The Red Cloud chief., 1900-12-21

''S V'NaN hu't b'tu III blillll1 T.
down. they knew very well.
Upstairs. in the gallery that ran
round tho hall, Paul Ansdcll was pac-
Ing up and down, with folded arms
and deeply frownins brow.
Tonight meant for this man other
things than 1t did for the merry
makers below. The crucial moment
had come when he was about to stake
his all. Either he would he In n po-
sition to grasp a fortune, or he would
find himself in a prison cell. That
he knew.
AS he paced along the gallery a light
footstep come behind him. so light
was its patter that Paul did not hear
II.
Your"
AS he turned he faced a little figure
In cleaning silver robes with patches
or crimson here and there-blood red
berries-and at her throat IA dazzle
Of diamonds.
1t was GLADLY. on tiptoe.
81 have come to hide-to hide!"
Her voice abruptly died away. for
Paul Ansdell's eyes held her. Her whole
figure dropped, the joyousness died
out OF her small face, and her eyes
grew large and dilated as they gazed
back. almost glued to those OF the
scientist.
Motionless, immovable. she waited
while he drew nearer to her. There
was for her the fascination of the VIC
tim for the rattlesnake.
And while the two-master and tool
closer and closer, there came
floating up from below the sounds Of
music and revelry and gay laughter.
The dancing had begun again, and
there was a fash of changing color as
the couples whirled round.
In the gallery a strange silence
reigned.
One little watcher, hidden close be-
hind a bank OF ferns and festoons of
holly berries, could hear her own heart
beats.
1t was Syb. the deformed girl, who
had stolen away from the throng of
merrymakers IN hour since.
Something strange and uncanny had
befallen Syb. some inscrutable infiu-
ence held her prisoner. Her will was
chained up, she was powerless to come
and go as she would.
But only so far was she dominated,
Every other sense she had was alert
And she watched with wonderment the
bride, whom she hated for standing
in the place that should have been
Leila's, droop visibly before the slowly
waving hands OF Paul Ansdell, the sci
enlist. The strain not to lose any
thing in the strange scene being en-
acted before her was too much for
Syb even to wonder why the long,
lean hands vent up and down. up and
down, slowly and methodically.
The gay music from below rose and
fell, and between its bursts Syb's sharp,
young ears caught the Kissed out com
mand as Paul Ansdell bent over the
little crouching figure in silver bro
cade:
GO! DO my will"
With a faint, almost inarticulate
cry GLADLY Strengthened herself. and.
turning. went slowly along the gallery.
Paul Ansdell's eyes followed her until
she disappeared on the opposite side.
The music below ceased with a
crash OF chords, the dance was over,
and IN the lull Syb heard a sharp
click.
So did Paul Ansdell, for he quickly
lifted his head. and a gray pallor crept
over his face.
Then he hurried away in the direc-
ton OF the bachelors wing, where he
had been located on his arrival.
Il hate him, tool" irritably said Syb.
In truth, the poor, ~misshapen girl
hated most people.
As II some baleful thing had depart
ed, she rose and shook herself. The
holly had scratched her thin, bare
arms, and there was a trickle OF red
that dropped on her white muslin
frock.
Ugh! it's all horrid!" she shud-
dered impatiently. II wish Leila and
| could run away from 1t all, and live
in a cottage by ourselves" she MUIR
INJURED, as she went wandering round
the horseshoe gallery.
For to this afflicted child all the
music and brightness and Christmas
Joy In the hall below was gall and
wormwood.