The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-18
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER XX.
Seated at his ease in his luxurious IL
brary, the man who for so many years
had usurped position to which he had
no claim and wealth to which he had no
right reviewed the crisis through which
he had passed
He had paid off his enemy, who, salts
fed that there was no more to be wrung
out of him at present, would leave him in
peace for several years. Dick would not
be back just yet from an Involuntary yoy.
age to South America. Caroline, Meta
and Bella, though they mourned their sis
ter's absence, We're perfectly submissive,
and in no way reproached him for being
the cause of it. AS for Mabel herself, she
was practically harmless; say what she
might, it would be set down to insanity
Had he not DR.. Cranes opinion to support
him? But, in TRUTH after the first bewil-
dering terror at news of her fight, he had
experienced sensation of relief; and, if
she ever returned he would have the more
plausible reason for sending her to q Drj-
vate asylum.
No, he did not much fear Mabel. Not
whisper had gone forth against him: all
his neighbors wed with each other in re-
spectful sympathy with his, grief: he
would escape the pitfall which had yavn-
ed to cngulf him. Then his thoughts
travelled on into the future.
1t is like my own possession now" he
said within himself, with sardonic smile,
as he glanced round the lofty walls on
which hung costly paintings, beneath
which marble statues of statesmen and
poets and busts Of bygone Charlfords
were ranged. ut was a bold move, and
it succeeded" he muttered. ST should
not have the hardihood to play the part
twice over, but, having played 1t, I will
sustain it to the end. A place like this is
surely worth running a risk for"
Miss Gray was still at Charlford House
with Meta and Bella, who would have
been lonely enough without her, for Caro-
line was not much of a companion to her
young sisters and had gone to London on
brief visit to friend. She felt restless
and miserable, she had said, and would be
glad of any change in the anxiety she felt
concerning Mabel. And the so-called Mr.,
Charford was relieved at her absence.
and, in his then state of mind, offered no
opposition to her departure.
By his neighbors and by the inmates of
his house he was supposed to be sitting
brooding by his lonely hearth mourning
for his lost daughter when in reality he
was enjoying his ease.
On this night, however his uneasy sense
Of possible danger died down. An unex.
pected ring at the hail door, succeeded bv
the announcement Of MI John Charlford
was sufficient to revive his fears in q very
uncomfortable manner. He started from
his seat and grew deathly pale when he
perceived that his visitor was agitated.
Why have you come?'' he gasped the
moment the servant had closed the door.
''Why?' echoed John Charford. .sRe
cause cannot rest. Because I dread that
something may happen! F'ilton, it was an
i'll deed that you forced me to do, and I
had better have suffered then than have
lived all these years to suffer now.'
Stop this foLy!!' cried the other. saw
agely. Am | safe? You got what Won
sinned for. We mr. III pay price for
what we get in this world"
Il can feel the storm brooding in the mir
before breaking" moaned John Charlford.
When it does break, who will pity us?"
Pity? OF what use will that be to US :?
DO stop that moaning and tell me, while
you have your senses, whether anything
has occurred to cause you to speak like
this"
Has not enough occurred already?o
whispered his miserable listener. Hush.
Was that some one at the door?'' and he
started from his scat.
You will be your own destruction, and
mine, too, if you act in this FOOLS way!!'
cried fIiton. ''lf a dozen people were at
the door, how would that endanger you?
Your own face is enough to hang you,
though, it is true l shall tell the SER
wants you are not well, and you will go to
bed and remain there until you have your
wits more under control. Now hold your
tongue while | give orders about your
room"
And soon the weaker culprt Of the two
unable to resist the others will, still
more slave to it, if that could be, than
he had felt himself so many years before,
when he had consented to save himself
from the consequences of an evil deed at
the expense of his dead brothers children
was installed in one Of the visitors
rooms at Charlford House, the servants
being informed that he was an invalid in
very delicate health
When the other man found himself
alone again, he paced the room frantically.
The fact was, his nerves were unstruns by
his late continual watching for what
might overwhelm him; and this unlocked.