The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02

cision, a single glance OF a languorous eye had
And now he stood again before that ruined
grille, his house aHd lands, even his name mis-
self a creeping SPY Of his own dishonor.
lie turned with a.bitter smile again 20 the
garden. A few dafk-red Castlian roses still
leaned forward and swayed in the wind with
dripping leaves. ~ was here that the FIRST morn.
ing g. Of his arrival !, he Eel had nirE si s. susy: the per,
| him with n sudden shock rs he stood there; he
caught, at the flower, drew, IL toward him. and
faint and leaning against the wall.
Then again he smiled, but this time more
wickedly in what he believed his cynicism had
sprung up the first instinct of revenge!
1t was. now dark enough for him to venture
across the carriage road and make his way Ia
the rear of the house. His first characteristic
| Instinct had been to enter openly at his own
front gate. but the terrible temptation, to over
that fascination common TO deceived humanity
20 witness its own shame had grown upon him.
lie knew that a word or gesture of explanation.
would ychsfb his rage and weaken his purpose.
security OF its inmates would enable him from
some obscure landing or gallery to participate
patio the only place suitable for so numerous a
rendezvous. The absence of light in the few
external windows pointed to this central gather
ing. And lie had already conceived his plan Of
entrance.
Gaining the rear wall OF the casa he began
cautiously to skirt its brambly base. until he
had reached n long. oven-like window. half OBJ
liberated by a lnonstrous passion vine.
"tS Inv W llpN VI llail ltfl 'llt ffn NlTss
peyton's boudoir; the window Ey which he had
once forced an entrance to tn" house when IL
from which Snsy had signnlled her spanish
lover: the window whose grating had broken
the neck OF Judge Peyton's presumed assassin.
But these reColleCtiOns no longer delayed him /:
the moment for action had arrived. He knew
that since the tragedy the bondoir had been dis
mantled and summed: the servants believed IL
to be haunted by the assassiu's ghost.
With the aid OF the passion vine the ingress
was easy. The interior window was open; the
rustic Of dark leaves on the bare floor as he en-
tered, and the whirr OF a frightened bird by his
Of the strange noises that had been heard there.
The. door leading to the corridor was lightly
SinS gmIsi peiy9 70 ;b sG sdi, 1t u IRON ib rsi hiaaEs ~ ~ me NE
pocket knife. he peered into the dark passage.
The light, streaming under a door to, the left aud
lecture was right, and the meeting was gathered
on the broai, balconies around ths patio.
venetian blinds to exclude the sun, looked down
upon them, He managed To gain It without dis
tween their Stats. himself Invisible, he could
hear and see everything that occurred.
Yet even at this supreme moment the first
contrast between the appearance of the meeting
and its tremendous object.
hoyish conception OF n cloudy and gloomy con-
spiracy he did, not know, but he. was for an in
slant almost disconnected by the apparent lev
ity and f~cstivity of the conclave. Decanters and
glasses stood on small tables before them;
nearly all were drinking and smoking,
They comprised fifteen or twenty men. some
whose faces were familiar to him.
ws 0cctITp s 9sm a Snat To1 syi central position psi !
Jaunty and youthful looking in his mask-rke.
beardless face, expressive and dignifed in his
middle-HRcd port and carriage, he alone retained
something OF the Importance albeit slightly
theatricaland affected Of the occasion.
Clarence. in his first hurried glance. had not
observed his wife. and for a moment had felt
relieved.
and with a studiously chivalrous ana courtly
manner turned to his right. he saw that she was
sitting at the further end OF the balcony; and
ney was standing beside her,
The blood quickly frightened around his heart,
but left him cold and obscrvant.
bottle, placing his fat white fingers in the frill
of his shirt front. that a movement like this
was graced with the actual presence Of a lofty.
inspiring. yet delicate s%pirit-a Boadicea-in-
Of their charming hostess. Mrs. Brant !.
Not only were they favored by her social and
cntRusiastic coSpera,ion in tie glorious work
they had in hand. IL was through her corre-
spondence and earnest advocacy that they were
to be favored tonight with the aid and counsel
of one of the most distinguished and powerful
men in the southern district Of California,
He had not the honor Of that g~entleman's per
sonal acquaintance; he believed he was not far
tune OF every gentleman present. but the name
itself was a tower OF strength. He would go
sonally unac9uainted with him. but that It was
through the fervor, poetry. grace. and genius of
ner correspondence with tnHt gentleman tnnt
they were to have the honor OF his presence that
very, evening, II, was understood that advices
m mag Hes be espeeted at at I Rsb Iisp at any m non ena' ne
" But what proof have we of Judge BeeswinR-
er's soundness Z" said a lazy southern voice at
Nobody here seems to know him by sight: Is
!: not risky TO admit a man 70 our meeting
" reckon nobody but q. fool or some prying
mudsill OF a Yankee would trust his skin here"
returned another. and II he did we'd know
what 10 do with him."
But Clarence's attention was riveted on his
Hnheeded as had the CoioneiT's rhetoric. She
was looking very handsome and slightly flushed,
with a proud light in her eyes that he had never
Absorbed in the discussion. she seemed to be
paying little attention TO Capt. Pinckney, as she
Judge Beeswineer will be attended here by
Mr.. MacNiel OF the Fair Plains Hotel, who win
clear voice which rang with an imperiOusness
that Clarence well [emem 6ered; "The Judge
Fair Plains. and is due now"
but is there no gentleman TO introduce him?
MTis WE 'G .iSse. him a w Gn Ses w seilsr = g eo S1%me
the previous voice sneeringly.
"0n the word OF a lady, Mr.. Brooks" said
Capt. Pinckney. with a slight gesture toward
Mrs. Brant. who answers for both"
Clarence had started slightly at his wife's
voice and the information Il conveyed. His fel-
low passenger and the confidant Of MacNiel was
the man they were expecting lfthey had rec
the company OF his proximity?
He held his breath as the sound of voices
came from the outer gate of the courtyard.
Mrs. Brant rose. but at the same moment the
gate swung open and a man entered. IL was
the MissOuTian.
He turned with an old fashioned courtesy to
the single woman, standing on. the balcony.
My fair correspondent, believe; | am Judge
Beeswinger. Your agent, MacNiel, passed me
through your guards at the gate. but | did not
not deem il advisable to bring him INTO this as
sembly OF gentlemen without your further con-
sideration. | trust | was right"
The quiet dignity and ,self-Possession. the
quaint. Old-fashioned colonial precision OF
sueech, modified by a soft Nirginian intonatiOn,
and. above all. some singular individuality in
the man himself. produced a profound sensa-
tiOn. and seemed TO suddenly give this gather
ing an impressiveness il had lacked, before.
For an instant Clarence forgot himself and
his personal wrongs in the shock of Indignation
he felt AT tins potent addition TO the ranks OF
his enemies. lie saw his wife's eyes sparkle
with pride over her acquisition, and noticed
that Pinckney cast q disturbed glance at the
newcomer.
The stranger assembled the few steps 10 the
balcony and took Mrs. Brant's hand with pro-
found courtesy.
Introduce me 10 my colleagues-distinctly
anA 1000 4 al.aaWIa - man ~ EUtRl =