Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-09-25
CHAPTER XIV.

waEid would be obliged to accommodate
themselves to the inner gloom of that
spacious drawing room ere they would
Se able to distinguish objects with any
6Ss,rce of certainty. This fact must have
ShSccd itself upon Sylphide, otherwise she
weuId not have recoiled so suddenly and
ruraeealed herself as that pair of strange
eyes glared in through the blind upon
Ser Gathering the huttering gauze OF
the window drapery about her, she stood
Hsewe. holding her BREATH awaiting she
w0uld have found it difficult to explain
- hist.
Evidently satisfied that the drawing
rDosn was deserted, the quick step became
ysealthy, and stole along the piazza until
IL reached the entrance to the main hall;
Aez~, no impeachment occurring in the wny
al % stray servant, the intruder advanc-
sd. ard presently doomed upon the thresh-
old in full view of Sylphide
Il proved to be Il man of medium
Arighk and slender proportions, 1.-THE ana
willowy in every limb. The figure, though
uadersized, might have served MS model
SOg an artist. The face had lean, hun
cry Look, intensified Mt that moment by
III rascally CLEAN in the deep-set, flashing
syex.
Upon table, within reach OF Syl-
EAaN3e's ambush, lay velvet case, upon
the satin cushion of which nestled
yasing of splendid pearls-the bridal gift
a8 E,ucian Courtlandt to Claire. The or
!sasnent had been brought down stairs by
Martha Dunn in the hope that her young
MISTRESS would consent to wear 1t during
the ceremony, but Claire had turned
sTom the lovely cmblems with shudder
aud Martha had forgotten their very eX-
assqncc Towards this allurlng bait the
ssan now stole with outstretched hands.
Ga Nh instant Sylphide OWNED his nefa-
nivns intention, and an intelligent light
Th0l into her watchful eyes.
-'che man ! WANT she thought, with
She celebrity of lightning; and MS his
aramped fingers closed upon the gems,
,he suddenly appeared, snatched the
necklace from his grasp, and in swift
Jzudcrtone she breathed:
''Silence! Not n word! do not mean
D. betray you. provided"
~Do you belong to the house?" falter-
sd the fellow, palid to the very lips with
oerror.
"No, but | am sufficiently a friend OF
saeSe people to send you packing to Sing
sin& for n term Of years You are
ahicf, Your nameT
Camille
What brings you here?'
II came in answer TO an advertise
ssnerst for strong and honest man to
wait upon an invalid. Oh, madam, do
aui he hard on me! spare me! perhaps
ssume day may be able to do you Il good
NaUnT'
"Mel'' sneered Sylphidc; 'you are pre-
ayssnptuous. No: | have mind to de
Mgrr you to Justice
"Iusticev walled the guilty wretch.
"rhat means ruin Lady, swear to you
haat | was born and bred to live an hon
Rss life. | have but one desire In the
worid. and that Is to lay up five thou
sand dollars, enough to buy and stock
nsttc farm, where l may settle down and
Hre like other men. Spare me, and
WIN belong to YOU body and soul. In
saccd. indeed, the devotion of determin.
sd man is not to be sneered at!'
''How could you serve meY
Madam may have enemies" was the
@xaffy reply. Not at present, perhaps,
aaa one never knows when they may
crup up: and if you will be mcrciful to
mr. and not denounce me, will serve
goo with unlimited DEVOTION
I wlIt--rVHect
II am saved" thought the fellow, bow
Gag deeply, to conceal the grimace OF
gx1mnph that distorted his features.
This evening, when you are at liber
gv.~ continued Sylphide. with wel-man-
wgcd hauteur, you may come to the inn
ssa the village and inquire for Mrs. Hast
EwEs. | will think your matter over and
decide whether | can so far silence my
sssdfscience ms to permit your crime to
,ns4 mpunished. In the meantime. use
sour eyes and ears well here. Now. YOU
&aa hcster touch that bel. and make your
GsrcScnce Known
As she spoke she replaced the pearls
IA their casket. and closed the lid Then
she lowered her veil, and leaving the
apartment. crossed the piazza. and took
EsIe sunny path that led along the margin
CT gae lawn, down to the entrance gates.
Rrem behind the closed blind Camille
wakchcd her departure, Il sinister smile
Epsn his lank countenance.
~Humphw he muttercd. "Set thief
20 catch Il thief. There's money in that
Nnt,nc woman. Folks say a man can't
serve two masters. but I'm willing TO
erx It, and see whether | can't make
zasSef the exception which proves the
vale FL bet chat my pretty friend Mrs
Hastings is playing the spy Ia these
parts Well, we shall see, what we will
ssSc
tic turned from the window and paus
M beside the table For an instant he
asse' irreSolute, his hand resting on lie
wxsres casket; but suddenly he with
asrew il and smote the bell ringing
aeaL
mo, no." he muttered; the games not
ssurxh the candle; there's too much
zaSney in the wind to run the risk for
exIsfe like that"
The summer day had dragged it's tor
ssa length to a close, and the shades of
nsgEk had fallen, accompanied by the.
sStafsous mutterings of distant thunder
vixen the twmkling lights of the village
kRa. discovered the agile figure of the
zaan Camille, as he sauntered into the
yaxxl. Swinging into the little hostelry,
he inquired for Mrs. Hastings. aud was