The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-02-25

tablet from the silver box and destroyed
1t, so that there remained nineteen in each
Then 1 changed the contents of the tw,
and replaced the gold box with its uurv
harmless tablets in my uar'n's p"r.le.
The silver box, in which there must nov
be one tablet poisoned by Ormuuu, | re-
stored to the desk, first hruaklug tae
spring of the lid that it could not De
opened.
BY this strataGem ] had preserved NJ.
Greer from any further danger during
nineteen days. and had prepared long
punishment for the assassin. Every even
ing he must watch what n" wound think
to he a game of chance. with death ana
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 It in
horror.
l wonder how many wears We're crowded
into those nineteen days for Ormond lie
grew haggard. and his flaming yes sank
farther into his head. Mr.. Greer Otter
spoke of his altered looks, suggesting rest
from business, a sea voyage or a 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. that to
him. no doubt it seemed an incredible
and personally vindictive chance which
ruled the matter l often thought that
he would spring to his feet and Shrek
aloud my uncle raised the goblet &c
his lips.
And on the evening when there re-
manned but two! How shall | describe
kt,, 81. - E,t
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 un-
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.
II fear acquiring the fatal appetite"
she said. land yet this once | will accept
the risk"
Mr.. Greer dropped a tablet into each OF
the goblets and he raised his own. Or
mond's head was rocking upon his spine.
! could see the beads OF the sweat of ag-
ony shine upon his forehead. lie seemed
to be striving to rise from his chair. to
speak. to lift his arm in a gesture OF
warning, out rear held MN by the tacOat.
"Pitiful coward" l cried. springing to
my feet. "rhs is unbearable Would
you risk her life
My uncle paused with the goblet az 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 b.
which they were standing. He leaned
heavily upon 1t, and his eyes were burn
ing a question into mine.
81 know the whole truth" said /. will
you deny 1t? Then l defy you to drink
from that glass
l 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 met
He raised the glass to his lips and drain
ed 1t at a draft
Mr.. Greer was looking at him with a
strange expression. and his voice was
choked as with grief when he spoke.
ut won't hurt you. Ormond," he said
II took EN- all out. | was awake the
night when you came into my room and
stole the box. l was awake when you
brought 1t back. | knew what you had
done-that you'd poisoned one or more of
the tablets because-well, because of Glad
vs. l knew 1t. and what should do about
lt2 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