Evening star., 1896-11-28
Eyes. How many crowns?
Twenty" she answered mechanically.

"Yes. How many crowns?'
Twenty" she answered mechanically.
IA year?"
Eyes, year."
The man had a round shaven face that sat
in the circle of tightly tied Steinkirk
cravat like an ivory bali in a cup: and
periwig. Notwithstanding his pistol, he had
rather the air of a tradesman than a SOL
der. until you met his eyes, and they fash
ed with a keen glitter that belied his SNUG
face and shaven cheeks. They caught the
widows eyes, as he answered her, and held
them.
Twenty crowns year?' he said. ''rhen
listen. will give you two hundred crowns
for this house for one night"
For this house for one night?' she re-
peated.
For this house for one nightv' he an
swered.
Then she understood. She was quick
witted she had lived long in the house,
and knew 1T; she knew without more that
God or the devil had put that which she
sought into her hands. And her first i'm
pulse was pure joy. The thirst for ven-
geance welled up, hot and resistless. Now
she could he avenged on all; on the hard
hearted tyrant who had rejected her pray
er; on the sleek danes who would point
the finger at her child, on the SNUG town
that had looked askance at her all these
years-that had set her beyond the pale of
Its dull. groveling pleasures, and shut her
up in that lonely house on the wall! Now
now she had 1t in her hand to take ten
IOlu lOT one, anu noF Idce SO SnOne at tne
thought that the man watching her felt q
touch of misgiving, though he was of the
boldest or he had not been there on that
errand.
"When?" she said. ''When?'
Tomorrow night" he answered, and
then. leaning forward and speaking lightly,
but In low voice. he went on: 1T is a
simple matter. All you have to do is to
find a lodging and begone from here by
sunset, leaving the door OIL the latch. No
more: for the money it shall be paid to
you, half tonight and half the day after to-
morrow"
II want no money" she said.
mo money!" he exclaimed, incredulous-
NO. no money" she answered. in tone
But you will do it?' he said, almost
timidly.
Il will do it, she answered. cat sunset
tomorrow You will find the door the
latch and the house empty. After that. see
that you do your part!"
His eyes lghtened. "'Have no fear" he
said grimly. But mark one thing, mis-
tress." he continued, ut Is an odd thing
to do for nothing"
THAT is my business!' she cried. with a
flash OF rage.
He had been about to warn her that dur
ing the next twenty-four hours she would
be watched and that, on the least sign of
any message passing between her and those
In authority, the plot would be abandoned.
But at that look he held his peace, said
curtly that 1t was bargain then, and in a
moment left her.
With her secret. But for a time it was
rot of that OR of her vengeance that she
thought. Her mind was busy. instead.
with the years of solitude and estrange-
ment she had passed in that house and that
1com; with the depression that, little by
little, had sapped her husbands strength
and hope; with the slow decay of their
goods. their cheerfulness. even the artistic
joys that had at first upheld them; with
the aloofness that had doomed her ard
n IN toto u, <I,;-
last great wrong
Yes, let 1t be! Let it be! She rose on
the thought, her face set like stone. In
fancy she saw the town lie below her-as
she had SO often seen it with the actual
eye from the ramparts-she saw the clrs-
tering mass of warm red roofs and walls,
the outlying towers. the church, the one
long, Straight street; and with outstretcn-
ed arm she doomed it-doomed 1t with a