The Monmouth inquirer., 1897-07-22
THROUGH A TELESCOPE.

The day was very pleasant, but I
could not enjoy it.
Long, weary months had l been in
the darkened room, and still they kept
me there, allowing no breath Of the
cool pure air to reach my feverish head.
l was forbidden to rise from my bed,
and yet in the absence Of anyone who
could prevent my doing so, was de-
termined to open the windows and
breathe in the fresh air.
Hardly sooner thought of than done.
/ crept weakly out of bed and wrapped
myself in warm dressing g-gown.
| opened the window only few
inches SO that attention should not be
attracted to it from outside was soon
enjoying the forbidden pleasure of
breathing the free air, untainted with
the fumes of the nauseous drugs that
had been dealt out to me with an I'M
sparing hand all through the long cold
winter
How exhilarating! / wondered that
I had endured the bedroom SO long.
looked down upon the group of young
ladies who were on the lawn playing
tennis. My cousin, Jenny Magrair, was
there, the only woman had ever loved.
But 1 was nothing to her She knew
not how l worshipped her, and / should
keep my secret well, for she was the
betrother of Gerald Macburn. How /
envied him, and, perhaps, hated him
little, for I knew that he had not won
her love. She had pledged her hand to
save her old father from poverty. She
had consented to the sacrifice, and
Macburn was satisfied.
Turning away, | tried to Danish the
painful, hopeless thoughts that had
been awakened.
There was fine telescope lying on
the table, and / diverted my thoughts
by taking a survey of the farming and
wood land that stretched far away to
the east for many miles. | feasted my
eyes on many a little cool, shady, syl-
van view, brought within range by the
telescope But suddenly a spectacle OF
a different kind arrested my attention.
/ caught sight of two men, whom l
recognized as Gerald Macburn and
John Layton. They were apparently
in search of game.
The glass was small, yet very su-
perior instrument, and could see them
very plainly, Notwithstanding the dis
tance. presume should have thought
no more about them had not known
that but a few months ago they were
bitter enemies. I wondered how the re-
concfliation had been effected.
While puzzling my brains with these
thoughts I had unconsciously moved
the glass to keep them within range.
saw them stop, and | became aware
by their motions that they were angry.
/ became interested. could see them
so distinctly that / found myself listen
ing to catch their words.
| could see their lips move, and | saw
John Layton's clenched hands. He was
evidently much excited, but he did not
offer to strike, and if one can judge
by sight alone, he was inclined to avoid
any alteration, while Macburn appear
ed to seek a quarrel.
For full five minutes they stood there,
gesticulating yehemently. They were
some distance apart, Layton all the
while endeavoring to widen the space
and Macburn following him up.
At last Layton, goaded beyond all en-
durance, wheeled about and shook his
fist menacingly at his tormentor. Mac
burn was so exasperated at this that
he raised his rifle and shot him.
I saw the poor man fall out of sight
in the bushes, and | saw Macburn calm
ly reload his rifle and walk toward the
spot where his victim was lying. Then
I staggered and fell to the floor and all
was a blank.
When / awoke to consciousness | was
in bed Cloths were all about my head,
and in the dim lamplight I saw a
watcher sitting by my bedside It was
nv cid chuIn Harry W1lmOt.
.sHow is this?" said /, when 1 realized
the situation.
Thank God, you are coming round
again." said Harry; "but it has been a
hard case, Fred; you have been as mad
as a March hare for whole week.
advise you not to try to crawl out OF
bed again till you are strong enough
to crawl back.
At these words, what l had seen from
the window flashed upon my mind, but
had my life depended upon it, | could
not then have told that it was not all
a dream To convince myself, | in
quired for John Yayton.
HE is-no one knows where" re-
piled Harry, but you are too weak to
either talk or listen"
mo, I'm not, Harry; tell me about
it."
He still hesitated, but urged him,
and he yielded.
John Layton disappeared week
ago. said he. "Absconded is the better
word, for he took with him quite an
amount of money belonging to his IA
ther. The old gentleman is very worth.
and has used every means to find him.
but has not succeeded. Fanny Morton
they were to be married soon, yon
KNOWS almost crazy about It, and
will not believe that John intended to
do anything wrong. This is all that is
known about it. But, speaking of mar
riage, did you know that Gerald Mac
burn and Jenny Magrair are to be mar
ried tomorrow"
John Layton is dead" said |, with