Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-09-17
CHAPTER XIV.
Loves Cross Purposes.

ready, 1t seemed, on the least proNoca-
ton, to let his fury loose again. she
saw her travelling bag upon the floor,
and stopped mechanically to pick it up.
Take it with you!' snarled the pro-
lessor, still keeping his voice down to
a whisper.
The unhappy girl looked and moved
as if she were bewildered
You have no right to keep me here,
she said family. Il am not your
daughter, you are no longer my legal
guardian. cannot stay here"
You can stay here. and you must.
retorted Professor Drummond DO
you think | shall let you go out and
publish your calumnies against me-"
1t is foul enough that you operate from
within my own household"
Her eyes flashed little at this, as
If resentment were clearing the shad
ows from her mind.
Yes" she answered. II have done
very wrong. That is why | am going
away"
The professors face lit with savage
triumph.
Il knew it, he exclaimed, depressing
his voice with difficulty
Then he took her by the shoulders
and pushed her into the room across
the hall from the dining room. She
was not only incapable physically of
resisting so powerful man as her
I'LL Gle, but she was impelled by her
profound regrets for What had occurred
to refrain now from calling out or
doing anything that might attract the
attention of others in the house. Pro
fessor Drummond could not have
dreamed much less believed. that
Amelia was as determined as he that
no further light should be shed upon
the Fairview tragedy by any act of
hers. Once within the room and the
door closed, he continued:
Who else but you could nave set
the Starkweathers to instigate an in
quest. h? Tell me that"
Il did it, she responded.
The professor raised both hands the
III tS>NID NAlNllN'h, anu Ihl vel ms w NlONV
upon her throat; his lips We're parted,
and his passion essayad to find words
but he could not go beyond the begin
ming.
Amelia faced him with despairng
self-possession, Her strength was as
nothing compared to his, and yet he
trembled before her with the very ex-
cess of excited energy.
Presently he lowered his hands slow
ly
II could kill you where you stand"
he muttered.
And add another murder to your
crimes" she added.
You lie,' he Kissed. and as his rage
again mounted to a fury and he yet
remembered how they stood there in
broad day with others close at hand,
he whrled about, strobe across the
room, and catching up a walking stick
that leaned against the fireplace, twist
ed it in his hands until it broke in
two He looked vacantly at the frag,
ments a moment. and then dropped
them upon the hearth.
THAT might have been your body"
he exclaimed.
Il wish it We're" said Amelia.
The professor glared at her fixedly
for several seconds, and a great reyul-
son of feeling came over him. The
fury died out of His eyes, and the pas
sionate quiyerng of his heavy frame
ceased
Poor girl" he said in a very chang
ed tone, you have been terribly upset,
haven't you? Too bad Something
must be done Yes. of course. you
shall 60 away, Amelia dear, but not
now. Wait little and I'll take you,
He approached as if he would lay his
hand caressingly upon her. With real
terror she started back She feared his
kindness more than his passion.
Go to your room now, child" con-
aversion Il will send for you before
long 1t will be much better for you
that you should go away without the
appearance of trying to escape. You'll
see that yourself, think, after you've
had a little rest Go now, Amelia"
He opened the door and stood beside
1t for her to pass. A very different man
the professor was at that moment from
the maniacal fiend he had been but a
few moments before. Now he was cool,
imperturbable. calculating, his familiar
self. and Amelia knew that save for
the possibility Of physical violence
shen he was enraged, he was now
most dangerous. His change Of de-
meanor was but the outward sign Of
purpose conceived in the violence Of
his passion that needed quiet and I'M
bending resolution to accomplish
What that purpose was she could not
guess. and she did not try to Her
own purpose remained fixed In her
mind and she 100 had Drummond
blood and Drummond will. perhaps
also trace OF Drummond craft.
Slowly. with her eyes fixed on his
as II to read any sudden change TO
active hostility there. she passed In