Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-12-18


cruel-looking pools.
Just little way below the bridge which
leads to the Botanical Gardens, the
near side of the river, stands an old, di
lapidated bathing house, with its long row
of dressing rooms, doorless and damp
ing. A broad, irregular wooden platform
is in front Of these, and slopes gradually
down to the bank, from whence narrow
crazy-Iooking steps, stretching the whole
length of the platform, 20 down beneath
the sullen waters. And all this covered
with black and green slime, with whole
armies Of spiders weaving grey, dusky
webs in odd corners, and a broken-down
fence on the left half buried in bush rank
grass-an eyil-looking place even in the
daytime, and ten times more evil-looking
and uncanny under the light of the moon
which fills it with vague shadows. The
rough, Shiny platform is deserted, and
nothing is heard but the squeaking and
scampering of the water rats.
Suddenly a black shadow comes Gid
in galong the narrow path by the river
bank, and pauses a moment at the en-
trance to the platform. Then it listens
for a few minutes, and again hurries
down to the crazy looking steps. The
black shadow standing there, like the
genius of solitude, is a woman, and she
has apparently come to add herself to the
list of the cruel-looking rivers victims
Standing there, with one hand on the
rough rail, and staring with fascinated
eyes on the dull muddy water, she does
not hear step behind her. The shadow
of man, who has apparently followed
her, glides from behind the bathing shed
and stealing down to the woman on the
verge of the stream, lays a delicate white
hand on her shoulder. SHE turns with a
startled cry, and Kitty Marchurst and
CASTOR Vandeloup are looking into one
another's eyes.
Kitty's charming face is worn and pal
lid, and the hand which clutches her shawl
is trembling nervously as she gazes at
her husband. There he stands, dressed
in old black clothes, worn and tattered
looking, with his fair auburn hair all
tangled and matted; his chin covered with
a short, stubby beard of some weeks
growth, and his face gaunt and haggard-
looking-the very same appearance as he
had when he landed in Australia. Then
he sought to preserve his liberty; now he
is seeking to preserve his life. They gaze
at one another in a fascinated manner for
a few moments, and then CASTOR removes
his hand from the girls shoulder with a
sa Gdonic laugh, and she buries her face in
her hands with stifled sob.
$50 this is the end" he said, pointing
to the river, and fixing his scintillating
eyes on the girl; "this is the end of our
lives for you the river-for me, the hang
man."
Heaven help me-" she moaned, piteous-
ly; what else is left to me but the
river?"
Hope" he said, in a low voice; you
are young; you are beautiful; you can
yet enjoy life but" in a deliberate cruel
manner, 'you will not, for the river claims
you as its victim"
Something in his voice fills her with
fear, and looking up she reads death in
his face, and sinking on her knees she
holds out her helpless hands with a pity
ing cry for life.
Strange" observed NJ Vandeloup,
with a touch of his old airy manner !;
you come to commit suicide and are not
afraid; l wish to save you the trouble,
and you are, my dear-you are illogical"
No MOI" she mutters, twisting her
hands together, Il do not want to die !;
why do you wish to kill mel" lifting her
wan face to his.
He bent down, and caught her waist
iercely.
you ask me that?" he said, in a voice
of concentrated passion, you who, with
your long tongue, have put the hangman's
rope around my throat; but for you,
would, by this time have been on my way
to America, where freedom and wealth
await me. l have worked hard, and COM
mitted crimes for money. and now, when
should enjoy it, you, have dragged me
back to the depths"
81 did not make you commit the
crimes" she said, piteously.
Bah !" with SOOTHING laugh, who said
you did? l take my own sins on my own
shoulders but you did worse; you betray-
ed me. Yes; there is warrant out for nv
arrest. for the murder of Pierre. have
eluded the clever Melbourne police.so far,
but l have lived the life of a dog. l dare
not even ask for food, lest l betray my
self. am starving l tell you, starving
and it is your work"
He flung her violently to the ground
and she lay there, huddled heap of cloth
ing. while, with wild gesticulations, he
went on.
But will not hang" he said, fiercely
Octave Braulard, who escaped the gull
lotine, will not perish by rope. No:
have found boat going to South America
and tomorrow l go on board of her, to
sail to Valparaiso; but before l 90 | set
tie with you"
She sprang suddenly to her feet with a
look OF hate in her eyes.
You william" she said. through her
clenched teeth, you ruined my life, but
you shall not murder me -
He caught her waist again, but he was
weak for want of food and she easily
wrenched it away.
Stand back - she cried, retreating
little.
You think to escape me-" he almost
shrieked, all his smooth cynical mask fall
ling of; no, you will not | will throw
you into the river. | will see you sink TO
your death You win cry for help. No
one will hear you. Both of US are merci-
less. You will die like rat in a hole, and
that face you are so proud of will be
buried in the mud of the river. Your time
has come 10 die"
He Kissed out the last word n a low.
sibilant manner, then sprsng toward her
to execute his purpose They were both
standing on the verge of the steps and in
stinctively Kitty put OUT her hands to
keep him off. She struck him on the chest
and then his foot slipped on the green
slime which covered the steps and with a
cry of baffied rage he fell backward into
the duh waters with heavy splash. The
swift current gripped him. and before Kit
~ could utter a sound she could see him
rising out in midstream and being carried
rapidly away. He threw up his hands
will a hoarse cry for help. but weakened
by fannie. he could do nothing for him
self and sank for the second time. Again
he rose. and the current swept him near
shore. almost within reach OF a fallen
tree. He msde desperate effort TO grasp
ID. but the current, mocking his puny ef-
forts, bore him away once again in its