Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-02-09

Lance continues drowned. Oh. Yo-
lande! ,-for she sways toward him like a
reed
"Hush"' she says, holding up her hand
and looking at him with the pallor of
death on her own cheeks and brow.
Don't pity me. | drove him to his death
that day. Oh! heaven be merciful: for
am indeed his murderessr
| oiande!" But the sharp cry in it's
agonized dread is silenced and cut short
by another; for through the dark, close
trunks Of the trees figure glides, and
a white face, with a cruel smile on the
parted lips, comes between the girl and
her lover.
Excuse me, Mr. Stapleton Sorry to
see you here, sir, under such circum-
stances Again [ must request you to bear
in mind the words you have just heard.
The case against Miss Mervyn was grave
enough before: but her own words just
now make it doubly So
''You houndw shouts Lance Stapleton
tercely. you internal spy! How dare
you come logging my steps and listening
behind trees! Get out of my sight, unless
you wish"
Take care-take care, Mr.. Stapletonr'
says the inspector, drawing back a few
yards from the Infatuated young man.
| Don't make matters worse, ser, by as
saulting me in the exercise of duty. It'll
only make things all the blacker for you
and the young lady that you stand up
for-of course that being only natural, for
all the countryside knows that you're
sweet on her; but if she's innocent
He never finishes that sentence; for,
with a fiercer oath than ever his brave
| li,1e, how
thrusts his fist into the bully's face, and
he falls to the ground like a felled log.
'Lance-oh, Lancer
That pitiful cry recalls him to his senses.
The frightened face, the clinging arms,
unnerve him as nothing else could have
done. He draws the girl away, and hur-
ries her homewards.
''This is no place for you, Yolande," he
says. ooh, my dear, my dear, what pos
sessed you to say those wild, rash words y
Because I felt them" she answers SOL
emily. IF it had not been for me this
would never have happened"
"Oh, hush-for heavens sake, hush!'' he
cries in agony. "Yolande, you little know
what horrible network of suspicion that
wretch is weaving round your innocent
head. Now, mind, dear, what I'm going
to say Keep up a brave heart, and don't
be alarmed, no matter what rumors and
stories get afoat. All twill come right in
the end-it must There's the house. Now
run in, there's dear. Don't forget what
I've said, and heaven bless you!'
He wrings her hand hard as he speaks,
and then suddenly a thought seems to
come to him. He turns and stops ner
trembling steps.
"Yolande," he whispers hoarsely, eff
!
day-destroy it tonight" And, ere she
can recover from the amazement caused
,, by his words he hurries away and returns
to the avenue where he has left his sense
less foe.
He finds it vacant. Evidently Budd has
recovered more speedily than his assai'ant
deemed likely, for there is no trace of him
now Lance hurries on, and comes in
contact with Arthur. They both stop.
whats the row now" asks that hope
full youth. You look as if you were Dur-
sued by Tam O Shanter's witcAes,
Lance
Hush, Arthur! I'm in no mood for
fooling," says the young man sterny.
Listen. Affairs are getting serious. That
idiot of an inspector, Budd, has taken it
into his added head that because YolQnde
was last with Charters she must know
something about-about his death. In any
case. fear she will be called as a witness
at the inquest Tomorrow
.'Oh, come, | say" interrupts Arthur,
cts a beastly shame to mix her UP in
. the affair."
q fear I've already complicated mat
ters," says Lance. You see he insIllted
your sister to her face, and my blooQ was
up. and | forgot all about his being a
sacred being, as l suppose guardian of
the peace is l therefore gave him a taste
, of my fists that l don't think he'll soon
forget. | suppose he'll accuse me CT as
sault tomorrow. But I don't care
"Where are you off to now?' Arthur
asks.
.'Oh, I've lots to do!' answers Lance
eyasively. you go home now, Arthur,
like a good fellow, and break the news to
YOUR governor as gently as you can; and,
for heavens sake, don't let them worry
Yolande with questions! She's got hard
time before her, poor girl; and she'll want
all the sympathy and encouragement she
can get
Amusement and horror are rife fol- the
space of the next hour; and Arthur is
overwhelmed with questions.
Could it have been a suicide or an scci-
dent? Who did he think could have muir
dered Charters? Was he robbed? What
did they say at the Priory? That poor
Mrs. Ray-she would be broken hearted!
Arthur parties these inquiries as best
he can, and launches forth into vague de-
scriptions of how he would trace the guilty
persons, supposing the powers OF justice
were in his experienced hands.
At last they have talked themselves out,
and. with a parting injunction to the eA-
cited twins on no account to disturb 70
lande any more that night. Arthur dis.
misses the subject and takes himself OFT
to bed.
Night and darkness fall slowly down
upon the grey old Court, bringing peace
and sleep to all save one of its inmates.
For her there is no sleep and no peace.