The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-12


s,rssck him as strange why ara W. 49,
ting In the DARK he asked. She tllA ~.
answer Immediately. and, turning go
moved toward the window as it To -
thu bind
HIS action aroused her. Stop, sha :.
claimed IN a frightened tone. lyon r,nr-sss
do that
surprised by her evident agssation -.
walked back TO his place beside her.
snes. he said. something has happene5.
What Is IT. Ten me- Has tina, hrute -
She threw up her hands as one -.
dumbly pleads for pity. For mou.ssss
their eyes met. and Alec read IN -
something he had never seen there 4eSnrs
Tell ne. he repeated: but there va -
LONGER any trace Of anger In his yoIos
Speak TO i'll OF the dead she arr. II
ingly whispered
The sead." he echoed your hus>.,
Is -- -
Dead"
A feeling OF profound awe possessed H.
eoth. But. the first shock over ~
awoke to tumult OF conflicting enaosss~<!k:
The thought appeared well-nish 49,
phemoas yet II seemed easy to oeaierss
that Providence had directly infernn.,2
te Drink them the relief they crAved - vi
Freedom had come-cone. too. With
any seeking on their part at a mo-
when, in truth. they had leas, expecte6 r. {
HIS heart save great throb and hia 49,.
dutckened at the thought. Suddenly ~
felt himself grow cold again as thu - ~
meinhrance that he stood piedxed Il 49,
company the expedition which started -
the marrow stole in his mind. He -
we'll that the position he had accesSsS
was one both of danger and uncerfaaniSs
that the chances were he would never 80
Sue from IL alive. Was not that. in6neSS
dis chief reason for enrolling mr.
among the little band of adventureer4
Stu. IL was not impossible that. hr3ef IS
the time was. he might discover soune1S
to take his place. The idea spurred HIN ~
activity. He took Esther's hand ~
raised 1t to his lips. II must 60 now. -
said.
She made no effort to detain him. .AsA
tomorrow" she murmured.
Tomorrow will speak for itself. hoan
to find a substitute who will replace n r. Z
the expedition. There will he siifalcultea
hut think shall succeed"
She gave him look Of grateful reco6u1s u
ton. and he turned away. His hand -
on the door handle when new thouaS2
occurred to him.
Odd as il may appear. on no occasam
had he met Esther's husband. Jack No13
man moved In a circle entirely dilIaror
iiuiit ttiat ifSQuSIttu US ms Wlycs ana IT,
two men, consequently, had never co1>S
together. What impulse prompted Al
to make his strange request II would 20
hard to say. Curiosity. perhaps. IN 49,
measure-a desire to look upon the r.
who could he Indifferent to the choe3
and tenderness of such q woman a. ~ +
Their. Human nature Is far too g.
thing to admit OF argument.
Where is hep" Alec asked.
Esther gave a surprised start -
quickly recovering herself. she re-
In the room above"
May l go there?"
'rf you wish to do So"
Without another word Alec went O.
Presently her ear caught the faint sos61
of his step in the chamber overhead ~
minutes passed. and still he did not T.
appear. What could he be doinig? Ent061
asked herself; why did he remain 20 iop14
The tension of the situation increAd&
with every moment. A spasm at alAu
grpped at her heart. and the feature
her face grew pinched and drawn.
At last she heard the noise OK Dr.
being carefully closed and the hurt
sound of descending footsteps Her stYnQ
ed attitude betokened the intensity Il
her feelings.
The instant Alec entered she Won111
that something important had ooa
She rose hastily and went to HIM.
Is IT." she demanded hreathiessly.
There has been some mistake" - IN
piled slowly .sYour husband still ~
She fell back with a half-suppreese4 s.
''Stili Hvess' she repeated. as Il ua1
to appreciate the meaning Of tbs St.
ment. Then, passing her hand nesvo4
iy over her face. 'sYou-you are Qu41
sure?''
eel mo
has been deceived by his appearance. ~
IL Immediate steps are taken. his life c.
he saved"
AZ the words she glanced up quickly
The same Idea which then and there t.
form In her mind had she saw In an -
slant, occurred to him. t'1f immedia4t
steps are taken" Within the folds of thu
short sentence lay the fate of three uvu1
IL was only few seconds but. as thu
stood facing each other. an eternity sees
ed to pass The thoughts OF both We
busy with the same possibilities. each -
allied with vividneses which left nothiue
Intermediates that they had only to stane
aside and let events fellow their natu1o5
course to be assured Of freedom. &c. ~
what appeared lifetime. the two. sIle0s
and paipstating fell beneath the spell q
great temptation.
Like deadly nightmare the thing paaos
cd az IL had come, and. with a gasp -
most of horror. both awoke TO The realley
OF their thoughts. Esther was the nat
to move Placing her hand gently - ~
companions arm. she whispered e ~.
Whatever comes OF 1t. Alec. we u1ee -
what 81 right.
Yes he answered. struggling 70 man
tain hts composure, though II part g.
for ever"
She moved away and seated herself cNe1
more. Expectancy died out OF her -
and the old expression OF hopeless Meie
ctoly stole into 1t again. Why, she 49,
dered. had life been made 80 hard
fhemf -
She scarcely noticed that he had
her till FROM without came the souna
bells violently rung, Of servants hunyt
10 and fro of doors hurrisdly opened
closed. But still she sat In the Ohm.
tary room waiting-for what she RAJ
dared to think.
so the minutes erept slowly on. Oute
bussl. and noise had yielded tn pen
sjlence-a silence that 70 the agoni5ed ~ 81
man seemed more eloquent than speeo
The touch of hand upon her shoulder
noaneed Aces return. a. shiyer poey
+t~n,svk. her fyaYns t,if she dh not 0<lU