The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1903-12-23

CHRISTMAS passed at Gravclly Grange
as 1t usually passes in the country
houses of wealthy persons There were
the usual service ut the church. the
usual good cheer on the table and the
usual Christmas tree in the evening for
the guests At the latter function
Mrs Springthorpc was nj her best.
She greeted every woman and child
with condescension so charming as
TO rob 1t of the Implication of supe
riority. She was undoubtedly the most
popular person present, and Spring
thorpe's eyes followed her with an
eagcrness and affection that to me
were almost pitlable.
After the Christmas tree festivities
host, hostess and guests danced merri
ly together, and the celebration was
Kept up until a late hour. When we
went to our rooms we were very
tired lot Of mortuls; but, despite my
fatigue, ] determined to remain at my
post TO await developments. threw
myself half dressed upon the bed. re.
solved that nothing should tempt mo
to go to sleep. But the flesh is weak,
ana In short time was in as deep n
slumber as though nothing were on
my mind. Suddenly I started up, awak.
ened by the shuddcring sound of my
slowly rising window.
There, without the window, outlined
against the sky, appeared n dark ROBBED.
hooded figure like that of n Capuchin
monk. Slowly the sash ascended to its
full height, and noiselessly the figure
mounted upon the sill and stepping
upon the window seat, reached the
floor, whence II gldcd into the shadow
that filled the corner OF the room and
was lost to sight
After an anxious interval again saw
Its dark outline encronching on the
area of dllfuscd light that lay between
me and the window, and knew that II
was slowly drawing toward mo. AS II
approached the same stcnlthy football
and deep, suppressed breathing hal
heard the night before became audible
y IN the side of the bed II halted, with -
Inspiration, ana hand holdiny
u pg which CLEANED was Iictrd
40 9o'9c head Dropping my feet t..
'"D floor, sprang up, Selling the mp
lifted arm with my lcrt baud aud with
my right arm pinioning the figure
against my breast
Their" was woman's cry, the CLEAN
ing thing fell 10 the floor ana the liz
nr" lay limp in my embrace placed
II IN clnir and hastily ~ the gas
Then | saw the inscn,blr form Of
Mrs Springihorpc ana on the floor one
of my own surgical knives, which |
had thought secure in the case in my
portmanlcau had solved the mys |
terry.
As Mrs. Springthorpc recovered her !
senses "" remained gazing ut each I,
other in silence
"W"Il,' she said mt last, "you have |
conquered You know everything"
unhappy womnn," | said II know |
lInt ydii tiiiscd The death Of yorT Tor
iIshr mistress because she stood ir the
/ way Of your ambition and That you
have twice attempted my life"
She slipped 10 the floor nt my feet
'Mcrcy, mercy" she cried. "If you
knew how dreaded this moment! IT
was your life against his love All
night | paced my room, crying, You
shall not part u.s."
II heard you in my sleep"
"NcS; years ago | discovered the SO.
crct of these two rooms, the curious
acoustic fact that nj certain points in
one low, intense sounds are reproduced
in the other with such vivid distinct
ness ms To seem actually present, ana so
! heard you breathing ns you slept, and
the thought came 10 me, nS II came 10
me when | listened to her breathing
ana broke upon her sIumhcr with the
false story that killed her My ambi
ton has rcapcd nothing but Dead sea
fruit"
"And you entered my room and by
the window! But howe Surely not by
the coping, less than II foot in widthr
"Ycs. At one time I waa II gymnnst
and acrobat, and oven IL II had not
been for that my determination would
have carried me through, the deter
minati0n of II dying woman, for whom
death and danger have no further ter |
rOr The first night you were saved |
10y an accidental discovery The second
nlarmed yOu by ncautously allowing !
you 10 hcHr me listening for your sleep. !
Tonight, the third | thought to make |
sure put in your water bottle an
Opiatc."
(Which | did not .uHrh."
You would have been found dead |
with your own knife in your heart |
The general verdict would have been
suicide But it was not 10 he. You
were 10 be my fate Go to him. Brcak
his heart with your revelation. De
nOuncc mo rs n murdcrcss."
She fell forward. | raised her and
seeing that she was indeed near the
point Of death, administered restora
tive from my case.
Mrs. Springthorpc," said when she
had somewhat recovered, whatever
your crime this Is not II time for iudg,
mcnt, ANA I am not your judge. To.
morrow | leave this place, and, believe
me, shall never open my lips i'm re-
gard to what I have discovered Your
punishment Is complete. May your
days end in peace ana your husband
never have cause to regret you less
But let me assist You to your room
You must not lac discovered here"
raised her to her feet, but she drew