Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-07

ened way. He has the keynote"
THAT'S what you said before" l re.
turned, taking both her hands and
holding her in front of me. What do
you mean by it? Tell me frankly. I'll
believe you and I'll help you"
IF l thought you would" she said,
doubtingly.
II WILL" l asserted earnestly. Tell
me-"
She seemed on the point of telling
mo her story, but evidently thought
better of it.
wait" she said. "You shall see for
yourself. He is coming tonight. and
l will hide you behind the curtains.
But don't let him kill me- If he tries
to do 1t, knock him down-brain him
drive him away from the piano at
all cost"
There was world of pathos in the
carnestness with which she said that,
and for the first time l began to under
stand the affair.
That evening l was carefully con-
cealed behind the window draperie =!
when Weston called, and it Is needless
to say that my interest was intense.
She shuddered as he drew her toward
him, but remained passive in his en-
brace.
'TO-morrow," he said, 1--WE will be
quietly married.
NO" she replied, and could see
that it was only with an effort that
she forced herself to say it.
"But l insist he exclaimed 81
will no longer run the risk of losing
you, and YOU promised me yesterday"
1--WE changed my mind,' she an.
swered shortly.
"Have a care" he returned, menac-
ingly. releasing her and moving to.
ward the piano.
Whether 1t was my presence that
inspired her | know not. but for the
first time, rs she nfterward told me,
her spirit was reused and she dared
him.
"Since the fatcful night You first ac-
cidentally struck that chord and saw
the effect 1t had on me have lived in
almost constant fear of death or In
sanity. which is worse. ! have trem.
bled whenever you have touched the
keys, even in the presence Of others.
You have played, as it seemed to me,
on the I've nerves Of my body and
from very fear forced me to acquiesce
in whatever you proposed, but ! am
done with it. l will not marry you
tomorrow or at any other time"
"Think again." he said softly, but
nevertheless threateningly, as he seat
ell himself at the piano, and idly ran
his fingers over the keys. 'Remem-
Der. THU is power l shall have al
ways. l have no fear that it will kill
you, but wherever l may find you
can infic: upon you the eXcruciating
torture that you dread. Even at the
altar this chord"
lie never finished the sentence. for
as he spoke she uttered sudden cry.
Her face became deadly white and she
swayed and shook like leaf. l sprang
from behind the curtains, but before
l reached him he had struck the chord
again. and with moan she collapsed
and sunk in a heap on the floor
did not handle him very gently,
and when the others came in, attract
ed by tho noise, he was in fit cOndi-
ton to Interview a doctor. He said
when he left that he would find an
opportunity TO carry his threat into
execution, and that she never would
be able to escape that chord 50 long
as both be and she lived.
Mary and her father left for con-
tinental "trip II week later, and Weston
disappeared soon after lie intimated
that it was his purpose to follow them
Ii he did and her father remained III
the same humor in which | last saw
him, | am satisfied that there is ono
musical genius occupying a grave
somewhere on the cOntinent.--E. f.
in Illustrated Bits