Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-08
ruApTER XNID

talk me to sleep.
They were alone now, and the fight for
life or death was to be lost or won that
night. .onc with the grim angel whose
shadow lay on the fair, boyish face.
o "You will tell me the truth, know" he
said. Papa cried this evening when he
kissed me. Am in danger, Mrs. Riversi
Am | going to die!
There was such wondering awe on the
Young face-such light and fear in the
large bright eyes. she knew not how to
answer: vet she had been by too many
deathbeds to hesitate long.
1--WE hope not" she said, quietly. Life
and death are in Gods hands. IL He
wants YOU. Rupert He calls you, you
will be willing to go?'
Yes" he replied lit is not that. l do
not think | am frightened. Heaven, they
say. is very fair, and God SO good.
wanted TO know the truth, because of poor
papa"
She knelt down by his side, and drew
-be hot. tired head on to her breast; she
nillowed him in her tender arms, and,
bending over him. whispered such words
as might have been spoken by angel lips
words so full Of love, of mercy, of hope
so glowing in their grand descriptions OF
the land where there is no sorrow and no
wrong" that the boy listened AZ one en-
chanted.
You speak just as my mother did" he
whispered. quietly; 'she always told me-
every night about God, and the angels,
and heaven. She used to sing a pretty lit
tie hymn. Do you know it?-'Paradise.
II know it. dear; | will sing it, il you
will try to 20 10 sleep. Shut your eyes
and listen
The burning eyelids closed slowly, and
Rupert lay still and motionless. There
was deep unbroken silence; then the sweet
voice. still hushed and low, rose, singing
the beautiful hymn. The boy listened as
one soothed by an angels song. Only
once the bIue-veined lips trembled, and he
said:
You sing ike my mother, too. She is
singing among the ang now; but l am
sure her voice is like you.-. l will be
quite still now, and think
While he lay thinking she knelt to pray.
She prayed from the very depths Of her
broken heart that her son might be spared,
and that she might be taken in his place.
When the prayer was ended she knelt,
watching him, while the dead silence grew
deeper and deeper.
There was u faint murmur from the
wind-a low whisper, as though it had
sobbed until il was exhausted. No other
sound disturbed the profound stiffness
which reigned throughout that vast man.
sion. The stars shone in the depths Of the
blue skies; the pale moon cleaned and
glistened: heecy clouds passed over its
face Trees and flowers were all asleep;
there seemed nothing living, nothing hu-
man TO watch the tragedy going on in the
Red Room.
And still Mrs. Rivers knelt with her
face bent over the boy, watching him so
inteutly that her very soul seemed to have
passed into her eyes. His were closed in
deep, restful thought, but not in sleep.
So silent, so STILL not even the creaking
Of door, the sound of a footstep-noth-
ing to break the charm-not even the IA
miiar sound OF mouse behind the VAIN
scot" Silence deep and profound as
death itself!
Hark! surely that is the sound Of a
woman's dress against the crimson hang
ings! Gently and noiselessly she rose
from her knees, and stood with her eyes
on the tapestry.
Ihen-hOw was it the shock did not kill
herE-then she saw the tapestry move
slightly, as though some one had touched
1t lightly on the other side. There was no
sound, no stir.
Another moment, and from between the
hangngs, where two pieces of crimson
tapestry met, she saw a white hand. She
could neither move nor stir; she WAS root
cd to the ground in terror too intense for
any weak words to describe.
Inc hand was withdrawn, then it reap
peared, holding this time a small vial, full
OF clear liquid Ike cold water. That
was placed noiselessly on the stand, and
ue bottle containing the opiate was with
uEaWh-stll without sound. 1t was 20
gently; so noiselessly done, that had Mrs.
i.l'ers been looking another way-had
sne been engaged with her patient-she
could not possibly have known what had
been done.
~, IN one moment it flashed across her.
VINO mad taken the opiate that was to
save the life OF her son? Without it, he
must de. Who had taken 1t? What was
puI N It's place? Only a moment, then
ue mothers mighty love that was in her
came to her aid.
Casting one glance at the calm. tranouil
iace OF her son, she opened the hangings
!us' IN time to see figure Of some kind
u'Sappear at the outer door. All nervous
neSs' all fear died from her. Swifter than
he wind she made one noiseless. rapid
rush after the retreating figure. and
caught It in the corridor outside the Rcd
Room
Caught it, and held it fast with a grasp
Iose force came from her mighty love,
a tall, stately figure, yet it writhed in her
s'asp. II seemed to shudder, to shrink:
and then she said in a low, hushed voice:
Give me back that opiate! Whoever
You are, l know not; give me hack the
mediciner' ''e INC
There was no reply. and in the darkness
tNe silent corridor the two women could
not see each other. The one was strug- !
s.I"s with herce force to get away; the
otner, with force even greater sill strup.
gied to hold her.
Down the broad corridor they went. the
prisoner and the yentIe woman wbose
mother-lOve gave to ber sof+ bonds tho
IN or a giantess. Down, struggling
hafd IN the quiet darkness until they
- 70 room where. for the conven-
.ence OF those whom Mrs. Rivers might
summon, fire and light botb burned
snently and desperately Mrs. Rivers
'ssed rather than led her captive there.
IN. ~ turned and locked the door.
d.' wv she cried. Beatrice Leigh,
tn. ,here-down on your knees, and
,ba ,,',N IN heaven that you have been spared |
'he sin of murderr'
CHAPTER XIV.
baor beatrice Lady Selwyn who had
stata,- ausnt and forced into the room. her