The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-16
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& RUPERTS WCCD'S +
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Death: an act which ne sa'a was ilIGstra-
tive Of the Inconsistency % women. So
e4sty. which had prcfessed itself shocked
b. his conduct. coneoned and approved
f5e gffenss By sss liberation CO the offend
er. Many women regarded Rim with IN
Interest they rad not attached 10 him be-
fore. whilst numerous rr1oeners. feeling
sure he would make an excellent husband
now re had sagn his Wild cats, eneo.r-
aged his attentions 20 their ianoeen.
"a gghters.
O1e CT these excellent mothers was
Mrs Brayton-suish. the widow of Man
chester manufacturer. who by means OF
UnSounde9 energy and Efnit!ssa cash had
pushed her way into that society which
sne regarded as rious souls do heaven.
That her oniv daughter. yet IL her teens.
should marry title. no matter what the
drawbacks connected with sts r1ossessor.
1as this good womsns ambition And
wh4a fiscouns Eupertswood came upon
the scefss. the fact that his reputation
was Evil. and Ills years more than double
those ~ her child. did rot prevent Mrs.
Ir5yfsS-Su1ith from striving to win him
fer her son-ia-law.
On ass part REpsrtswoo5. who had Pc
seIved to settle down, was pleased with
the girl. but better pleased with her for
4
az effort On his part he won her and the
Gate was fixed fer his marriage. To ceie-
traSe his engagement Mrs Brayton-
Smith gave q dinner. which might better
be described as banquet. and IL was
from this feast Rupertswood had re-
turned on ;hr night wren ne had found
tire card which disturbed his peace
Seated before the fire. bis thoughts went
back 20 Lucille. with whom not six
months before he had elope3 He remer-
bered the day on which he had first seen
her, that in.xpressibie charm Of youth
and grace and innocence sanctffyirE her,
and tempting him to love her; and rs
remembered her on the night on which
he had last seen her, when fun OF ioath-
Tag OF herself and horror Of him, Wild
with reusorse and covered with shame.
she had fed from him. praying God in
Ills mercy that they might meet no more.
he had not cared 10 inquire where she
had gone. or troubled 10 seek her: for her
self-reproach had begun 10 weary him.
and his adventure having ended. her alb
sence left him free 10 seek fresh victims.
Hs had sometimes wondered what had be-
fallen her, where she had gone for no
news az her had ever reached him. Pres
entity his ideas regarding her became more
vague: he dozed. and he dreamt she was
beside him.
lie might have slept some thirty min
utes before the cinders falling from the
crate suddenly awoke him. He felt chilled.
dazed. and troubled: tie silence smote
him. and he shivered as from a draughs.
Then turning 10 see IL a door or window
had been left open he saw at the far end
OF the room where the shadows were
deenest a motionless figure
Roberts" he cried cut. striving TO per
sUade aimse.f in that dread moment tnat
the figure he saw was that OF his valet.
bat sss Va 4
wantl"
No answer came. and the stiffness deep
ened from contrast with the sound Of his
voice. He was 10 coward. and he rose
10 his feet 10 face this intruder though
his heart nisgaye him and a feeling such
as he had never known before almost sui
focated him.
"Who are your lie shouted out def
antly.
No sound came III answer.
Speak" he called OFT, ''or by heavens
I'll"
Before bis sentence was finished II frozs
upon his lips. for that which he had adj
dressed moved from out the darkness liz
70 the Light. when Rupertswood saw the
counterpart OF himself. Ia height, IN
shape. In face In iigure--saw It for one
bFlef second, before II vanished into space
before his eyes.
He remained immcvable, gazing into
the empty air. his body trembling, his
heart throobsng. his brain bewildered, ua-
81 recovering himself IN some small rnea-
sure be stretched out his hand and raised
the Iamplght, looked round the room,
aud finally walked 20 the very spot where
the figure had stood.
Iii vas part OK my dream" he told
himself. II waz not fully awake" He
went 20 the window nearest him ard
roughly pulled back the curtains and
drew up the blind. Clouds we're scudd.ng
past iats-fiken moon, the wind vas yet
high, hut the rain mad ceased. His ire
was cut and he felt chilled 10 the bone
He dared rot remain IN the room lest he
might sea that sight again. nor would ha
retire. for sleep vas now al impossible
~. he woald 60 out. that the fresh,
sharp aiF might inylgorAts and the exeE-
else warm him.
Losing 20 tiine. he Immediately put his
resolution into action. \ gust Of wind
swept past ARA as he iCft his tacr ard
Win bowed hesj and rapid tread went
forward needless in which direction hs
turned. The streets were bleak aad emp
-. n6iseIegs. too; the yellow lsnp3vhts
we're reflected in the Wet. shining surface
OF the pathways he continued RS aim
less Nay hearing the clocks chime the
quarters. thelr sound waited away ~
the breeze. until turning corner he found
himself n 81. James square
Warmth had nov come hack 10 rs
blood. but the dread & th8. whlch be had
seen remained. reason witF himself as he
would. and With e care q fear Of what
might Be a fear tia; was harder - taes
because = is being cr1eflaed, BY QGick-
eNIcg h.s pace. h sought ~ gUt-dtssarCs
his thoughts. an effort that was vain
and as ne hurried forward, he Sum
tie3 ever SEINE uDhes3eG object. ard al
most lost his balance. bat recovering him
seq ne turned % lock AZ what had tr!gged
hin. ard IL she saint uehs az a neIghbor-
ing gSsitsrc saw the figure 81 a wous2
wrappad IN q shawl and seated en- 5s.e
stsrs of \ mansion ore shoulder isA1iny
against The ARA ra3l,1gs- he- feet up2a
TIE pathway Something familiar 30 the
posse struck him as ne turned away. s9i
haunted him as ~ moved forward. one
re locked hack wtthaH- SiackeriCx his
speed later he paused. ard finally he re-
turned.
y rs1st 10 mad tonight" he said. IS
re appvuac hed the woman once racrs. ard
looked az her atte-tively. As be aI3. that
which ha5 81. frs; ban suggestion be
cana = conviction. Hardened ss he was
his heart grcas heavy as ne thoGxnE - ,he
possibility = What As might see Z tae
drcncaet ara ragged shawl were removed
fre-1 TIE facs- Fer moment BE hest
tate-9 re-.erah~4acss hooking him ~.ea
Ire u.ccksrv q demons. Then suddenly
Re- s1in~ aside the covering, and heat
above her VIII searching eyes Thir.
wo~n. ciay-coioys5. and hsgEard "a &
was tae face was tire same. the eyes
were hayt-openetf sassy ard Fixed; the
mouth was apart, ana Tire chin had
dropped.
~f.uriTla" Re WHISPERED
Sc r--ssa Y-ss movement He could rae