Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-09

the next moment he found himself
frankly owning that a chill of dread
had frozen his powers, and that he
could not have moved to save his
! life.
A minutes reflection told him that
| It could not be burglar. No one
would come singly upon such mis-
sion, and the marauder would have
been provided with a dark lantern or
matches. 1t must be some one in the
house. The superstitious faucies were
cleared away as his heart gave a throb
with the hope that he might now find
the clew to the mystery that was
hanging over the place.
Thought after thought flashed
! through his brain; and as they dazed
| him with the wild conjectures, the
person, whoever it was, gliding nearer
and nearer; and all doubt fed, for
whoever it was had stretched out a
hand anu touched the silver candle
stick upon the table where he had set
1t down.
There was again silence, and then 1t
| bGtlIltl W ttDbl, bD Ht 3dL lHtlty lIldl
the nocturnal visitor had made the
table a starting-point for fresh de
parture In the dark, and was going
from him toward the back drawing
room, In the left hand corner Of which
the old lawyer had sat that night
Doubtless there are people who can
act before they commit themselves to
1t; but the majority Of us, even the
most thoughtful, go on weighing n
great many, and then in the most
important moments Of our lives forget
all about the balance or the mental
weights and scales; and so 1t was that
all in an instant, Paul Capel, unable
longer to bear the mental strain, rose
quickly from his seat, took two strides
| forward, and grasped at the intruder,
eXclaiming:
who's there?"
lie touched nothing, he heard no.
thing, and the old chill came back for
moment or two with its superstitious
suggestions, but he drew out q little
silver matchbox, which ratified as he
opened 1t, shook match into his
moist hand struck 1t, and the faint
little star OF light flashed out.
"Katrine, you here?" he exclaimed.
There were candles on an occasional
table, and he lit one before the little
wax match burned down; and then
he remained speeches. for the mo
ment, gazing at Katrine D'IGnghien,
who stood within the back drawing
room, her long hair loosely knotted on
her neck, her white arms outstretched
before her. and half away from him
She stood motionless, as If turned to
stone.
"Katrine!" he cried again
He took step or two toward her,
his first impulse being to clasp her in
his arms; but as she stood motionless
before him, draped in long gray
peignoir that swept the ground, there
there was something about her that re-
PEELED him, so that he stood staring at
her, unable to speak,
Suddenly she turned from him, and
stood gazing at the corner where the
piano Stood walking slowly toward ii
and rested her hand upon it, remain
ing there motionless for few mo-
ments till, catching up the candle
Capel went toward her, his pulses
throbbng and his temples seeming to
flush as If hot breath from furnace
had passed over them.
but before he reached her she turn
cd slowly and walked straight toward
him, hnp yuiJn In
intently before her.
She would have walked right upon
him had he not given way, and then
stood holding the candle while she
went deliberately to the re-place,
rested her hands upon the mantle
piece. and stood there holding one
bare white foot toward the extinct fire
rs If to warm 1t.
Capel set down the candle and ad-
yanced toward her, when once more
she turned and came straight toward
him; and this time he took her in his
arms and kissed her quickly and pas
sionatcly upon her check and lips.
His arms dropped to his sides,
though, for he felt that she was icily
cold; and as, involuntarily, he gave
place, she walked slowly past him to
the open door out on to the broad
landing; and as he caught up the
candle and followed he saw the tall
gray figure so slowly on UP and up
the stairs; and when he followed it to
the first landing 1t was on the one
above, going slowly on to the bedroom
Mt the end, through whose door 1t
passed, and the lock gave a low, soft
| click.
Paul Capel went back into the draw
ing-room feeling half stunned; and
when he reached the middle OF the
room he paused, candle in hand, think
ing
Asleep" he said. at last. Asleep,
and | dared to take her in my arms
like that"
Then, with an involuntary shlyer,
the young can turned quickly round
and went hastily up to his room, to
lie till morning, tossing sleeplessly