Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-02-14
The Holiday
Case
A Mystesl ef Two Continents
BURTON E. STEVENSON
c ina l.. c.,,
Copyright. 1908. by Henry Holt and Company
CHAPTER XVIII.

plete REIMBURSEMENT OF my point OF
view.
We had reached the beach again, and
we turned along it IN the direction Of
the cliffs. Far ahead saw Il man hur-
rying in the same direction, l could
guess at what agony and danger to
himself. The path began to ascend,
and we painted up it to the grassy
down which seemed to stretch for
miles and miles to the northward
Right before us was a little wood, in
the midst Of which l caught a glimpse
of q farmhouse.
We ran toward it, through gate and
up the path to the door. 1t was closed,
but we heard from within mans ex-
cited voice, n resonant voice which
knew well. tried the door. 1t yield
ed, and we stepped into the hail. The
voice came from the room at the right.
1t was no time for hesitation. We
sprang to the door and entered.
Martigny was standing in the middle
Of the floor, fairly foaming at the
mouth, shrieking out commands and
imprecations at two women who cow
cred In the farther corner. The elder
one / knew at a glance; the younger
my heart leaped as looked at her
was it Miss Holiday? No, yet strange.
ly like.
He saw their startled eyes turn past
him to us and swung sharply round.
For an instant he stood poised like
serpent about to strike; then l saw his
eyes fix in frightful stare, his face
turned livid, and with strangled cry
he fell back and down. Together we
lifted him to the low window seat, pur-
suers and pursued alike, loosened his
collar, chafed his hands, bathed his
temples, did everything we could think
of doing, but he lay there staring at
the ceiling with clinched teeth. At last
Royce bent and laid his ear against his
breast.
ut is no use," he said. "He is dead"
l looked to see them vince under the
blow, but they did not. The younger
woman went slowly to the window and
stood there sobbing quietly; the others
face lit up with positive blaze of joy.
49," she exclaimed in that low, vi
0Aohl NOASS bO MSll so
he Is dead"
Royce gazed ut her moment in as.
tOnishment.
Mime. Alix," lie said ut last, "you
know our Grand"
She bowed her head
II know 1t, monsieur" she answered.
But for him there would have been
no such GRAND. AS it is, 1 will help you
all l can. Cecile," she called to the
woman at the window, "go and bring
your sister to these gentlemen
The younger woman dried her eyes
and left the room.
Celeste came in slowly, listlessly. 1t
gave me shock to see the pallor of her
face. Then she glanced up and saw
Royce standing there. She drew in
her breath with quick gasp, great
wave Of color swept over her cheeks
and brow, a great light sprang into hel
eyes.
"Oh, john" she cried and swayed to
ward him.
He had her in his arms, against his
heart, and the glad tears sprang tt
my eyes as looked at them.
And have come to take YOU away
my love-" he was saying.
'sOh, yes; take me away" she sobbed
She stopped, her eyes on the window
seat, where 1.-THE other" lay, and the
color died out Of her cheeks again.
HE, at least, has paid the penalty
said Royce.
She was sobbing hclplessly upon his
shoulder, but as the moments passed
she grew more calm and at last stooc
upright from him. The younger WON
an had come back into the room and
was watching her curiously.
"Come. let Us CO., said the girl.
But Royce held back
'There has been a crime committed,
he said slowly. I'VE must see that II
is punished"
"A crime? Oh, yes; but forgive
them, dear"
1.-The crime against yourself you may
forgive, but there was another crime
murder
There was no murder" burst in
Cccile AliX. II swear it to you, mon,
sieur. Do you understand
l saw Miss Holiday vince ut the
others voice, and Royce saw it too.
II must get her to the inn," he said
"Stay and get the story, Lester. Then
We'll decide what it is best to do"
He led her away, out of the house
and down the path, not once looking
back. watched them till the trees hid
them, and then turned to the women.
Now" said, 81 shall be happy to
hear the story"
1T was that man yonder who was
the cause of it ALL" began the mother
clasping her hands tightly In her lap
to keep them still. -Four years ago he
came from Paris here to spend the
summer-he was YER ill-his heart
We had been living happily, my daugh.
ter and /, but for the one anxiety of
her not marrying. He met her and
proposed marriage. He was YER good
he asked no dowry, and, BESIDES my
daughter was twenty-five years old
past her first youth. But she attracted
him,eand they were married. He took
her back to Paris, where he had little
theater, hall of the dance, but he
grew worse again and came back here.
1t was then that he found out that !
had another daughter, whom had CIV
en- to rich American. l was YER
poor, monsieur" she added piteously.
Yes, madame, l know" l said,
touched by her emotion.
$50 he wrote to friends in Amerique
and made questions about NJ. Holla-
day. He learned-oh, he learned that
he was YER rich; what you call man
Of millions-and that his daughter-my
daughter, monsieur was living still.
From that moment he was like u man
possessed. AT once he formed his plan,
building know not what hopes upon
1t. He drilled us for two years in
speaking the English; he took us for six
months to Londres that we might bet
ter learn. Day after day we took our
lessons there, always and always Eng
llsh. Cecile learned YER well, mon
'sicur, but not SO WE'LL as you can see.
I was tOO old Then Mt LAST ya raorhad