Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-17
CHAPTER Xxx.

Il crows toward evening, and still thu
rain descends in torrents. Small rlver'
are running on the gravel walks outside
the snowdrops and crocuses are all dead
or diving. crushed and broken by the crue
wind. Down below in the bay the sea ha'
risen, and with a roaring sound rushef
finland 10 dash itself against the rocks
Now aud then n fash Of lightning illum'
ines its turbulent breast and lets one see
how the Ambitious ocean" can swell
and rage and foam, to be exalted with tha
threatening clouds" The sailors an9
boatmpn generally in the small village arr
going anxiously to and fro as though fear
ful of what such a night AZ this may pro
duce.
They are assembled in Dulce's boudolr
being under the impression, perhaps, that
while fhe present inciviity of the ele'
ments continue it is cozier to be in
small room than large one. 1t may be
this. or the fact that both Dulce and
Portia have declined to come downstairs
or enter any other room, until dinner shall
be announced. under any pretext what
ever.
Sir Christopher has just gone through
an cxnggerat ted resume of old Slyme's dis
graceful conduct last night, when the door
IL openod, and they all become aware that
the hero of the story Is standing before
them. Yes. there stands Gregory Slyme,
pale GREATNESS, and with one hand al
ready upifted, as though to deprecate
censurc. and to stay the order to be
gone" that he plainly expects from every
lip. s
"Why, here he is again" cries BIZ
CHRISTOPHER. now incensed beyond meas
ure. even my niece's room IS not safe
from him."
He points angrily to the secretary, VINO
covers before his angry look, yet shows
no intention of retiring. With all his all
OF hopeless sottishness that clings to him
like spotted garment. there is still some
thing strange about the man that attracts
the attention Of Mark Gore.
He has been closely watching him ever
ance his entrance. and he can see that
the head usually buried on the chest H
now uplifted, that in the sunkG eyes
there Is a new meaning, hrc freshly KIN
dled born of acute mental disturbance,
and indeed in bis whole bearing there is
a settled purpose very foreign to 1t.
"Heor me, bear me-" he entreats With
ouavering accents, but passionate haste.
do not send me away yet; must SPEAK
pow-nOw, or never!
The final word sinks almost out Of hear
Ing. His hands fall to his sides. Once
l. again his head sinks to its old place upon
his breast.
Sir Christopher, believing him to be I'M
der the influence of drink, opens his lips
with the evident intention Of ordering MN
from his presence, when Sir Mark inter
poses.
"He has come to say something. Lev
him say it," he says, tapping Sir ChriS'
topher's arm persuasively.
"Ay, let me-" says Slyme, in low tone
yet always with the remnant of wasteu
passion in it, 1T has lain heavy on III!
heart for years. shall fling it from LIE
now, II the effort to do it kills me.
Turning his bleared eyes right and lett
be searched every face slowly untii liz
comes to Fabian. Here his examination
comes TO an md. Fastening his eyes Oh
Fabian, he lets them rest there, ana never
again removes them during the entire III
servieW.
81 caIl you to witness he says no"
striking himself upon the breast ina
whatever l have done has not gone uh
punished. If my crime hns been viie' lily
suffcrings have been terrible. nave ell
dured torments. ] want no sympath
none. ! expect only dctcstation ana ie
venge but yet 7 would have you remeh
Der that there was Il time when was
man, not the sodden, british, contempt,
BILE thing | have become. l would asi
you 10 call 10 mind all you nave eve
heard about remorse--its stings, its agony
its despair and | would have you know
that have felt it all; yea, more, thcu
sand times more"
All this time he has his hand presses
against bis chest in a rigid fashion. Ill
lips have grown livid, his race pare
any corpse. -. o,
"This is mere raving," says Sir Chris
tophcr. excitedly; but again Gore restrain
him as he world have gone forward
order Slyme 10 retire. ..
To-day" goes on Slyme, always VII
his heavy ewes on Fabian, Il heard yo
speak in my defcnse-mine! Sir, II !o
could only know how those flaming WORD
OF yours burned into my heart, how inc
have burned since, how they are purhln
now" ,miting himself, you would D
half avenged. listened to you TIL m
brain could hear 10 more. You spoK
kindly Of me, you had pity on my ola az
-upor mine, who had no pity on you
youth. who ruthlessy ruined your li1c
who"
"Man. il you have anything to COMES
TO cxplan-say It." breaks in Sir MARI
ycEp:ncntiy, who is half mad with mop
and expectancy.
Portin hns riscn from her low seat, an
forrctru or regardless Of comment J
xazlpc with ,aree. wild eyes at the OF
man. =,
Sir Christopher has grnsped Mar
Cores arm with almost painful force; an
is trembling so violently that Gore pace
his other arm gently round him and keep
X there as n support.
CHAPTER XNI.
"It was for him did 1t, for his sake,
snys Gregory Slymc. monotonously. ID
"a losing his head little now, and b