Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-27

other window and drew the curtains and,
after going into Kitty's room, which open
ed off the larger one, and fixing up the
sne window there in the same way, she
prepared to retire, but Madame stopped
her.
you must stay all night with me, Sc
lima she said, irritably. II can't be left
alone"
Selma slept on the outside of the bed,
and Madame having a sense of security
from being with some one, slumbered
calmly; so the night wore drowsily on,
and nothing could be heard but the
steady ticking of the clock and the heavy
breathing of the two women.
sleepy servant admitted Kitty when
she came home from the ball. Kitty found
Madame's door ajar, and went in softly,
fearful lest she might wake her. She
did not know that Selma was in the room,
and as she heard the steady breathing of
the sleepers, she concluded that Madame
was asleep, and resolved to go quietly
into her own room without disturbing the
sleeper. Just near the door was a long
chevral glass, and Kitty caught sight of
herself in it, wan and spectral-looking, ia
her white dress, and, as she let the heavy
blue cloak fall from her shoulders a per-
feet shower of apple blossoms were shaken
on to the floor. Her hair had come I'M
done from its sleek, smooth plaits, and
now hung like a veil over her shoulders.
She looked closely at herself in the glass;
and her face looked worn and haggard
in the dim light.
He was going to marry Madame Midas
the man who had ruined her life; he
would tell her all the false tales he had
told her. He would look into her eyes
with his own, and she would be unable to
see the treachery and guile hidden in their
depths. She could not stand it. False
friend, false husband. he had been, but
to see him married to another-noi it
was too much. And vt what could she
do? A woman in love believes no i'll of
the man she adores, and if she was to
tell Madame Midas all she would not be
believed. All! it was useless to fight
against fate, it was too strong for her,
so she would have to suffer in silence, and
see them happy.
How still the house was not a sound
but the ticking of the clock in the hall
The dawn reddens family in the east and
the chill morning breeze comes up from
the south, salt with the odors of the
ocean. All what is that? scream-a
woman's voice-then another and the bell
rings furiously. The frightened servants
collect from all parts of the house. The
bell sounds from the bedroom of Mrs.
Villiers, and having ascertained this they
all rush in. What a sight meets their
eyes. Kitty Marchrust, still in her ball
dress, Clinging convulsively to the chair;
Madame Midas, pale but calm, ringing
the bell; and on the bed, with one arm
hanging over, lies Selma Sprotts-dead
The table near the bed was overturned on
the floor, and the glass and the night lamp
both lie smashed to pieces on the carpet
"Send for a doctor at once" cried Mad
anne, letting go the bell rope ana crossing
to the window Selma has had a fit of
some sort"
Startled servant goes out to stables and
wakes up the grooms, one of whom is soon
on horseback riding for dear life to DIR.
Chiuston. Clatter-clatter along in the
keen morning air; a few workmen on
their way to work gaze in surprise at this
furious rider. Luckily, the doctor lives in
st. Kilda, and being awakened out of his
sleep, dresses himself quickly, and taking
the groom's horse, rides back to Mrs. Viii
liers' house. He dismounts, enters the
house, then the bedroom. Kitty, pale
and wan, is seated in the chair: the win
dow curtains are drawn, and the cold
light of day pours into the room, while
Madame Midas is kneeling beside the
corpse, with all the servants around her.
u. /, Il - r
down. The face is CHASTITY white, the
eyes staring; there is a streak of foam on
the tightly clenched mouth. The doctor
puts his hand on the heart--not a throb
he closes the staring eyes reverently and
turns to the kneeling woman and the
frightened servants.
''She is dead" he says briefly, and or
ders them to leave the room. when did
this occur, Mrs. Villiers?" he asked, when
the room had been cleared and only him
SELF Madame and Kitty remained.
81 can't tell you" replied Madame.
weeping; "she was all right last night
when we went to bed, and she stayed all
night with me because | was nervous
slept soundly, when l was awakened by a
cry and saw Kitty standing beside the bed
and Selma in commissions; then she be-
came quite still and hay like that till you
came. What is the cause?"
"Apoplexy," replied the doctor, doubt
fully; at least, judging from the symp
toms: but perhaps Miss Marchurst can
tell us when the attack came on"
He turned TO Kitty, who was shiver-
ing in the chair and looked so pale that
Madame Midas went her to see
| what was the matter. The girl, however,
shrank away with cry as the elder wom-
an approached, and rising to her feet
moved unsteadily toward the doctor.
You say she" pointing to the body,
died of apoplexy"
YES" he answered, CURLY, AL the
symptoms of apoplexy are there
You are wrong.'' gasped Kitty. laying
her hand on his arm, ''it is poison ~
Poison ~ echoed Madame and the doc
tor in surprise.
| Listen" said Kitty, quickly, pulling
herself together by a great effort. Il
came home from the ball between ari
3; l entered the room to go to my OWE
/ pointing TO the other door. Il did not
know Selma was with Madame"
NO" said Madame, quietly. that is
~ NNs NhAs ASAtO leE 10 SloH a. TIC AocA
| moment"
Il was going quietly TO bed" resumed
Kitty, hurriedly, in order not TO Saken
Madame, when l saw the portrait of NJ.
Vandeloup on the table; l took it up TO
look st it,"
How could you see without a light 2
asked DR.. Chinston sharply, looking a,
her.
There was night light burning" re-
piled Kitty. pointing 20 the fragments on
the floor: land l could only guess it was
NJ. Vsndeloup's portrait: but at sIl
events" she said. quickly. Il sat down in
the chair over there and fell asleep
You see, doctor" she had been TO a
bali and was tired. interpoSed Madame
! Midas: 'but go on, Kitty. want "a
know why you say Selma was poisoned
II don't know how long l was asleep. >
said Kitty, "but l was awakened by 8
noise at the window there pointing to
ward the window. upon which both hei
listeners turned toward IT. ''and looking