The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-05-10
execrating mob-shal die with mems

him, her attitude full of entreaty and
despair do with me as you please;
but spare hinl-spare poor Basil"
Spare Basil. the quencher of Roger
Raldrick's lifeT repeated the creole.
We'll, we will do so, provided you are
kind to me and do not oppose my
wishes in any way"
Gertrude shivered, and the nails Of
her tightly -clasped fingers penetrated
her flesh SO intense were her mental
sufferings at that moment. Pelham
Warrington then laid himself on a
sofa, and co imposed himself for slum-
Der, leaving Gertrude standing in the
middle of the floor to sleep or to re-
main awake, as best she pleased, until
morning light should appear.
Gertrude dared not fly; however
much she desired to escape out Of the
power of the creole, she could not do
so, lest she should pull destruction
on Sir Basil Dovetree's head. She was
surrounded by danger, and yet she
must not raise a finger to protect her.
self. She cared little for herself; all
her care, all her anxiety, all her fears
were for the safety of him who had be-
trayed and wrongad her. For Sir Basil
Dovetree she must, then, sacrifice her.
self-sacrifice herself t., a man whom
she loathed; there was no extrication
for her but death, and that by her own
hand!
Twice and. thrice Gertrude's hand
grasped the knife she had concealed
beneath the folds of her dress, and the
thought of self-destruction grew
stronger and stronger within her.
But" reflected she, Il must not die,
leaving the venomOus snake alive to
sting Sir Basil; better first to extermin-
ate the reptile, then 1 can depart in
some peace, assured that Basil will be
permitted to live to make an atone
ment for all his many sins. 1t would
but be a blow" she continued, her
hand on the handle of the knife, her
eyes fixed on the sleeping man before
her. But have I sufficient strength to
strike that blow which will be followed
by the crimson current of life? Oh, no;
oh, no; let me not contemplate the COM
mission of such a frightful deed-let me
not stain my hands with crime!'
While these thoughts were rapidly
passing through Gertrude's mind, War
ringtOn moved uneasily once or twice,
as if his slumbers were being disturbed
by some troublesome dream.
Gertrude NOW turned aside, and seat
ed herself in an arm chair; the cham
Der lamp was Pickering and Pickering
away, casting ghOstly shadows upon the
surrounding walls of the dingy apart
ment, making every piece of furniture
look blacker and grimmer than before.
A whole hour had worn itself out,
yet Gertrude was still sitting as before,
while the creole was breathing heavily,
his senses locked in a most profound
slumber, such as q man enjoys when
his conscience is at rest, and his
thoughts are untroubled by single
care.
At this moment the panel partly I'm
closed, and Coraline's head steaIthily
showed itself. Gertrude made no move
ment, uttered no sound, but narrowly
watched the WOman's actions, War
rington continuing to breathe heavily
all the while.
CoraEne laid her finger on her lip,
and beckoned to Gertrude, who i'm
mediately crept towards her.
''Fly!' whispered the woman in her
ear, grasping her shoulder at the same
time, and drawing her through the
opening. Fly at once! Now is your
opportunity while he sleeps" she add
ed, sliding back the panel into its place,
and leading her companion down a
steep narrow staircase, at the foot of
which there was Il candle wailing and
guttering itself away.
I've been listening to the villain, the
woman went on, hurriedly, land I've
| heard enough to convince me that you
| and another have fallen into my wick
ed husbands power-oh, yes, you may
start, Pelham Warrington is my lawful
husband-I wish to heaven it were
otherwise-and there is no love lost be-
| tween us-the feeling we entertain to-
wards each other is mutual, and of the
very bitterest kind. Hasten to Sir Ba-
! sill Dovetree. / have good memory
for names, you see-and if he be a
| guilty man bid him put seas betwlxt
himself and Pelham Warrington, else
the wretch will carry out his threats,
and bring destruction on the Baronet
and on all belonging to him."
ut is dark am a stranger to the
! road-in fact / do not know where
am, or what distance it is hence to
, Eagle Tower" hesitated Gertrude
/ You are very good. and I am most
| grateful to you for this timely assist
ance of yours, but"
/ II would accompany you as far as
i Eagle Tower did I not still value my
wretched life; as it is can but direct
you on your way thither and wish you
a speedy and safe journey. You must
go away, without a moments delay
, the woman added, opening the street
door as she spoke, and looking out into
, the darkness. Go ON straight before
you for q good mile and half, until
you come to where another road pre-
sents itself, branching off in a contrary
direction-in the direction Of Eagle
Tower, which will be still at a distance
of four miles from you"
"Thanks-thanks!" uttered Gertrude
preparing to depart. II owe you a
lasting debt of gratitude Heaven bless
your she continued, Selling the wo-
mans hand, and wringing it. Then
Gertrude descended the house steps
and pursued her way as instructed.
Drawing over her head the hood of
her cloak-which garment she had
never removed from her shoulders
Gertrude fastened onward and onward
| little needing the darkness or the hour,
thinking only of her errand, and Of
how quickly she would be enabled to
accomplish it,
She knew the Importance of her mis-.
sion, and felt that every succeeding
instant increased Sir Basil's peril, fol
on her flight being discovered by War
rington. he would pursue her at once
and Basil would be lost forever.
When Gertrude reached Eagle Tower
gray dawn was just peeping AS she
stood before the massive, time-honored
portal of the house, difficulty, OF
which she had not dreamed, at once
presented itself to her. How was she
to gain admittance without the knowl
edge of one or more of the domestics
And when that admittance mad been
obtained how was she to account to
the servant for her strange absence
from her home, and her still stranger
return to It?
Gertrude reflected for some moments
unable to decide upon her actions, re-