Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-09
ConnnueI

ill-will rather than gratitude.
Il hope IL Is not So Nay, ! am sure
1t san not be. answered the young
man.
Il worGer IL 1t Is true" mused Mr..
Bowycr, that drowning man sees
every action of his life pass before
hlul? ft must add to the horror OF
the death IL that Is true"
You are taking it for granted that
only ones evil deeds rise before one,
said Colonel Severn.
Mr.. Bowyer still looked questioningly
at the young man who passed through
the experience. He answered now
grayely-
you forget / was eenseless while
In the water, and was spared that at
least"
Eyes; | suppose few Of us are so
free from remorse as to face such
panorama unmoyed."
None, ! should say" put in Mr.
Weare quickly. Has 1t never struck
you what whited sepulchers we all
are, some more, some less? When one
comes to consider the number Of
criminal mysteries that remain I'M
raveled, ii is only to be supposed that
we have met some Of the guilty ones
in friendly converse. The pretty girl
| took In to dinner few nights ago
may be a murdereSs, for all | know;
and that young fellow, your sons
'riend, who impressed you so favor
.bly that same evening. colonel, may
70 an undetected thief and forger"
Rather unlikely all the same,
miled Colonel Severn.
II am suggesting possibilities rather
han probabilities. !. admit; but it is
my firm conviction that in every one
Of us the capacity for crime Is lying
dormant The development Is a mere
matter Of temptation, opportunity, and
chance"
you are fatallst," was the half
contemptuous reply.
Mr. Bowyer, for whom the terrible
had always an attraction, was deeply
interested, and did not attempt to dis
gufse the fact to anybody.
DO you mean,' he said, eagerly,
that you have known case in which
such person as YOU describe has
mixed freely with his fellow-bclngs
unsuspected?"
II have such a case in my mind
now"
''Rut then immunity for a time does
not mean immunity forever"
"Of courss not My argument is
that some, not all, escape detection"
1T is dreadful to contemplated
shudderlng. LET MS change the sub
ject to one less grewsome. let us talk
about Australia for a time. What a
country 1t Is! ] wonder why we Eng
fish still cling to home when nearly
every other climate is better than our
own"
"A sort Of obstinacy, | suppose; or
Ii may be one is freer and more in
dependent in England, and can so
ones own way without being ques-
toned
you mean one can be lost in a
crowd"
Il think that the crowd is an adj
vantage in itself" said Mr.. Weare,
From what part of Australia do you
Gomez" asked Mr. Bowyer abruptly,
and received the brief reply
From sydney
In a moment it flashed across the
old mans mind where he had seen
his visitor before. He was none other
than Gerald Wcare whose bride ha1
been taken from him In so horrible a
fashion month before his wedding
day, and for whose sake Elaine War
rlngton was supposed TO have com
mittcd crime.
He looked round nerrously. then
remembering that Ellen had left the
room. half rose WITH the intention Of
following her aud putting her on her
guard. IL indeed she had not already
taken fright
NJ the same moment a shrill cry
was heard outside, and Mrs Priolo
threw cpen the door
Here's Miss Ellen lying on the
ground III a dead faint" she cried
Whatever can have happenedY
Ii was Severn who made the first
move 10 cross over @ her sac, She
had fallen SenseleSS across the door
way, He knelt down and raised her
head on his arm MIR Bower ap.
peared helpless with dismay, bit
Gerald Weare came near and looked
at her with Mi expression Of some.
what stereotyped pity.
Have Seu no rcStoratives" asked
Severn sharply, OF the housekecper
Refor SHE could reply. an mvolun
tary exclamation from the lips IF the
stranger startled them both
1t was only the ejaculation Of
name. as though he had suddenly rec.
ognized the scnSelcss woman at his
feet; but il was not the name by
which either Of Them had known her.
Mr.. Bowycr jumped ny from his
seat AS though electrified. aud dragged
himself slowly 70 the scene &c action,
not knowing what to DO for the best
Mrs. priolo retained all her faculties
you've known The poor young lady
haforp ~ shp observed III MIR WplFp