The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-11-04

tablet from the silver box and destroyed
It, so that there remained nineteen in each.
Then I changed the contents of the tw.,
and replaced the gold box with its noT
harmless tablets In my uncle's pocket.
The silver box, In which there must now
be one tablet poisoned by Ormond, l re-
stored to the desk. first breaking the
spring of the lid SO that 1t could not be
opened.
By this stratagem I had preserved NJ.
Greer from any further danger during
nineteen days, and ! had prepared a long
punishment for the assassin. Every even
ing he must watch what he would think
to be a game of chance, with death and
his own soul as the stake. He could not
know whether the poisoned tablet would
be used the first evening or the nine
teenth. He would have to wait for 1t in
horror.
l wonder how many years were crowded
into those nineteen days for Ormond. He
grew haggard and his flaming eyes sank
farther into his head. Mr.. Greer often
spoke of his altered looks, suggesting rest
from business. sea voyage or few
weeks in the woods with dogs and gun.
But Ormond had forged his own chain.
AS for me, found mad fascination in
watching him every evening; seeing him
more pallid, more shaken. more bitterly
determined to preserve that self control
which was slowly slipping away from
him. Toward the last, when there re-
manned but few of the tablets, so that to
him. no doubt, 1t seemed an incredible
and personally vindictive chance which
ruled the matter, l often thought that
he would spring to his feet and Shrek
aloud as my uncle raised the goblet to
his lips.
And on the evening when there re.
mained but two! How shall l describe
me that the blindness of my uncle and
Gladys was beyond belief, yet the world
is full of such blindness.
"Only two more tonight" said my I'M
Gle, opening the box. "Shan't we finish
them? Gladys, my child, join me tonight.
Come; insist"
He filled two glasses, and l saw Ormond
grip the arms of his chair. Gladys SEEM
ed to detect an unusual earnestness in
Mr.. Greer's tone. She looked at him
quickly and then laughed.
81 fear acquiring the fatal appetite"
she said, "and yet this once l will accept
the risk"
Mr.. Greer dropped a tablet into each Of
the goblets, and he raised his own. Or
monds head was rocking upon his spine.
I could see the beads of the sweat of ag-
ony shine upon his forehead. He seemed
to be striving to rise from his chair, to
speak, to lift his arm in a gesture Of
warning, but fear held him by the throat.
"Pitiful coward!" l cried, springing to
my feet. This is unbearable. Would
you risk her life?"
My uncle paused with the goblet at his
lips. In fact. he had already drunk,
though Gladys had not. They both stared
at me. but neither found words.
Ormond sprang forward to the table by
which they were standing. He leaned
heavily upon 1t. and his eyes were burn
Ing a question into mine.
IL know the whole truth" said I. "Will
you deny It? Then l defy you to drink
from that glass;
I pointed to the one which Gladys had
set down. A terrible shudder passed over
Ormond's frame, and the expression OF
his face wholly changed so that he looked
more like the Ormond of old days
Its the best way" he said quite calm
ly. God forgive mel"
He raised the glass to his lips and drain
ed It at a draft.
Mr.. Greer was looking at him with a
strange expression, and his voice was
choked as with grief when he spoke.
at won't hurt you. Ormond." he said.
II took EN- all out I was awake the
night when you came into my room and
stole the box. I was awake when you
brought 1t back. l knew what you had
done-that you'd poisoned one or more of
the tablets because-well because of Glad
US. knew 1t. and what should l do about
It? That was the question.
well. 1t was too much for plain man
like me-" he added. II see that now. ]
should have taken advice. But it seemed