Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-27

'One IS more at ones eaSe," MT. Van- deleur was heard to declare.
 Next moment they were all three ill their places, and Francis could see as little as he could hear of what passed. But the dinner seemed to go merrily. There was perpetual babble of voices and sound of knives and forks below the chestnut, and Francis, who had no more than a roll to gnaw, was affected with envy by the comfort and delibera- ton of the meal. The party fingered over one dish after another and then over delicate dessert, with a bottle of old wine carefully uncorked by the hand of the dictator himself. As it be- gan to grow dark lamp was set upon the table and a couple of candles on the sideboard, for the night was per fectly pure, starry and windless. Light overfowed besides from the door and window in the yeranda, so that the garden was fairly illuminated and the leaves twinkled in the darkness.
 For perhaps the tenth time Miss Van- deleur entered the house, and on this occasion she returned with the coffee tray, which she placed upon the side board At the same moment her father rose from his seat.
 "The coffee is my province Francis heard him say. $5tss x
 And the next moment he saw his Sup posed father standing by the sideboard in the light of the candles. Talking over his shoulder all the while, MT. Vandeleur poured out two cups of the brown stimulant and then, by rapid act of prestidigitation, emp l tied the contents of a tiny vial into the smaller of the two. The thing was so swiftly done that even Francis, who looked straight into his face, had hard l ly time to perceive the movement be- l fore it was completed, and the next in- stant, and still laughing, MT. Vandeleur had turned again toward the table l with cup in either hand. 'Ere we have done with this," said 1 he, i've may expect our famous He brew"
 It would be impossible to depict the confusion and distress of Francis ! Scrymgeour. He saw foul play going forward before his eyes, and he felt bound to interfere, but he knew not how. It might be mere pleasantly, 1 and then how should he look if be were I to offer an unn6cessary warning? Or, 1 again, if 1t were serious, the criminal might be his own father, and then how should he not lament if he were to l bring ruin on the author of his days3 l For the first time he became conscious of his own position as a spy. To wait inactive at such juncture and with such a conflict of sentiments in his ] bosom was to suffer the most acute torture. He clung to the bars of the shutters, his heart beat fast and with l irregularity, and he felt strong sweat break forth upon his body. Several minutes passed. He seemed to perceive the conversa- ton die away and grow less and less in vivacity and volume, but still no l sign of any alarming or even notable ! event.
 l Suddenly the ring of glass breaking l was followed by faint and dull sound, l as of person who should have fallen forward with his head upon the table. I At the same moment piercing scream rose from the garden.
 t'What have you doneY' cried Miss Vandeleur. "He is deadp'
 The dictator replied in violent whis- per, so strong and sibilant that every word was audible to the watcher at the window.
 l "Silence!' said MT. Vandeleur. "The l man is as well as am. Take him by the heels while I carry him, by the shoulders.
 Francis heard Miss vandeleur break forth into passion of tears.
 | vIaA sisvsor aI the dictator in the same tones, For do I you wish to quarrel with me? I give you your choice, Miss Vandeleur." I There was another pause, and the dictator spoke again.
 s"Take that man by the heels," he said. T must have him brought into the house. If were little younger, could help myself against the world, but now that years and dangers are upon me and my hands are weakened must turn to you for aid.
 Ut is a crime" replied the girl.
 ''I am your father" said MT. Vande. leur
 This appeal seemed to produce it's < effect A scuf1ling noise followed upon the gravel, a chair was overset, and then Francis saw the father and daugh- ter stagger across the walk and disap- pear under the veranda, bearing the inanimate body Of MT. Roles embraced about the knees and shoulders. The young clergyman was limp and pallid, and his head rolled upon his shoulders at every step.
 Was he alive or dead? Francis, in spite of the dictator's declaration, in clined to the latter view. A great crime had been committed, a great calamity had fallen upon the inhabitants of the house with the green blinds. To his surprise, Francis found all horror for the deed swallowed up in sorrow for girl and an old man whom he judged to be in the height of peril. A tide of generous feeling swept into his heart
 He, too, would help his father against man and mankind, against fate and
 justice, and, casting open the shutters
 he closed his eyes and threw himself with outstretched arms into the foliage
 of the chestnut.