Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-02
Tears % qugh TER


regarding the saltant flames of the
CRATE fire with hostile eyes. He be-
Ieyed himself to be particularly calm
his heart was beating at it's normal.
placid pace, his mind was clear. He
was unaware that his fingers were
nerVousiy tapping the arms Of his
chair, and that his view of the fire
was gradually growing blurred and
{ndiStinct.
The library table was thickIy strewn
with papers, and Wyndham's brother
leaned heavily against it, gnaWing his
discolOred lips.
At length Wyndham broke the
strained silence. He arose from his
seat and placed his arm upon his
brothers shoulder, saying:
DO you see the biting jest fortune
played us in removing our father be-
fore he could destroy these pleasing
documents? For have no doubt he
fully intended to destroy them
The younger man impatiently chafed
under his brothers words. He threw
back his head, as if to shake himself
free from the thoughts which pursued
him.
Il am not sorry he had not time.to
destroy them," he returned, laboredIy;
''he tried to teach us to the full the
meaning of honor-perhaps with the
idea that we would be able to do what
he was not strong enough to accom-
plish. 1t only remains with us to
Daake restitution"
1T will be we'll for US to make our
exit as speedily as possible" Wynd-
ham pursued; there will be the usual
wonderment at our hasty deed; but,
vt least, there will be no suspicion of
the truth
He commenced to separate the pa
pers with his usual customary method
lcal precision, quickly bringing order
out of the confusion which had reign
ed. He was hindered rather than
helped by his brothers assistance. He
deposited in the fire the confession
which had laid bare before them I'M
guessed infamy, and the two stood
watching until the flames had merc;-
fully devOured the last bit of paper
which could have avowed their dis
honor.
Then Wyndham said:
4 am now going to my own apart
ments. 1t will probably take me an
hour to arrange my own affairs. At
the expiration of that time l shall end
my life"
Il shall do likewise" declared the
younger man, who had now regained
the mastery of himself. His voice rang
steady, but his face was like a death
mask in its stiffened, unnatural pose.
Wyndham looked at him in astonish-
ment and cold admiratiO of his man
ner Of receiving the blow.
That is all that is left for US he
agreed slowly, land we can accomplish
it only by our death; otherwise the
world would know of our diShOnor.
Fortunately, Howard is the next in
succession, and will come into his own
without need Of disclosing to him our
shame"
The younger man was unable to re-
strain the faint look Of protest which
nOmentarily flashed into his heavy
ayes. Then the blank hOpelessness
tgain developed his features, as he
echoed:
only our death can right the
wrong"
He recognized that the case required
that drastic measurable wished TO
appeal from it, for every breath he
now drew was poisoned; but the
thought of death, which only an hour
ago had seemed so far distant, came
upon him with something of a shock
There had never been any strong
liking between them, but as Wyndbam
shook his hand upon separating from
him at the turn of the corridor he
vas stirred by a momentary thrill of
pity. He knew his brother well
enough to realize that life could hold
no possible charm for him, but it
seemed sad that he should be forced
to leave it while he was still pos
sessed of the exaltations peculiar to
youth.
Wyndham closed the door Of his own
den and set about the completion Of
his task. There was not one letter
over which he fingered before commit
ting it to the flames, yet many of them
were from the one woman he had ever
loved, and to whom his marriage was
imminent. He had always been able
to keep his mind from the disagree
able, and he was determined that in
this last act he would still retain
his admirable compOsure and not try
himself needlessly.
He refused absolutely to allow his
thoughts to dwell upon what was to
happen within the hour, and he no.
ticed, with a subdued throb Of self
satisfaction, his unfaltering nerve.
He debated with himself for a few
moments over the ACCESSIBILITY Of leav'
.lg a few last words to the woman
who was to have been his wife, but
ultimately dismissed the thought as
favoring of the dramatic. In fact, he
felt he could derive no consola ton
from writing to her, as he could frame
no possible excuse for his impending
acton.
He walked composedly to the
drawer which contained his revolver
but paused before the mirror to push
back from his brow the hair which
had become displaced. He also no
ticed that his cravat was somewha
awry, and rearranged it.
He was unconsciously taking menta
note of his condition. He had NOR