Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-02
CHAPTER LlV.

| golden glow Of color, Captain Wyn-
yard had made up his mind to re-
connoiter Brantome. He was more
than ever in love with the dark proud
beauty of Gladys Rane, and he hated
| more deeply than ever the fair gentle
wife of whom he had tired so soon.
He longed all the more intensely that
| the first and greatest barrier should
| be removed from his path, and MS
mind was now intent on the ac-
! complishment of that object only.
! His step-daughter was so near 20
| him, so completely in his power.
Everything favored him, for no one
| knew of any relationship between
Miss Charles, who was in hiding at
Brantome Park, and Captain Wyn-
yard, the popular guest at Culdale
Hail. If any accident happened to
; Angela, who would or could blame
him. No human being could prove
| that he knew she was at Culdale; no
one ever guessed it. She would never
be so completely in his power again,
and he must not let her escape him
burned with feverish rage, the fire
of murder ragged in his heart. He
could not rest, and, as the sky grew
crimson with the sunset in the west,
he resolved to go to Brantome. He
might see her; he might meet her
where there was no one to hear cry,
nc one to run to the rescue. If not,
l, Oh ath IN IF hor
movements.
The captain made several inquiries
for Gladys Rane, and was told that
she was with Lady Culdale. lie
would have liked to see her before
he started, but, believing her to be
with Lady Culdale, he did not care to
send to her He left the house, think
ing that Gladys Rane was in it, and
walked toward Brantome, while the
sun was setting in a glory of rose ana
gold.
Black thoughts accompanied him
in his murderous walk. Not wishing
to be seen-for he had that to do, II
he could find an opportunity of doing
it, which must have no witness-he
did not enter Brantome Park by the
usual way, but went round by Bran
tome Firs He was aware of Angela's
habit of wandering through the
grounds in the soft evening light, and
he thought it not unlikely that ne
might discover her alone. He had
no settled plan in his mind by which
| he hoped to accomplish the end he
had in view; but he intended to
avail himself of the first opportunity
that presented itself.
He crossed Brantome Firs and Went
through the open gate, little dreaming
who had been there SO short time
before. Then, as he walked on. ne
caught sight of the ornamental lake,
with it's narrow terrace and steps that
led to the water and the fountain
throwing it's crystal jets into the air,
and, unless his senses deceived him,
| Angela-yes, Angela herself-sitting
like one weary, on the steps! His
heart gave a bound of almost fiendish
delight, then seemed to stand still.
my enemy is delivered into my
hand" were the first words that &C
Cured to him.
In his wicked perversity, it seemed
to him that Fate had been kind to
him, and he stood for some minutes
watching the silent STOPPING figure.
| He knew that he was near to Bran
tome Hall, and he looked round
cautiously. There was no one in
sight. He drew nearer; and then he
felt sure that it was his step-daughter.
! Nearer and yet nearer he crept to the
object of his murderous design, his
heart beating faster and sending a
rush of hot blood to his face. 1t was
Angela; and the words returned to
him with overwhelming force, 'My
enemy is delivered into my hand!"
| He halted again, watching intently
| the sleeping figure before him. IT
| did not seem strange to him that his
step-daughter should be resting there.
| Probably she had been walking in
| the park, and, overcome by the heat,
had sat down to rest, and then I'M
| consciously fallen asleep.
Drawing nearer, he recognized the
wrapper of silver gray, and then re
! membered the day on which he had
given it to Angela. He remembered
! too his wife's delight, and his step
| daughters cool reception of his gift
the gift that was to be a shroud. He
! trembled violently as he drew near to
! her; but he could not see her face, for
it was hidden in a fold of the wrapper,
no doubt to shield her eyes. The
wind stirred the glistening folds, but
it did not rouse the wearied sleeper.
81 wonder she wears that" he sale,
to himself, considering that I gave it
to her," then, after a few moments
! ''She would not sleep SO sound1y il
! she knew that I was near"
One slight touch, and she woulG
fall from the step into the water
without time to raise an alarm, even
| Eefore she was awake and con.
scious. There would be scarcely a cry
| or a CT ole n uin1nnan nd