Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-09
Continued.

ct COlu uIOpS udu SdCuSISu OI IllS
brow. and his lips had grown white
There was none to interfere with his
design, there was none to rescue her
this time!
A stealthy foOtstep, moment OF in
tense, almost uncomfortable suspense
hand outstretched, then withdraT n
then outstretched again-a sudden
push, a despairing cry-and she was
gone!
There was a splash in the water
the eddies spreading and spreading
until they reached the fountain; then
all was quiet. To him, the murderer,
with the brand of Cain on his brow,
there came one moment of intense
stiffness that seemed hours long-a
moment when horror seized him ct
The thought Of the foul deed that he
had done A thousand burning eyes
seemed suddenly to fill the air and fix
their gaze upon him; thousand
voices seemed to hiss:
Murderer" in his ears.
Then he saw a movement in the
water-a woman's hand was thrown
up, and faint cry for help reached
his ears. There was even yet time if
he would repent of his act and save
her, for he was a good swimmer. The
outstretched hand showed for enc
moment above the darkening eddies-
it was like an appeal to Heaven, then
the waters closed over it, the eddies
grew deeper, calmer, then died away,
and the bosom of the lake was smooth
as though it held no guilty secret.
Vance Wynyard turned and f1e1-
fed, despite the blood-red mist that
swan before his eyes and the horrible
shudder that took the strength from
his limbs. Having reached the mead
Ows that led to Culdale, he fell ex-
hausted on the soft green grass. He
might rest in safety here, he told him.
self, for it was far enough away from
the scene of his crime. He wanted TO
close his eye@, but he dared not
Through his disordered mind rushed
the words:
Unknown facts of guilty acts
Are seen in dreams from God"
He remembered too
'How murderers walA the earth,
Beneath the curse of Cain,
With crimson clouds before their eyes
And flames about their brain,
For blood has left upon their souls
It's everlasting STAIN
Yet he did not repent of his fearful
act 1t was only the physical horror
and the recoil from the dread of the
crime. He found himself looking at
his hands. There was no b1ood-starn
upon them, but none the less they
we're the hands of a murderer.
81 wonder" he said to himself, eff l
shall ever kiss the hand of a woman
again without seeing that hand
stretched out of the water? I wonder
if I shall be able to sleep and forget
it? What will the world be like to
me now that I have taken a human
life? Was it worth while? Will
there be terrible price to pay for
the sin, or will it go unpublished in
this world, as many others do? It is
done now, and must bear all that
follows, / am one step nearer to the
great hope of my life; and, if each
step that leads to it has to be taken
over a grave, I will reach it."
Then he rose somewhat calmer,
and stood for moment as if in deep
thought. The strength had come
back to his limbs, the color to his
face. He looked in the direction from
which he had come. z~., 1
Farewell" he said ito Angela
Rooden! It was a pity that she
crossed my path"
The sun had set when he reached
Culdale Hall Dinner was always late
here on summer evenings; and when
the captain, still looking white and
haggard, entered, the first bell had
not rung.
81 should be all right" he said 10
himself, eff / could see Gladys.
must see her.
With some little difficulty he found
her pretty Partisan maid ~Fanchette,
who had a shrewd idea how matters
stood between her beautiful mistress
and the handsome captain.
ASK Miss Rane' if I can see her
just for two minutes before the
dinner-bell rings" he said, hastily.
And Fanchette, noticing how strange
and i'll the captain looked, replied:
Miss Rane is out, sir. She has
been out all the afternoon, and has
not yet returned"
Out" he cried, in amazement.
Are you sure, Fanchette?"
quite sure, sir " she replied. 81
helped my mistress to dress"
Where was she going?" he asked
quickly.
81 understood that she intended to
walk to CuldaIe, sir; I do lot know
what for. Lady Culdale wished her
to have the carriage but she de
clined, preferring to walk
AT what time did she go?" asked
the captain
II am not quite sure, sir; but it was
some time after luncheon I am ax.