The Dickinson press., 1894-04-28
A buSba9d'SS
~CriM2.
by FLORENCE WARDEN.

~ 7B00SlOs
I'll he quite good. You think he has
got some hold on Duke:''
IL aip afraid So
well. it will be lesson to him,
poor boy
"Oh. Minna," whispered Ciccly in
choking voice. Il think-l am afraid
it is Il lesson he will never get over.
Duke used some words to me-a few
days ago.
Dukes voice sounding harsh and al
tered, interrupted them. calling to them
loudly:
"Ciccly. Ninna. what the d. are
you doing chattcring up there when
dinners waiting: Didn't you hear the
bell: Are you both dcaf:'
They both came tluttering down. with
an aflectation Of great chccrfulness,
This. however. was hard to keep up as
the dinner went on. Both men drank a
great deal Of wine; but while Duke,
under its influence. grew slvagely taci-
tul1,. and betrayed its effects in glances
Of fierce. unlisguisel hatred at his un-
hidden guest. the latter became more
and more lively and facetio,ls. until he
| fortunately grew too stupid to notice
that his incoi,crcnt, huskily uttered
jokes met with no response. The Ia
dies sat on like statues, mute and mo-
tiOnless. afraid to leave the men To-
gethcr, afraid to exchange glanccs
which would bctray their dread. At
last RadStOck's indistinct babble grad
l,ally stopped, and his head sank upon
his breast. his soddcn face became COM
pletely yacuous, his dull eyes stared
| without intelligence at the empty de-
cantcr in front of him.
Ciccly raised her eyes timidly, and
glanced with Il shu,lder from him to
Nlinna.
I'VE can go now"
They rose ver; quietly. Neither OF
| the men seemed to notice their action.
except that at the slight noise Of the
moving chairs Duke looked up and fix
ell upon his uncle 4 look of such in
tense loathing and abhorrence that
Cicely hesitated. and glanced hAlf-un-
consciously at her husbands clenclled
right hand and ut the glass and at the
knife near it. A little blunt silver des-
sert-knifc. that was all: she would not
have owned it to herself, but she was
relieved to see that there was no inn
plement more dangerous within his
reach. Perhaps Minna guessed what
her sistcr-in-law's thought was; she
drew the young wife's arm quickly
through her own. and dragged her al
most by force out of the room.
The closing of the door must have
reused the two men. The ladies, with
soft steps. and quite silently, had
scarcely entered the drawjDg.room and
shut themselves in when they heard
the dining-room door open, and caught
the sound Of footsteps in the hall.
"That's Duke"' exclaimed Cicely
hcarsely, bending her head to listen.
"He's going to the library. Thank
God!
Minna did not leave her. and the two
sat together almost IL silence until the
clock struck twelve. 1t was warm
night, but the anxiety under which
they were suffering made them feel
cold and stiff. AS midnight sounded,
Minna sllivered. Ciccly rose resolute-
ly and gently shaking the girl by the
shoulder. insisted on her retiring.
II shall go and see Duke" she said.
"And we will settle what to do. Then
/ will come and tell you how we have
managed
She tried to speak cheerfully. and as
she had evidently made up her mind.
Minna very rcgretfully left her and
went up stairs.
Cicely walked softly to the door, and
listened until she heard the bedroom
door close. Then, with her fingers Oh
the handle, she was about to leave the
drawing room when she heard the
opening of another door, that of the
dining-room. Stumbling footsteps, aud
the noise of chair thrown. down, be-
trayed Radstock's drunken movements.
He was going in the direction of the Ii.
brary.
Cicely flung open the door and con.
frOnted him.