Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-15
CHAPTER xXIv.-(Continued.)

In the days gone by Roger had no
known that he possessed this mesmeriz
ing power. and it had been long since h
and this scapegrace cousin had met fac
TO face. so that he had been unaware o
the power he would have over him.
His excitement had increased his usua
strength of mesme ism, while the con
seriousness on the part of the Captain al
to his own weakness and inability to com
bat against Roger, even though he helC
the winning power in the shape of th'
revolver, had gone far toward 7anquish
ing him.
They stod thus like two statues for {
full minute the one proud, commanding
and noble, the other cringing ike whip
ped cur, his hand trembling still as i
clutched the weapon that might have
been used with such deadly effect upon
his enemy but for the cowardice that
seized upo.. his sonl.
At last the spell was broken. Raising
his hand, Roger pointed to the forest on
the left
Go your way. foul wretch, and have a
care how You cross my path again, for II
we meet once more and / find that YOU
are still prosecuting those whom / would
protect, then all the powers of the mas
ter you serve so well cannot save you
from my vengeance. l will say no more,
but &C"
His manner emphasized his words, and
there was something about him that
seemed to impress the doughty Captain
with the idea that it would be better to
show discretion than yalor.
Never fear" he Kissed, I'VE shall meet
again, cousin mine, when the advantage
will not be upon your side You say that
my hand trembles, and you say well, for
have not yet recovered from n wound
received in duel. l go not because you
desire it. but simply that / may do some.
thing rash if | remain here. Until we
meet again, adieu.'
Turning, he strobe among the trees
without once looking back. and Roger
drew in long breath as though free from
the presence of a serpent that poisoned
the atmosphere.
When the Captain had reached a GER
tain point, where he was still hidden from
the sight of Roger, should the other still
be bending his gaze in that direction, he
came to halt, and was in a few seconds
looking once more upon the man he hated
so bitterly.
His face was a perfect picture of an
governable fury, fire flashing from. his
eyes, and his white teeth cleaning cru
ely.
Curses upon Jour head, Roger Oar
rel, for this last insult. All my life you
have stood ahead of me, the favorite Of
fortune, while L had to be content with
groveling in the shadow cast by your
high mightiness. The time has come
when l can bend no longer. Something
is going to break. 1t may be you. it may
be me; but this world is not big enough
for US both. You have found ME out.
but it will be a bad thing for you. Things
are getting mixed here, and must force
a way through"
To tell the honest truth. things were
getting a trife mixed so far as his per
sOnal safety was concerned. He had
upon his track first Of all. the gypsy girl,
the very thought of whom sent cold
chill through his veins, and whom he
half expected to see behind every tree
and bush that he passed.
Besides, the ghost of the man whom
he thought he had murdered, and whose
body he had hidden away in the chimney
fiue of the old mill, seemed to rise up and
haunt him. pointing a bony finger at him
and laughing in sepulehral mockery. Al
though not given to superstition, the
doughty Captain had often shiyered at
the bare contemplation of such meet
ing.
Besides this, he secretly feared lest
the woman he had so fearfully wrongedr
and who was even then secured in the
private insane asylum of Doctor Grim
might again escape, as she had done once
before, and finish the work commenced
npon that dueling field in the graveyard
A man with such matters IS these
weighing upon his mind, and the furious
enmity of a man like Roger Darrell added
to them all, must in truth be possessed
Of unusual grit to be able TO set his teeth
e~rd together and defy outrageous for
tune, yet this was just what the Captain
did
He saw that all was lost unless ne made
bold stroke. and to this end he set him
self TO work, resolved to win or lose al
upon the casting of q die.