The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1895-02-15
CHAPTER XIII.
Blanche's Agony,


less by the bed. How long she lay
thus she could not toll; presently, how
ever, she stirred, aud opened her
oyes; then, rising on her knees, she
crawled, drawn by some fatal fascina-
tion, to the bedside, clutched tho COW
erlet, and gazcd wildly at Hartmann,
who lay upos bis back, breathing
heavily. Clngnig on and painting.
with eyes wide open and dilated pu-
pills, she looked and looked-as u
doomed creature looks on the apparl-
ton OF death. Then, struggling to
her feet, and raising her arms in tho
air, sho uttered a moan most sud and
pitiful, full OF horror and infinite
despair.
Father! father!"
1t was a supreme mercy for her that
In that awful moment her reason did
not snap like silkon thread. Her
eyes were fearless, her heart as cold
us Ice within her. Sho was like
lamb stupeied by murdorous blow.
All she could do was to utter that
faint wailing cry
Father! father!n
Gradually she began to realize II
all. She behcld the dying face up
lifted in the starlight, the feeble
hands clinging round the murderer;
she heard the last sad words, tho
piteous message, given in the voice
she knew SO we'll. And tho murderer
la, ,h.,, tha,n m, hos futho.io l,od
brought there by her compassion.
saved twice from miserable death
by her ministering care. She tottered
to the bedside again, and gazed upon
him, her hands clenched. her face
like marble. Her whole soul sickened
to behold him. She longcd to drag
him from that shelter, and cast him
forth into the chilling snow.
Meantime tho German had begun to
breathe more painfully. Hall opening
and shutting his eyes, and moving his
head rcstlcssly from side to side. he
seemed struggling with some sharp
internal pain. His right hand, lying
upon the coverlet, opened and shu,
conyulsively. Hc murmurcd family,
as II talking to himself.
Was he dying' Blanche asked her
self. Ycs-God was good after all
he must DO dying. Then his life wa.
in her hands, after all. She had but
TO stand still, not lifting n finger. and
still avcngc her father. What she had
done already, she had done in blind
| l.,,S En-. 1ngA e.
justify herself, TO redeem tho wick
cdncss OF haying sheltered and sue
cored him!
Again she uttered that low, despair
ing cry; then. covering her face with
her hands she rushed into the outer
room and fell moaning upon her knees
Not to pray; sho could not pray
Not 10 weep; not tear would flow
Only TO shuddcr as IL with cold. and :,
moan over and over again. Father
fathcr!"
Hark! A feeble cry. like call fol
holp. came from tho sickroom. Sh,
started, but kept her placc. In few
minutes tho cry was repeated; but still
she did not stir. She strained her
eyes up ut the dark heaven. Hci
father was there. somewhere bcyont
those troubled clouds. All! that she
might 90 TO hlm-that he could beck
on her out Of the shadows OF the
grave. and call her TO his side.
The cry came again. She turned
and staggered rather than walked
back to tho sick chamber. pausing al
the door like ghost, and gazing In,
The man had changed his position, and
with both his arms thrust above his
head. was lying back without the pill
low. which had fallen 10 tho floor
Ills mouth was half open. his ego
looking straight at Blanche. She saw
that he had partially recovered con
seriousness. and recognized her. Was i
fancy or did he call TO her In faint
low voice. ontrcatlnglyp
Sho stood like stone; then. taken b,
n sudden thought. and fixing her eyer
on his. she raised the medallion
which still lay In her hand. and kissed
Il. lIo watched her. and seemed Il
understand; but tho next moment hi
eyes tarncd away In pain. and con
vulsion ran through his body. How
lurid. how dca,h.likc his face mp
pcarod In tho faint gllmmor OF IN,
night-llght!
The small ,lmo.ploco In the adjoln
Ing room struck one. Nearly nm hour
had passed since she had last admins
tered tho nnodync. Already her vcngc
anco had begun. lie was sinking
and she Ind not put out hand. Al
Mt once. us II by u heavenly inspira
,Ion. she sapnod 10 hear tho voice o
her father speaking TO tho ear that I,
In tho soul. Tho voice was low and
gentle. just rs IL had always bccn; but
II sounded like u warming. She knew
the chovallcr's deeply humane nature
sho knew that he OF NIL creatures,
would have been tho last 10 approve
AN act Of vengeance. An net, moi
merely OF vengeance. but OF murder
mono tho less murder because the vie.
tim was u miserable sinner. guilty oil
unnatural bloodsbcd. n she stood by.
with tho power 10 pavo tho lie that
was fast going. she was as responsible
for tho loss of that Ito rs II she had
used knife Or poison TO destroy IL.
She would have 10 answer FOR ain DO,
foru tho great Judge Of quick and
dcnd.
Tortured between hate and duty,
Blanche now underwent the great