The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-06

NO, she feplleQ, with no emouoi
whatever.
His face had been working witt
some strong, deep feeling. But thai
monosyllable seemed to strike him like
a blow. He stood looking at her, his
face still and desperate.
Il did not think God could make such
/ d woman as you are" he said at last
/ felt her shrink beneath the actual
horror with which he seemed to regard
her. But she spoke with unaltered
composure
II told you more than a year ago
that l should pay no more debts of
yours, contracted in gambling or in
any other way" she said. 81 mean it
you know that l mean it. have given
you fair warning. l shall not
change" He did not speak; his head
was dropped upon his breast; he was
| deathly pale. II have done my duty
by you, Guy-you know 1 have" she
| added.
Eyes, you have been just, but you
have never been merciful," he replied.
ooh, Godw
He flung up his arms with bitter
cry that wrung my heart.
l looked at her. No, she did not re-
lent or go to him. He had flung him
self into chair, and with his head
dropped into his arms folded upon the
back, was the most hopeless figure l
had ever seen. She arose, for / had
finished her hair, and took seat near
er the fire. Her lips were gray, as if
she were cold, but her face was still as
infexible as flint.
He gave a groan and started up sud-
denly.
81 am going" he said. Ct" He
met her eye, and asked: "Why do you
not kill me? I was altogether in your
hands once. You killed her, you will
remember"
A slight flush stained her cheek.
"You would have made her happy,
suppose, if she had lived" she said,
sarcastically. But the sting did not
seem to reach him.
"If she had lived! Oh, Heaven! il
she had lived! Winifred, may God
deal by you as you have dealt by me-"
Il am willing" she answered.
He remained but a moment longer.
Wrapping his cloak about him, he gave
her one look of reproach and left the
room. / looked wistfully at her; she
did not speak to me, and l, too, went
away. She was i'll the next day, but
on the following day she appeared
much as usual.
OF all that 1 thought and felt, I, of
course, said nothing. The matter was
no affair of mine. 1 understood that
the two were brother and sister; that
the young man was named Guy Sed- |
ley, that he was dissolute and in dis
grace, that Mrs. Saltby had taken care
of him in boyhood, but now ignored |
the relationship. l was in no way al |
lowed to learn any more.
But on the second night l was awak |
ened by light shining into my cham
Der. 1t was something unusual, for |
the little clock on the mantel was |
Ginning IL. After a moment l slipped |
out Of bed and glided toward the open
door. The long, embroidered folds of
my night dress nearly tripped me up;
but l made no noise with my bare feet |
upon the deep velvet of the carpet. /
don't know whom I expected to see,
certainly not Guy Sedley, kneeling be-
fore a sandalwOod chest, with papers
strewn around on the floor. A taper
burning on the mantel showed his face
perfectly cool as he went on searching
for something. He must have come
through my room to reach the apart
ment, for it had no opening but into
my chamber. 1 saw, too, a dirk kuife
on the floor, close at his side. ! looked
at him an instant. Even then l re-
membered to pity him, then glided for
ward, snatched the knife and leaped
back to the door. l was mistress of
the situation, for | had come from be-
hind him and done all as in a flash;
and as he rose to his feet I stood with
a calmness that showed that it was
not my intention to Immediately arouse
the house.
With a presence of mind equal to
my own, he put the roll of bank notes
he had been searching for into the
pocket of his waistcoat, and with
glittering eye regarded me specula-
lively. l did not scream. / know now
that he was not much afraid of me.
"You have been robbing your sister,"
l said, "but if you will put the money
back will let you CO."
His intense attention of me changed
to a look of wonder.
"You, child, are not afraid of me?"
he asked.
NO." I answered truthfully.
but l watched you in your sleep