Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-14

| rOr. on saw MIN dead!
HE was lying on the floor near the
bureau" said Scott, speaking rapidly.
Il see him now in my minds eye-a
limp heat, with his white hair dappled
with blood. The Zulu club, torn from
the savage weapons which decorated
the walls, lay near him; his pistol was
on the other side. He was dead-dead.
All God dead"
During this recital Dora had sunk in
to chair, overcome by the vehemence
of his words. Allen strobe two and fro,
swinging his long arms, with look Of
horror on his worn, white face He
had passed his hands to his eyes, as if
to shut out the scene which his too
vivid fancy had painted. Half swoon-
! ing, Dora uttered a sob, and the next
moment Allen was on his knees beside
her, covering her hands with passionate
and burning kisses.
My queen my saint" he said hur-
riedly; and you would sacrifice your
self for me. You would marry this
drunkard, this parasite, this vile rep
tile, 10 save me from danger! No, Do
ra. No, have been weak and foolish,
but am not guilty. swear that am
not guilty. You shall not shield me at
the cost of your own ruin. Oh, if
! could only tell you all! But dare not,
dare mott"
Carried away by his passion, angered
at the sense of his weakness, he could
! have kissed her feet. But Dora placed
her hand on his forehead, and reasoned
calmly with him. He was not to be
saved by giving way to such whirl-
winds Of passion and despair. The
| prospect was terrible, but they must
both face it boldly. Allen was inno-
cent. He said so, and she believed him.
! That was everything. If he were not
| guilty, they might find way out of
the trap into which he had stumbled.
| To do so, she must know exactly what
| took place on that fatal night, and to
this end she addressed her frenzied
| lover
Allen" she said gravely, this is not
the way to save yourself from arrest,
or me from a disgraceful marriage. /
! have obtained a weeks time from Joad
TO think matters over. In seven days
we can do a great deal, and we may see
]
Sit down beside me and tell me exactly
what you did on that night"
Il shall not sit down beside you, Do
ra. l shall remain here at your feet.
All, heaven! to think of that cruel bar
which prevents our marriage! You
should know all, but l have not the
courage to tell you.
Keep silent on that point" said Dora
| soothingly. "WhGt | want to know
now is the story of that night You re-
turned from London on the second did
you nOt?"
! Yes" he replied in tired voice, In
that conversation had with Edermont
he made certain statements which 1
could not believe. He said l could
verify them in London, and told me
| how and where | could do so. l could
not rest until | knew the truth, there
/ fore l caught the express at Selling and
went to town. Alas, alas | found that
he had spoken only too truly, and that
you could never be my wife
REFRESHING the curiosity which de-
voured her to learn the terrible secret
of which he spoke, Dora smoothed his
hair gently and asked him to relate
what had taken place on his return
! from this mysterious errand. He obey
ed her like a child.
when I came home" he said with
I thoughtful elaboration, Il found that
letter showed you awaiting me. Eder-
mont asked me 10 see him in his study
at midnight on the second OF the
month. But how he knew that should
return on that day l cannot guess.
Il can explain" said Dora quietly.
you wrote and told me when you
would return, and I showed the letter
to my guardian"
why did you do that, Dora-espe-
cially when you knew about our quar-
rel?"
Il wished to point out to Mr.. Elder
mont that you had gone to London
replied Dora, "and, if possible, induce
him to explain your reason for going
there
"Ah. he knew my reason we'll
enough" said Allen with a frown;
but l suppose he refused to tell you
what it was?'
Naturally. He refused to tell me
anything. But now you know how Mr.
Edermont learnt the date of your re-
| turn. and appointed that midnight
meeting for the date Go on Allen.
4 was pleased to get his invitation,
continued Allen, picking up the thread
! of his story. as fancied he might con-
fess something further, likely to ameli-
! crate the distressing situation IN
which l was placed by his previous re-
velation. | determined therefore, 10
| obey the summons; but as 1t yet want
| ed three hours till midnight, the
thought of the delay worked me into a
fever of anxiety. The hopes, the
fears the vague terrors which 5eset
me- drove me nearly wild. / ueclare,
Dora that I was like a mailman. \
hundred ideas came into my head, as
RI how I might do away with the
/ effect of Edermont's secret and regain
Won. But one and all were dismissed,
and I felt more helpless than ever.
| ONLY one man could put matters right,
and that was the man who put them
wrong. so there was nothing left for 1t
but to wait until I saw him at mid
night"
Had YOU any idea that a third per
son might be present at your meeting?
"No. AS you see. there is no men
ton of a third person in the letter, nor
did I see a third person in the study
ONLY the dead mans corpse. Ugh.
Allen shuddered-"I shall never for
get that horrible sight.
1T was gruesome enough in the
morning" said Dora with a SILVER so
if must have been doubly horrifying
at night. Well, did you remain indoors
until YOU went to the Red House?'