Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-06-17

window some cushions were placed, and
upon the cushions, with shawl thrown
over her, lay Olympia. She lay in an
easy position, her right cheek resting on
her hand. She appeared to be asleep.
Grown weary with waiting for him, she
had probably dropped off into nap.
He approached her softly, intending
to awaken her with kiss He knelt
down beside her and bent over her.
Sound indeed was her repose. There
was no movement of her bosom. No
breath came between her parted lips.
There was no throbbing in the artery of
her white wrist. Her cheeks were very
pale. She looked as lovely as spirit,
but in that warm spring air she was
strangely cold. Why was it? What
was it2
"Olympial' he said softly, "wake! it
is IT. She did not stir.
'-Olympia!'' clamored wild voice, ris-
ing to shrek, resounding and echoing
through the empty house. "Olympia!
And then harsh cry struggling in the
throat-"Olympia" But Olympia heard
not. She lay pale and still as before,
with her cheek upon her hand.
After while Keppel Darke rose from
his knees, another man than when he
knelt down. His face was pinched and
haggard, but he was now calm. He felt
In his pocket, and an ejaculation OF sat
isfaction escaped him as he drew out his
revolver. He had feared that, in the be-
wilderment of the morning, he might
have lost it. He examined the weapon;
1t was loaded, every chamber, and in
perfect order. He cooked it, and then,
bending down once more, kissed Olym-
pia's face. As he raised himself erect,
and placed the muzzle against his tenn
pie, he faced the window, and his glance
travelled out across lawn and woodland,
bathed in the light of the declining sun
the lovely earth, rejoicing in spring,
which he would never see again. At a
distance of couple Of hundred yards the
drive passed through gateway and was
merged in country road, extending in
the direction of heswamp, where lay the
bones of Francois Dupont. And just at
the turning of the road, half mile away,
was visible an object that, even at that
moment, caused Keppel Darke to stay
his hand and lower the revolver. The
object was carriage and horses, and be-
side it stood two figures. The carriage
seemed to have met with some accident.
Keppel gazed for few moments with
burning eyes. Gradually terrible smile
wrinkled his checks. He uncocked the
revolver slipped it back in his pocket
and bounded out of the room. Leaving
the house by door in the rear, and TAX
ing advantage of the concealmcnt of the
shrubbery, he gained the woodland, and
then set off at Il swift, leaping run in the
direction of the carriage. His course
would keep him out of sight of the two
persons until he was close upon them.
In less than five minutes he was very
near. Peering out between the trees, he
saw that the forward wheel of the car
riage had como off, the pin having given
away. Garcia was working to remedy
the broken piece, and Sallie, clad in
mans clothes, was leaning against the
bole Of a young oak hard by, with her
hands hanging folded in front of her.
Her utter unconsciousness of the eyes
that were fixed upon her seemed strange
to keppel. He was half inclined to sus
pect atfectation. To test the matter, he
drew his revolver, cooked and leveled it.
He was an excellent shot. He could hit
shilling at twenty PAGES nine times in
ten. He took aim at a button on Sallie's
coat, Just over heart. Only an imper-
ceptible contraction of his forefner was
needed to send her to another world.
She did not change her position, but she
spoke to Garcia in an amused tone. "You
don't seem as successful wheelwright,
Nanak, as you are in other professions.
Let us give it up and walk"
"This is my evil day-and yours, Also"
said he whom she called Nanak. cat
six o'clock the worst will be passed, but
until them
"The worst! This has been the hap
piest and most successful day of my life!
II were to die this moment l should die
satisfied. But you and l, my dear prince
are not going to die just yet, in spite OF
that broken wheelpin. You shall buy
back your kingdom, or intrigue it
back
''Be still! 1t has comet" said the other,
rising to his feet as Keppel left his con-
cealment behind the trees and advanced
upon them, covering Salie with his
weapon.
The suddenness Of the apparition add
ed, perhaps, to other influences, over
threw the woman's habitual self COM
mand. She crouched with theinstinctipe
impulse to escape, but the muzzle of the
revolver followed her. "Stand up!' said
Keppel.
"Are you afraid to die?'
"Why do you do this" she demanded,
fercely. "Have not kept my promise"
"Even her dead body is worth a uni
verse of souls like yours; but you have
taken her life, and you must jean your
sister devils. 1t is no punishment; but
there can be none for you in this world.
You shall go elsewhere"
81 tell you she is alive! Speak to him,
Nanak! he will believe you. What does
he mean? She is alive!"
"It is the evil hour" said the man, in
differently. "It cannot be averted."
He spoke in an abstracted tone, and
stood staring on the ground with his
arms hanging by his side. ''The evil
hour!" he repeated.
"Coward-not to help me! And you.
Keppel Darke! coward to kill a defence
less woman! Oh, if l had a weapon!
Give me an equal chance and will not
be the first to cry for mercy"
eyes, it shall be SO" said Keppel. 81,
too, prefer it. You shall have the chance
you think so valuable"
"Have you another pistol" she asked,
with fierce, searching eyes.
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