
added. in strange, low, penetrating tone :
Il saw him there by the piano last night
between you and Mr.. Rutford. And this
afternoon, when | asked you 10 change
your seat. he was there-and when you
moved he followed you! always between
YOU two. He stood thereW pointing
"YOu." she added, turning suddenly on
Mark Rutford. you saw him, tOo!"
The shadow of Something wrong"
lowered darkly over the whole house.
Even the servants felt it, and asked each
other with bated breath What was the
matter" Why was Mrs. Brentham cry
ing and Miss Craig shut up In her room
And why was Mrs. Hume looking like a
ghost as she asked where Mr. Rutford
was?
MARX" said Edith, II must know all
now. Janet has told me what she saw {;
but must hear it from you"
They were together IN the library, alone.
You never saw it," he said 81 thought
no one could see it but myself" His voice
was husky and hollow, his eyes dilated
with a strange. wild look. and his hand
clenched on hers almost violently as he
spoke.
mo; | never saw it. But Janets eyes
can see. And she saw more" Edith's
voice sank to a freezing whisper. ''She
has told me-more than she said at first.
Mark! Mark p Her breast heaved as she
gasped for breath. as it true? How
could she have dreamt - have seen
hm-Gregory-in the boat-Out on the
bay-and YOU! Tell me the truth now, or
| shall die -
Curse that womanw said Mark. set
ting his teeth. why did Marian bring
her here ?"
"Ah," she painted with low cry of
agony, pressing her hands to her temples,
'it is true She saw it-Mark! it was
your hand And you have seen-it-be-
tween US ever since? Oh, am [ going
mad?"
~ thought it was that was going mad"
he answered somberly. 81 thought it was
the cOnjuring Of my own fancy-inci Dient
madness. | dreaded lest should ever be
mad enough to betray myself to you. Ye$,
| have seen him-but l thought no other
eye could see. no tongue could tel what no
mortal had seen. But nOw-I see-he
means it to be told. He means to come be-
ween US, as he has stood between US all
this time You may as we'll Know it all
now, Edith. | had not planned 1T; it was
no deliberate scheme. 1t seized me sud-
denly when l saw him standing up there
in the boat. He did not see me; no one
saw me. | knew 10 that lonely part it
was million chances TO one against
there being a soul who could say |
had been on the coast path that dav. |
had not met a creature. L had my rifle.
knew my aim was good at couUle Of hun
dred wards. | knew the undercurrent was
running strong, and-anythlng-woul be
washed out to sea, There would be moth
ing to tell! l thought of your future
wasted there in that wretched life; l
thought of mine, without you! | thought
how he had robbed me of you; how you
should have been mine by righ'-and he
was all that stood between us-always be-
tween us, you seeI' with the ghost OF a
terrible smile. "SO-a tingers touch and
the thing was done. | had sold my soul
for you, Edith. And now L know that L
shall not be paid my price. L have lost
you, tOo!'
In the dead, deep silence of the night,
when al! the household slppt-save two
twheD, even Marian Brentham, weeping for
the strange and by her uncomprehended
roube that had fallen on her brother and
his beloved lay Tapped in dreamand. the
teaIs still on her cheek-when Edith. tear
less, knelt by her bedside with arms fung
out and buried face, mute, motlonless. an
image of despair-the sharp crack of pis-
tol shot broke the stiffness, but there was
none to hear. Edth'S room was far away,
and all the others slept. Wakeful alone
among the sleepers, she only kept vigil
until the morning-nor dreamt, until the
morning brought its revelations. how deep
was the sleep Of one.
The Coroner's jury brought in verdict
Of Temporary insanity; only Edith
knew, and none besides Janet Craig and
Marian Brentham suspected the truth of
Mark Rnfford's haunted life and desper-
ate death.
Among the brave and devoted band OF
those Sisters of Mercy who give up their
lives to the care of the sick and suffering.
one of the most ardent in her duties is a
fair woman. with a calm, sad face. gray
stteaks in her yellow hair, the ever-present
shadow of tragedy in her eyes. The
world knows Edith Hume no more; hut
Sister Monica, eagerly spending her health,
her strength, her life, in the service Oh 9th
ers, ever tries to eXpiate the double crime
that was none of hers, and pravs that the
Sustained soul, of whose guilt she was
the gulltIesS cause, may WIN lts way al
last TO pardon and tn DpaCe, Ia Dunn