The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-06-25
by BERTHA II. 4

ton OF his suit.
II was so proud, Vanc," she said hulnbly.
"HeaVen was sure to punish me-. / surround
ed myself, as it were, with a barrier of pride,
scorn, and contempt, and my pride has been
brought low"
She told him of Sir Oswald's anger at her
refusal to marry Aubrey, of her uncle's threat
that he would marry and disinherit, her, of
her scornful disbelic.-tllcre was no Incident
forgotten; and then she came to the evening
when Sir Oswald had opened the box to take
out the diamond ring, and had spoken before
them all of the roll OF %bank-notes placed
there.
''That night, Vanc," s!o said, ''there was
q strange unrest upon HE. l could not sleep.
/ have had the Same sensation when the lair
has been overcharged with electricity before
a storm; seemed to hear strange noises, my
heart beat, my face was flushed and hot.
every nerve seemed to thrill with pain. l
opened the window, thinking that the cool
night air would drive the fever from my
brain.
A l sat there in the profound silence, l
heard, rs plainly as l hear myself speaking
now, footstcps-quiet, stealthy footstcps-go
past my door.
Let me explain to you that the library,
where my uncle kept his casll-box and his
papers, is on the ground floor; on the floor
above that there are several gucs.s-chambers,
Captain l4angton slept in one of these. My
uncle slept on the third floor, and, in order
to reach his room, was obliged to go through
the corridor where the rooms of Miss Hast
ings and myself were.
81 heard those quiet, stealtly footsteps,
Vane, and my heart for a few moments beat
painfully.
But the Darrells were never towards. l
went to my door and opened it gently. l
could see to the very end OF the corridor, for
at the end there was a large arched window,
and a faint gray light coming from it show
ell me a stealthy figure creeping silently from
Sir Oswald's room; the gray light showed
me also a glimmer of steel, and l knew, al
most by instinct, that that silent figure car
ried Sir Oswald's keys in its hands.
In a moment | had taken my resolve. l
pushed my door to, but did not close it; l
took Off my slippers, lest they should makca
sound, and followed the figure down stails.
As | have said before, the D'rrclls were ncv-
er towards; no dread came - nc; l was in
tent upon one ~thing-the detection OF the
wrOngdocr. f
Not more than q minute passed while1
was taking off my shoes, but when l came to
the foot of the grand staircase light and fig
ure had both disappeared. l cannot tell
what impulse led me to the library-pcrhaps
the remembrance of Sir Oswald's money be-
ing there came to me. ! crossed the hall and
opened the library door.
Though / had never liked Captain Lang
ton, the scene that was revealed to Inc came
upon me us a slock-one that shall never
forget. There was Captain Langton with
my uncle's casll-box before him and the roll
of bank-notes in his hand. He looked up
when entered, and a terrible curse fell from
his lips-a frigitful curse. His face was
fearful to see. The room lay In the shadow
of dense darkness, save where the light he
carried slione like q faint star. The face it
showed me was one | shall never forget; 1t
was drawn, haggard, livid, with bloodless
lips and wild, glaring eyes.
"He laid the bank-notes down, and, going
to the door, closed itsoftly, turning the key;
and then clutching my arm i'll a graspofiroa,
he Kissed Nt..p,st than said:
"'What tieldllas brought yen heYep
'sHe did not frlghten me, Yane T1sshayc
never known fear. But hiseyes were full Of
mErderous hate, and l had an idea that he
would lave few scruples as to taking my
life.
$50, Captain Aubrey lsangton,' I said,
slowly, you arc a thief! You are robbing
the old friend who has been SO good to your
sic dragged Inc to the table on which the
money lay, and then l saw a revolver lying
there, too.
Zone word he Kissed, one whisper above
your breath. and you shall die!
81 know my face expressed no fcar-noth-
ing but scorn and contemplation his grew
more livid as lie watched ne.
:'lt is all your fault! he. Kissed into my
ear; it is your. accurscd pride that has driven
me to this! Why did you not promise To
marry me when my life lay III your landsT
II lauglied--the idea OF a Darrell married
to this midnight thief!
"tI told you l was a desperate man. he
went on. i pleaded with you. l prayed to
you, l laid my life at. your feet, ami yon
tramplcd on it with scorn. Itold you of my
debts, my difficulties, and you laughed at
them If could have gone back to London
betrotlied to you, every city usurer would
have been willing to lend mo money. | am
driven to this, for | cannot go back to face
ruin. iou have driven me to 1t; you are the
thief, though my hands take the money.
Your tirice-acculsed pride has ruined met
81 shall go 10 Sir Oswald said, and
wake him. You shall not rob hlln!'
Yes he returned, L shall. l defy you.
l dare yor; you shall tell no onc.'
"He took the revolver from tho table and
held it to my head; l felt the cold steel touch
my forehead.
Now lie said, your life is in your own
hands; you must take an oath not to betray
me, or 1 will fire.
"sI am not afraid to die; / would rather
die than Ind such sin as yours. You can-
not frigliten ne; l shall call for assistance.
.'''NVaft n momcnt,' he said, still keeping
That cold steel 10 my fAr,l,ead, and still keep
ing his muldero,s { 4 my face; Listen to
what | shall do. llir aaoaient SOu!cry out l
shall fire. and you will fall down dcad-I
told You was a desperate man. Before any
ono has time to come 1 shall place the bank
notes in your hand, and afterward l shall tell
Sir Oswa d that hearing a noise in the Ii.
brary, and knowing money was kept there, /
hastened down, and finding a thief, I fired
not knowing who it was-and you, being
dead, cannot contradict me-
OIL dare not be 50 wicked! / cried.
l dare anything-I I'm a desperate man.
l viii do it. nnd tie whole world will believe
me; they will hold you a thief, but they will
believe me honest
And, Vane, l knew that what he said
was true; | knew that If l chose death l
should die i'll vain-tliat l should be branded
as n tibet, who had been shot in the very act
OF stealing.
will give you two minutes he said,
then, unless you take m oath not to be-
tray me, l will fire.
i was willing to lose my life, Vane," she
continued, but | could not bear that all tile
world should brand mi rs a ttiief-I could
not BEAR that n Darrell should be reckoncd
among tic lowest of criminals. / vow to you
It vas no coward fear for my life, no weak
dread OF death that forced the oath from my
lips, but it was a shrinking from being found