Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-23
CHAPTER Xxx.
Asleep or Awake?


thought a degrading, position; but he
blamed his passion, telling himself
that It was his duty to watch her In
this sleep walking state, lest Ill should
befall.
How thoroughly awake she seemed
to be. Her every act was that OF q
person perfectly herself and eager to
find something that was hidden.
Softly and quickly she examined
the cabinet, opening drawer after
drawer, and taking out one after the
other, to see whether there was con
cealed cavity behind.
Next she knelt down before large
carved oak chest, and Capel saw how
carefully she searched that, and ex-
amined top and bottom to see whether
either was false.
This done, she walked to the bed,
and stood bordering there. Crossing
TO the built-up portal, she drew the
curtain aside, revealing the half-dry
cement
She shook her head. and walked to
the window, where she carefully re-
arranged the heavy folds there to
keep the rays nf light from passing
out and betraying her task to any one
who might be at the upper windows Of
some house; the act displayed the
working of brain that, II slumberlng,
still held u peculiar activity of an
abnormal kind.
Once or twice he caught sight OF
Katrnos eyes, that were not, ms he
had seen them on that other night,
wide open, and staring straight before
her. but bright, eager, and full of ami
nation.
"She must be awake" he thought;
and tho Idea was strengthened as he
saw her throw herself down upon a
chair. and with u peculiar action OF
her hands indicative of disappolnt-
ment, rest her elbows on her knee,
her chin upon her cinched fists. and
there she bent down, her fact intent,
her brows knit and looking ten years
older as the candle cast Il curious
shadow on her countenance.
Then the lover interviewed on her be-
half
No; she could not be. To suppose
that she was awake was to credit her
with being deceitful--with cheating
him into the belief that night that she
was asleep.
He was about to spring out. throw
himself Mt her feet, and waken her
with his carcsses, but chilling feel
Ing OF repulson stayed him. II might
work mischief In the terrible fright It
would give her at being awakened In
that gloomy room. And besides, what
a place to select for his passionate
Syowels! 1t was secret and silent,
the very home for such love Ms HIS
but there was the terrible past.
Where she was seated but short
back there lay the CHASTITY body
o.. the murdered man. Behind her was
the bed where so recently II strange
occupant was stretched, and beneath
1t lay that other lately discovered hor-
ror. Beyond that built-up wall was
the colonels tomb.
Love was impossible In such place
az that; and did he want connrma-
ton of the fact that Katrne was n
somnambullst. he felt that he had II
here before him. For no girl OF her
years would dare to come down In the
dead OF the night and enter that
room, haunted rs II was with such ter
rible memories.
He stood watching her MS he crouch
ed there, looking straight before her;
and as she suddenly sprung up and
went to picture painted upon n
panel In the wall, he found himself
growing excited by the fancy that
perhaps, In the clairvoyant state Of
sleep, she might be able to discover
the mystery that had haillcd them all
Ho stood there. rapt In his thoughts,
TIL he saw her turn from the frame
that she had tried to move In dozen
different ways her fingers playing here
and there with marvellous auickness
about the corners and prominent bits
OF carving, as IL sho expected that any
one might prove to be II secret spring.
Again she tried another picture;
darted to the group OF statuary In the
corner. and tried to lift 1t back as IL
expecting that which she sought might
be hidden beneath It; and again there
was the movement full Of detection
and despair, as she stood facing him
with the light full upon her eyes.
She turned away despondently, and
then started upright, with her eyes
flashing, and one hand raised In the
Involuntary movement of one who
istens intently to some sound.
Had she heard something. or was It
,ancy~-a part of her dream?
Paul Capcl thought the latter; for,
light ms fawn, he saw Katrine dart
across the room to where the candle
stood.
The next moment they were in total
darkness.