Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-02-13
CHAPTER XVII.
The Tenth Night.

dwelt upon the adventure of that
night.
Katrine had descended to break
fast the next morning, and he fancied
she blushed slightly as he pressed her
hand; but she looked so frankly in his
face that he could not but think that
she was ignorant Of what had taken
place.
The days slipped by, and in COM
pany, by a private understanding, Ca
pel and the old lawyer searched
every article of furniture that could
possibly have been made the receptacle
of the lost treasure.
"Ill help you, Of course, my dear
sir" said the old man, eff you wish
it: but really think we shall do no
good"
There had been several talks about
breaking up the party; but Capel, as
host, mad always begged that his COM
panions would stay, urging Mr.. Critic
20 back him up by proposing that
there should be no change until the
whole of the business Of the will was
completed, so far as the others were
concerned.
"I shall find my share at last"
Capel said, laughingly. 'And besides
] have the house"
One afternoon when Arts had &C
companied the ladies for drive, and
the search was about to be recon-
menced, Mr.. Critic sat down by ms
little table in the drawing-room, and
said:
81 have little news for you, Mr..
Capel"
what! have you found clew?"
mot yet" said the oIu man, quietly
"but | have found an angel"
"A what?"
can angel. You did not know we
had one in this house?
Indeed but I did," cried Capel.
"Ah. yes" said the old man, look
ing at him thoughtfully; but I'm
afraid we are not thinking OF the
same"
Indeed. but we are" said Capel,
warmly. ''No one who has seen Miss
D'Erghien-"
Gould hesitate to say she is a very
handsome woman" said the old law
yer; "but 1 was referring to MISS
Lawrence"
"A lady for whom I entertain the
most profound esteem" said Capel.
(Which will be strengthened, sir,
when I tell you that she came to me
and made a proposition that
The old lawyers communication
was checked by the announcement OF
a visitor for Mr.. Capel, and the doctor,
Mr.. Heston, was ushered in.
His visit was not productive Oh
mnch: for he had only to announce
that he was more and more sure in his
own mind that he was right, the re-
suIt being that Capel asked him to
wait before taking any further steps,
and DR.. Heston went away rather dis
satisfied in his own mind.
eff he does not follow up my pro-
posals," he said to himself, L shall
begin to think that he has some rea-
son of his own for keeping the matter
quiet"
The ladies returned directly the doc
tor had gone, and Arts, in pursuance
OF his instructions, made himself SO
agreeable to Capel that he did not
leave him alone with the old lawyer,
while at dinner and during the even
ing no opportunity was nkely to occur
for a private conversation.
'I'n see you directly after breakfast
tomorrow morning, Mr.. Capel," the old
man said. 81 should prefer a quiet
business chat with you, for the mat
ter is important"
iyf'a( enrol fion?ur ktht1sudta-
st should like to have heard it at
once. "replied Capel, "but as you will.
Suspicion was very busy in the Dark
House in those days; for the butler
had found that for several nights past
chamber-candles had been burned
down in the sockets in one Of the
andlcsticks, which candlestick was
left in the drawing-rOOm, while tall
eandlestick was afterward taken up to
she bedroom.
Freeman wanted to know why Mr.
Capel, cor the young master" as ne
termed him, should want to sit up so
late. so he watched and saw that,
night after night, he stayed down IN
the drawing-room for hours. But he
found out nothing-only that the cold
struck even through the mat from
the stone floor, and that he was chilly
enough, when he went to bed in his
pantry, to require liqueur of brandy
to keep off the rheumatism and SINH
lar attacks.
For Capel had remained up after the
others had gone, night after night,
blaming himself for behaving in an
unfair, unmanly spirit, but unable to
control The impulse which led him to
long for such another adventure as on
that special night.
But after a long day night-watches
grow wearisome to the most ardent
lovers, and when after nine nights
spent in expectancy there was no re-
sult-no soft, gliding step heard upon
stair or f1oor-bOth CapeI and Preen-