Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-09-01

the cause?"
Il am true to the devil in me-" she
answered Don't speak to me Of the
| cause. We are what we are, that's
enough. Make haste, before some wind
of passion turns me the other way, II
you would revenge your fathers
| death"
He is smoking now. In two mir
utes he will be insensible; in less than
| three l shall be under the window
again. he whispered hurriedly.
1t was true. Osborne, lying back In
the chair, was idly blowing smoke
wreaths and gazing after them as
though his troubles were written on
their intricate evolutions. Suddenly he
made a gesture of repugnance and flung
' the little roll away, not one-third burnt.
| Uneasy and overcome with nausea, like
a row boy at his first essay. he en-
deavored to draw himself UP to reach
the BELL then, with an Intellectual effort
| to call upon the name of the woman
who had just left him, he fell back
helpless and inert upon the cushions.
Durand had not yet returned, there
were no sound of wheels upon the
| gravel sweep, but in an instant she
was in the room and had the rope in
her hands.
| Had her companion been delayed or
| had he betrayed her? The chances
were equal either way; but she had
little thought of anything but her pur-
pose. With wonderful dexterity she
1 had the rope in a moose across his chest
and the back of the fauteuil, round both
his hands, which had dropped claspei
| together across his knees, round his
ankles and the leg of the chair, and
| had knotted it off on the twisted arm
, of heavy oak chest which required
two free men to stir it.
Truly, Samson, the Philistines be
upon you" she murmured, as turning
to the window she saw Durand below
| her at last Making him sign that
all was well she advanced to the inno-
cent-looking camera, and, unslinging
! the porcelain-lined bottle from her
/ waist, prepared to open it, She was in
the act of unscrewing the outer stopper
| when faint murmur arrested her
"Helga,"
! She turned abruptly. The scarcely
smoked cigarette had only produced
brief Inconsistencies; its effects were
! passing away. Osborne was bound
| but his faculties had returned. He was
not to meet his fate in happy oblivion
of the pain and horror of it.
"Helga,"
| A smile, almost sweet III Is absolute
triumph, lighted up her face. 1t had
CALLED her that he should pass away
with another woman's name on his lips,
another woman's image the last IN his
mind His consciousness added to her
danger, but it enhanced her triumph,
and she was satisfied. lie should see
her pour the drops into the bomb he
should know the hand that struck him.
YES" she said slowly. lit is l. your
former love. Don't stir. Don't cry
out. You will only hasten your end
and bring those round you whom you
would rather have away. You see that
simple looking box, ii contains your
death warrant. Do you know enough
of my past-the past from which you
would not save me-to understand
what that means?"
He looked at her like man gradu
ally waking from dream.
II think do" he murmured.
"The man your sister (my old enc
N.Y. brought under this roof. is my &C
complete in this" she said. when
found who was to be the victim coult
have stopped him, and l would hav'
done so but for what saw in this room
just now"
Osborne rose his eyes to hers. &c
: know you seek my life, Helga," he said
, Take it and welcome, but for God
sake spare those who have not injure,
you"
Not injured me? have been injur
, ed by all who had part or parcel il
separating US. We trife time. Lool
at me, Francis Osborne. Mine Is tn
, last face you will ever see, mine tn
last voice you will ever hear. Their
, was a time when you would have hat
: it So
, She was leaning over him. closer
closer yet. She had touched the but
| ton. He saw the movement and guess
ed its object; and yet she fingered. He
, voice had sunk to low wall. and die'