Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-02-13
CHAPTER XVIII.
Nocturnal Proceedings.

Nocturnal Proceedings.
There was not sounu to be heard
as Paul Capel stole softly down in his
dressing-gown, and, as he expected,
the drawing-room door was closed, but
not latched.
Pushing it softly, feeling certain
that Katrine, if it was she, had en-
tered there, he followed and went on
and on: till he was about in the mid
die of the room, and listening atten-
lively.
He began to think that he must have
been mistaken, when there was RANT
rustic. and heavy breath was drawn,
the sounds coming from the lesser
drawing-room.
He listened more intently, his heart
beating heavily, and a strange sing
ing in his ears.
Another sound as of something be-
ing touched-the pen-tray on the little
card-table where Mr.. Critic sat and
worked: and what was that?
Undoubtedly one of the keys that lay
there. Another and another was
touched, and as they were moved on
the thin mahogany that formed the
bottom of the receptacle for cards.
the sound seemed quite loud.
Then came a faint scraping sound,
and he knew as we'll as if he had seen
it that a key was taken up.
Keys? Yes, there were several there
which the old lawyer used. Capel re-
called that the key Of the plate closet
had been placed there when Pheenham
had handed it over.
He listened, but there was no further
sound. Yes; the low breathing could
be heard, and it suddenly daWned
upon CapeI that Katrine had been ap-
preaching him-there she was close at
hand. He had only to stretch torth
his arms and the next instant she
would have been folded to his breast.
1t was a hard fight, but he had read
of a sudden awakening under such
conditions proving dangerous.
AS he listened there was faint
rustling as the soft, gray peignolr ne
knew so we'll passed over the thick
Garnet toward the door; and If the
listener had any doubt, it was set ASIDE
by the light pat that he heard-lt was
a hand touching the panel.
Capel waited minute, during winch
he heard the dress sweep against the
edge of the door, and then the sound
was quite hushed.
He knew what that meant, too;
the door had been drawn to, and SO ne
found it as he stepped lightly there
0nened it, and passed out on to the
great landing, where he strained his
eyes upward to try and make out the
graceful draped figure as it went up
the winding staircase to the bedroom.
It was not so dark there, for faint
gloom-it could not be called light
fell from the great ground-glass SKY
light at the top of the winding stair
case. like so much diluted darkness be-
ing poured down into a we'll.
That great winding staircase sud
denly seemed to him full of horror, as
he stood there. It had never struck
him before; but now how terrible II
seemed! That balustrade WIS so low.
Suppose, poor girl, in her sleep, she
should lean over it, and fall down on
to the white stones, where the black
fret-work of the glistening stove could
be seen like a square patch against
the white slabs.
There was no reason for such ian
cies, but Paul Capel's hands grew wet
with cold perspiration.
II ought to have stopped her, and
awakened her at any risk, he said,
as he still gazed up the great stair
case: and then his heart seemed to
stand still, for there was a faint click,
as Of a lock shot back, and it came
either from on a level with where he
stood, or from down below.
In an instant he realized what had
happened. Katrine had been to fetch
the key of the late cOlonels chamber,
and had gone in there.
He hesitated a moment, and then,
going close, he softly touched the
door, and felt it yield.
Just then there came faint scratch
ing noise, and there was a CLEAN OF
light. showing him that the heavy
curtain was drawn.
Then the light shone more clearly
and, pressing the door a little more
open, he glided through.
He was about to peer out softly,
when the slight was set down; ne
heard the soft rustic of the dress, an
n.