The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-04-05
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Not even an echo replied to them.
And whnt could It all mean? Bar.
rington asked himself: for, on arriving
before the house. he had glanced over
1t, and there had been light glimmer-
merlng In the room IN which he and
Edwin now were standing in perfect
darkness. -
Toward that only visible light about
the house had Darlington Of course
directed his steps.
And he and Emmeline's lover stood
for IL moment In wondering terror,
both together distinguished that pecu.
liar odor which is left by a common
tallow candle when 1t has been ex-
tinguished by pun Of wind or by
persons breath.
And on that evening the air was
very still.
There was some one In this room up
to the very moment that we entered
the house." exclaimed Noel; 'for even
as forced open the outer door light
I viii swear was burning here"
There may be still some one within
the house." suggested Edwin.
Il don't think 1t. oh. what does all
this portend? cried Darlington.
And then, as thought struck him:
II shall return to you in moment"
he said to Forester, ..and heaven
grant that you may be spared the
anguish and remorse which fear
awaits you as the punishment of your
mad suspicious"
And fast Us it was possible to him,
Darlington hurried from the house.
What had Emmeline to do In that
house. and why was Darlington 80 ter.
rified concerning her?
All this was inexplicable to Edwin,
as Indeed we know 1t must have been
He descended the stairs and tried
the doors below; then, feeling his way
along the passage, he came to I'M open
door. aud crossing its threshold, the
night was then sufficiently bright to
enable him to see to the very end Of
the long and narrow yard to which lie
had made his way.
There Is some one lying there" he
presently cried aloud; and hurrying
forward, and STOPPING to tho object.
, uttered q loud cry Of anguish. for 1t
was Emmeline who was there ex-
tended senseless on the ground.
Edwin's first and terrible thought
had been that she was dead.
Her fears for herself aroused by the
suspicious which NicEsey had express.
ed relative to his secreted treasure,
his threats well understood, she re-
turned beneath the shed and hurriedly
and tremblingly resumed her search
FOR that which, as We now know, 1t
, was impossible she could there dis.
cover.
And Us she sought, tearing up the
ground with her delicate fingers, which
soon were torn and bleeding, she at
every instant paused in her painful
and fruitless task to listen, shudder-
ingiy. believing that she heard Nick.
sey's rapidly approaching step.
He had said that he was about to de-
scend, and minutes after minutes went
by In feverish and trembling expecta-
ton Of his coming.
Entirely exhausted. Emmeline at last
reliIqulshed her hopeless task, ana
covered In the corner of the shed, Il
very image OF terror aud despair.
What had kept Nicksey from her? -
Emmeline cOnjectured and hoped that
the rlffian had returned to his chair
beside the fire, and had fallen asleep
again.
And then came the thought that she
might perhaps be able to steal from
the house without arousing him; to re-
main longer there would be to venture
her life. which was even now imper-
illesi, while hopeless was she to obtain
those proofs for whose possession she
had, should heaven SO will It, been
reconciled to die.
Yes, she would creep through the
passage Of the house and out ut the
front door.
Once more In the street and she
would be safe again.
Jarvis would not have deserted her;
Ills coach would he in waiting and
would convey her back to the spot
where she had last seen Darlington,
and tidings might there perhaps be
gained concerning her friend who had
/. been 20 devoted to her and from whose
continued aid she had still hoped 30
much.
lettering almost sinking ut every
step with terror aud exhaustion, she
had quilted the shed and had strug-
gled over about halt the distance OF
the long yard on her way back to the
house when suddenly Nicksey, us she
believed. confronted her, a poinard
raised aloft and cleaning In his hand.
Spare me! spare mel! faltered Elm.
incline. and With faint Shrek lost
all consciousness, sinking rather thay
falling at the mans feet,