The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-26

bewildering one thought of Hope and
what her surprise would be could she see
me in my present situation on the peak
| o. this sloping roof. thirty feet above the
ground. Hope! the word brought reso-
luton also ] would look in upon this
man with eyes schooled to their duty, but.
unsharpened by hate. If there was for
/ bearance due him, I would try and exer-
else that forbearance, remembering al
ways that he was an object Of affection to
the woman 1 loved.
| Was this why l, for the first time, saw
him as he may have looked to her and
| probably did? He was seated in such a
way that only his profile visible be-
| yond the casing around which / peered.
But that profile struck me forcibly, and,
| forgetting my errand, I allowed myself
moments study of the face I-had never
rightly seen till then.
| l was astonshed at the result; aston
ished at the effect it had upon me. Leigh
ton Gillespie seen with his brothers was
not the Leighton Gillespie looked upon
now. Beheld thus by himself he was an
Impressive figure. Lacking Georges
height and Alfred's regularity of feature
he was apt to be regarded by Superfclal
or prejudiced observers as the one plain
man in an exceptionally handsome family
But 1 saw now that this was not so. He
! had attractions of his own which could
bear comparison with those of most other
men, and, relieved from too close COM
| parison with these two conspicuous per-
sonalities, the traits of his dark, melan-
choly countenance came out, and in the
regard of his sad and preoccuped eye was
| felt charm which might have ripened
into fascination had no dark secret be-
| clouded their depths or interfered with
the natural expression of feelings that
must once have been both natural ana
spontaneous. Had he, been more fortu-
| nate in his tastes or more able to put re-
| straint upon his passions, he might with
! that eye and smile. have been one or
those men whose influence battles the in
sight of the psychologist, and from whose
magnetic personality spring innumerab BILE
benefits to those of his day and genera
! ton.
All this was forcibly impressed upon me
as knelt in the pouring rain, looking IN
upon his face at this momentous crisis OF
his life, and, had I known it, of my own,
also.
I had feared to advance my head too
far lest he should be attracted by the
movement and detect my presence At
the window. Consequently I had seen as
yet nothing of Milletleurs, and but little
of the room. This would not do, and was
! just preparing to extend my view FUR
Their when the face I was watching sank
-
my ears so thrilling and heartbroken that
my own heart stopped beating In my be-
wilderment and surprise. From whose
| lips had this expression Of anguish
sprung? From hers? 1t had not sounded
like a woman's voice. Gould 1t be-
Again! What could ibid it mean
Had Leighton Gillespie received some
warning of the fate which at this moment
| hung over him, and was it his voice |
;. heard lifted in these heartbroken accents?
Ii was willing to risk everything
to see. Thrusting my head lot
ward, I looked boldly INTO
the room, and momentary as the glance
was or seemed to be, I have never for-
gott en- the dolorous and awe compelling
picture upon which it fell.
BY the light of a guttering candle, whose
blowing flame threatened every minute
to go out, saw wretched pallet drawn
UP against a dirty and mouldering wall.
On this pallet lay woman with just a
ragged Counterpart covering limbs / had
so lately seen moving in rhythnical meas
ure Her hair-those bewildering cnrls
the like of which had never before seen,
and would never see again, lay about her
wherever those faded rags failed to reach.
1t hid her arms, it framed her temples,
and, flowing away, coiled in great masses
over the side of that pallet and onto the
But it did not hide her face. Either she
had moved or her locks had been drawn
aside since Sweetwater crouched in my
place, for now her features were plainly
visible and in those features / had no
difficulty in Observation-Disclosures
Beside her and drawn up so close that
the rich broadcloth Of his sleeve brushed
the foul bed and lost itself among those
overlooking curls, sat Leighton Gillespie,
,,-ith 4, &c tn ic hon a
man weeps but once in lifetime.
There was no MISLEADING that grief Real
, heart agony cannot be simulated; and
touched with awe for what l could not un-
, derstand, l was about to slip away from
my post, when he gave an impetVous
, start, reused himself, and glanced in sud
, den anger toward a door set in the wall
, directly opposite me. Another instant he
; was on his feet, with his hands held out
across the PROSTATE figure before him, in
an attitude of jealous love such as have
, never seen equalled. What had he seen
or heard? The door was closed, yet he
seemed to fear intrusion. Whose? Not
: mine. for his eyes did not turn towards
the window, but remained fixed upon the
, door. Had the sound of steps reached
him from the hall? Probably, for, as
watched the door with him, beheld the
knob turn, then the door itself open
suddenly fell back, disclosing the quiet
form and composed countenance of the ole
detective l had left behind me in the
dark corner of the passage at the side Of
the house.
! At the same instant voice whispered
from over my shoulder into my ear:
Lie STILL or slip silently down to the
3 officers stationed below. You were sc
5 long that Mr. Gryce became Impatient
Up till then I had supposed that only
moment had elapsed since first looked
II will stay whispered back. saw
r that leighton was about to speak.
VI Who are you?' I heard him demand o.
the intruder, in a passion SO great hi
!. failed to note the Identity of the man hi
: thus accosted Il have right to thi.
ROOM l have paid for it-Ah!" He hat
just recognized the detective.
With quick turn he drew the coverle
over the face he seemed to guard SO jeal.
: ously, then with an air of command, which
was at once solemn and peremptory. hi
!, :, pointed to the hat which naturally rested
. on Mr.. Gryce's head, and said:
Respect for the dea! You will IN
cover. Mr.. Gryce.''
"The dead!" repeated the astonished de
tective. striding hurriedly into the room
v "The dead? Is this girl dead ?'.'s
But his doubt, if doubt it we're, disap
peared before the look with which Leigh
> ton Gillespie regarded him.
e Dead" that gentleman declared
d Then as Mr.. Gryce instinctively barred hi
, head, this strange, this incomprehensibl
man advanced step. and in tones incon
ceivably touching and dignhed, adde
= this short sentence:
: ITO respect her is to respect me; thi