Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-11-30

was as clear as before. This was unusual.
and her suspicious revived.
II like it not, said she; ~ fear nv
father-God help me! l hardly know
what to dol will not give 1t to Philip.
The warm wine may produce Precipitation
sufficient.
Anime paused, and again reflected. She
had mixed the powder with so small a
portion of the wine that it did not fill a
quarter OF the cup; she put 1t on one side,
filled another up to tho brim with tho
warm wine, and then went up to the bed.
room.
On the landing place she was met by
her father, whom she supposed to have re-
tired to rest.
Take care you do not spill it, Anime
That is right, let him have a whole Gun
full. Stop, give 1t to me; I will take it to
him myself"
Mynheer Poots took the CUP from
Amine's hands, and went into Philips
room.
Here, my son, drink this off, and you
will be we'll, " said Mynheer Poots, whose
hand trembled so that he spilled the wine
on the coverlid. Anime, who watched
her father, was more than ever pleased
that she had not put the powder into the
cup. Philip rose on his elbow, drank off
the wine, and Mynhcer Poots then wished
him good night.
do not leave him, Anime; 1 Will sec
all right, " said Mynheer Poots, as he left
the room. And Anime, who had intended
TO 60 down for tho candle left in the par
lor, remained with her husband, to whom
she confided her feelings, and also the fact
that she had not given him the powder.
II trust that you are mistaken, Anime, ;"
replied Philip; "indeed feel sure that
you must be. No man could be so bad as
you suppose your father"
You have not lived with him as l
have; you have not seen what I have
seen" replied Anime. "You know not
what gold will tempt people to do in this
world; but, however, I may be wrong.
AT all events, you must go to sleep, and /
shall watch you, dearest. Pray do not
speak, feel cannot sleep just now-I
wish to read little-I will lie down by
and BY"
Philip made no further objections, and
was soon in sound sleep, and Amino
watched him in silence till midnight long
had passed.
HE breathes heavily" thought Anime;
'but had given him that powder, who
knows If he had ever awoke again? My
father is SO deeply skilled in the eastern
knowledge, that I fear him. Too often
has he, we'll know, for purse well filled
with gold, prepared the sleep of death.
Another would shudder at the thought;
but he, who has dealt out death at the
will of his employers, would scruple little
to do SO even to the husband Of his own
daughter; AND have watched him in his
moods, and know his thoughts and wishes.
What foreboding of mishap has come
over me this evening! what fear of evil!
Philip is i'll, tits true, but not SO very i'll.
No, no! Besides, his time is not yet come;
he has his dreadful task to finish. would
1t were morning. How soundly he sleeps
and the dew is on his brow. must cover
him up warm, and watch that he remains
SO. Some one knocks at the entrance door,
Now will they wake him. Ills sum-
mons for my father
Anime left the room, and FASTENED down
stairs. 1t was, as she supposed sum
mons for Mynncer Poots To a woman
taken in labor.
He shall follow you directly" said
Anime II will now call him up"
Anime went up stairs to the room where
her father slept, and knocked; hearing no
answer, as usual, She knocked again.
My father is not used to sleep in this
way, thought Anime, when she found no
answer to her second call. She opened the
father was not in bed. Strange"
thought she, "but do not rccollect hav-
ing heard his footsteps coming up after he
went down to take away the lights - And
Anime fastened to the parlor, where,
stretched on the sofa, she discovered her
father apparently fast asleep; but to her
call he gave no answer. 'iMerciful heaven!
is he dead9" thought she, approaching the
light to her father face. Yes, it was sol
his eyes were fixed and glazed-his lower
jaw had fallen.
For some minutes Anime leaned against
the wall in a state of bewilderment; her
brain whirled; at last she recovered herself.
6 lis to be proved at once" thought
she, as she went up to the table and looked
into the silver cup In which she had mixed
the powder-it was empty! 1.-THE God of
righteousness hath punished himr' ex-
claimed Anime; but oh. that this man
should have been my father! Yes; 1t is
plain. Frightened, at his own wicked,
damned intentions, he poured out more
wine from the flagon, to blunt his feel
ings Of remorse; and not knowing that
the powder was still in the cup, he filed
it up and drank himself-the death he
meant for another! For another-and for
whom? one welded to his own daughter!
Philip! my husband! Vert thou not my
father" continued Anime, looking at the
dead body, II would spit upon thee, and
curse thee; but thou art punished, and
may God forgive thee! thou poor, weak,
wicked creature!"
Anime then left the room and went up
stairs, where she found Philip still fast
asleep, and in profuse perspiration.
Most women would have awakened
their husbands, but Anime thought not Of
herself; Philip was i'll, and Anime would
not arouse him to agitate him. She sat
down by the side of the bed, and with her
hand pressed upon her forehead, and her
elbows resting on her knees, she remained
in deep thought until the sun had risen
and poured his bright beams through the
easement.
She was aroused from her reflections by
another summons at the door Of the cot
tage She hastened down to the entrance