The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-05-03
CHAPTER X

servants, could do for Magnus Hal
crow had been done. He still lay I'M
conscious, a CHASTITY cut, hastily band
aged in amateur fashion by Evan
across his head; bu. with what other
injuries, internal or external, they did
not know.
The doctor who had been wired TOT
had telegraphed that he was on MS
way to Crag Castle; but he could not
be there for an hour yet.
ri cannot leave you alone" objected
q Monteith. Iii
do not mind me; I shall be all
right" said Elspeth hastily. 7 sup
pose"--she paused with sudden sh'ld-
der nothing can be done for herr?
Monteith shook his head There was
a strange expression on his face.
Nothing he said. &aYou must
promise me on no account TO go into
the room, Miss Troll. 1t can do no
good to the dead and may harm you.
You will promise?"
Eyes" said Elspeth. Then suddenly
a strange, inarticulate sound that was
almost a cry broke from her, and she
covered her face. "It is too awful!
too horrible" she cried, going like
that into Gods presence unprepared
unconfessed! And a few hours ago
she was sitting here, the incarnation
Of life and brightness. Oh, God, can
not bear to think of It! God-God
& B. x
have mercy upon her!
Amen" said Monteith hoarsely. He
suddenly caught her hand. aElspeth,
whatever may be in your mind, what
ever you suspect or fear, try to bury It
out of sight and forget, as I shall. We
shall keep our own dark doubts a Sc.
cret forever from the whole world,
shall we not?'
For ever" Elspeth whispered, and
her lip suddenly quivered. You are
generous
~ must go now" said Monteith. And
so they parted-Eispeth to return to
her lonely watch, Monteith to hurry
to Abbot's Head.
The horror was still dark and heavy
upon him. that he had felt as he drew
from under her battered machine very
gently the terribly mutilated figure OF
the woman who had tried to compass
his own death. There was no doubt
In his mind as to that. It was she
who had tempered with his machine,
counting on its going to pieces very
probably at the aun guarded portion OF
the cliff path.
she had mistaken Magnus HalcroW
for him-a natural mistake, for they
resembled each other at distance
and had made that last desperate at
tempt to rid herself OF him, probably
counting on his springing to the cliff
side Of the path, in ignorance OF the
broken barricade How strangely,
awfully, like the Judgment of Just
God 1t seemed! Monteith was soon at
Abbots Head. AS he strobe up the
garden-path Day emerged from the
doorway and met him.
Her face suddenly flashed white as
she recognized him; then she bowed,
and, after a moments hesitation, or
fered her hand.
.'You have come to say good-by? l
heard that you were leaving tomor-
row." &a#
II was" answered Monteith, slowly;
'but It is not that that has brought
me here now. l am sorry to be the
bearer of bad news, Miss Halcrow---'
She interrupted him little breath,
lessly:
Something has happened-Mag-
nus?"
''You will be brave" said Monteith
gently; ''and, please God, it may not
be so bad as we fear" Then, briefly
and as gently as possible, he told her
all. 4aI5&
She listened in silence, her face
growing paler and paler, until 1t was
drained Of every drop of blood. When
he paused she said, in voice out of
which all the music had gone:
II may 80 to him?' e. aT
"I have come for you" said Mon
tefth. 1.-The carriage is waiting be-
low" ~ .-...s
-st. 1 SHALL 50 auu SCI iCe'uyt ooto
Day, in a low voice.
She turned to re-enter the house, but
as she did so, the whole earth seemed
to heave beneath her feet, and she
would have fallen had Montetth not
caught her in his arms. For a mo-
rnent he held her there, her white face
resting against his breast; then Day
struggled from his clasp, VI.
Let me go, Mr.. Monteith,"
Day" exclaimed Evan hoarsely, ut
seems almost proclamation to speak OF
such things now; but, my darling, my
only true love, l cannot let you go
without asking you to forgive me, and
to say you will still trust me. Give me
a the satisfaction of taking care OF you
in this terrible time, and of knowing
you trust my care. Day, you once said
you loved me. She looked at him
strangely out of those sorrow-hlled,
sea-blue eyes of hers.
You say Miss Stuart is dead, and
you can say that to me now?' she said,
almost in a whisper.
She is dead" he answered gravely.
"Day, must not speak unkindly of the
Sp11fh