Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-02

have seen what you must have borne
1or my sake and-his-whom l so wrong
ed. The clouds began to clear off nv
Dra1n-and there is something I must tell
you before-before it is-too late. 1t is
about that-pool-in the woods yonder-
Denzil-and the-murderw
WHAT he cries in amazement-'the
place where they found a dead mans
body, and wisely decided it was mine?''
Il never heard of that" she says
Peters never told me- But could not
speak-of this-of what I had seen-to
anyone. Who would believe me? And
then it was not so clear-as it is now If
1 confess all-Denzil, will it be right
will it bring justice to-the guilty?''
"Stay-let me think!' he cries, in be-
wilderment. "Peters, was DR.. Deane here
to-dayY
"No; I am expecting him every mo-
ment," answers the nurse.
Then you must wait till he comes,
Alethea," says Denzil, persuasively. Ere
member, what you have to say may entail
serious responsibilities upon us. Unless
certified by proper witnesses, your con-
fession would be useless"
Il think this is the doctor, SIR" inter
poses the grave voice of Peters at this
juncture; and Denzil, turning with a
strange sensation of relief to the opening
door, welcomes the hearty, kindly pres
ence Of old Dr. Deane.
"Oh, Charters, so you have Gomez
says the doctor, cheerfully. II am glad
of it. Our patient has been wearying
sadly for sight of you
"Peters says her mind has been grad
q
four months back
Then they approach the bed, and with
grave faces and an ever-deepening Won
der in their minds, listen to the strange
disjointed confession of the dying woman.
''You have taken it all DOWN." says
DR.. Deane, in a low voice, as he at last
lays the exhausted sufferer back on her
pillows, and holds to the pale lips the re-
viving cordial offered by the nurse.
eyes, every word" answers Denzil
sternly. IF such evidence can be receiv-
ed, that wretch will soon answer for his
crimes and cowardly persecutionw
"Of course you must feel it deeply" the
doctor continues, coming round to where
the younger man stands, with the paper
just signed and witnessed still held firmly
in his grasp eve cannot wonder now
that he tried so hard to make use of such
an opportunity as your disappearance
gave. What a cunnngly contrived plan
it was"
'But the ring-that puzzles me-" an
swers Denzil. "At the inquest it was
proved to be my own without doubt. OF
course we can allow for the false swear
ing as to it's being drawn off the dead
mans finger; but how did it come into
the witness possession"
depend upon it we shall learn that all
in good time,'' replies the doctor.
! Then, at a sign from the nurse, Char
| teris and the doctor go with soft and rev.
ercnt footsteps into the adjoining room.
Her life will end in that Sleep" DR..
, Deane says, gravely. '"There will be no
| pain or struggle"
Il will have her removed to the Priory,"
says Denzil suddenly. II have nothing to
fear from any inquiries now. Every one
knew she went abroad. What more nat
ural than that she should return to her old
home to dep
"You should have thought of that soon
err" answers DR.. Deane. "To die-yes;
but if she be-dead?'
"Have you your carriage here?' asks
Denzil hastily.
1eS-duu llaC Olu COuuueullul COdCu-
man of mine whom the people call 'un-
impeachab le.'
.'If she could but bear the journey! 1t
is Short" continues Denzil, musingly.
''They know l left home They would
not be surprised to see me return with
her, because they know l have been in
the habit of going to see her-abroad.
They all think"
,hof ho
gravely But it is such a risk l hardly
dare counsel it. 1t would be better still
to say she could not bear the journey.
Every one knows that this eccentric Pet
ers has lived like an owl in a church tow
err here You brought the patient hither
and summoned me; so it's all fair and
above board. / hope my reputation is
sufficient to back up anything L choose
to tell the gossips here"
Eyes, that would do very well" an
swers Denzil Poor, unfortunate Ale.
thea! Little did she imagine, when she
came to Beechhampton, in the prided
splendor of her bridal pomp, how hard and
miserable would be her life, how lonely
it's close"
AS they stand there together the fire.
flames glowing on the grave and cordial
satisfaction of the one face, on the rapt
and passionate expression that tender
memories have left upon the other, both
forgetful of all save the words that have
meant so much for all their brief, terse
utterance, the dividing door opens softly
and the nurse comes forward into the
frelit gloom.
1T is all over" she says.