Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-09-05
CHAPTER XXI.
THE DRAMA UNRoLLs.

uesley is discovered sitting in front of
the wood fire. his chin sunk on his
breast, his hands hanging listlessly on
each side of the chair. his face deeply
lined. From time to time he locks at
the clock can imagine no sorrier
picture than that of this loving. ten
der-heartcd. wretched old man as he
sits there, waiting for Karoff and the
ienominioVs end. Fortune gone with
the winds, poverty leerinG into his
face, shame drawing her red fingers
across his brow, honor in sackcloth
and ashes,
And but two short years ago there
had not been IN all the wide land a
more contented man than himself,
man with Il conscience freer. God.
Even yet he could hear the rolling.
~hirring ivory ball as it spun the cir
Gle OF that fatal night at Monte Carlo.
Man does not recall the intermediate
steps Of his fall. only the first step
and the last. In his waking holms the
colonel always heard the sound of IL
and ii ratified through his troubled
dreams. He could not understand Low
everything had zone as it had It
seemed impossible II ar in tWo years
he had dissiyated fortune >uIlieI
mis- honor, be"gared his child II was
all so Hike a horrible dream. If only
he might wake; If only God would b.
80 merciful as TO permit him to wake
tie hid his face. There is no hell
save conscience makes it,
The must" laughed and sighed and
laughed. lt VAS the music Of love
and youth; joyous, rollicking. pulsing
music.
The colonel snrang to his feet sud
denly. his hands at his throat He
was suffocating The veins enarled on
his neck and brow. There was in
his heart a pain as of many knives.
His arms fell: of what use was it to
struggle? He was caught, trapped in
a net of his own contriving.
Softly he crossed the room and stood
by the portiere beyond which was the
mushroom. She was happy, happy in
her youth and ignorance! she could
play all those sDrightly measures. her
spirit as light and conscience free.
she could sing, she could laugh. she
could dance. And all the while his
iheart was breaking, breaking!
; '.How shall face her mother? he
groaned
The longing which always seizes
the guilty to confess and relieve the
mind came over him. If only he dared
rush in there. throw himself at her
feet, and stammer forth his wretched
tale! She was of his flesh of his blood
when she knew she would not wholly
condemn him No. no. He
could not She honored and trusted
him now; she had placed him on so
high a pedestal that il was utterly
impossible for him to disillusion her
young mind. to see for ever and ever
the mute reproach in her honest eyes.
70 feel that though his arm encircled
her she was beyond his reach
God knew that he could not tell this
child of the black gulf he had digged
for himself and her
The bell sang its buzzing note: there
was the sound of crunching wheels
on the driveway the music ceased
abruptly. Silence. A door opened ana
closed 4 moment or so later Karloff
preceded by the girl. came into the
study She was grave because she
remembered Mrs Chadwick. Hc was
grave also. he had various reasons
for being so.
Father the count tolls mo that he
has an engagement with You" she
said. She wondered FL this appoint
ment in any way concerned her.
1T IS true my child Leave us and
give orders that we are not TO be dis
turbed."
She scrutiuizod him sharply How
strangely hollow his voice sounded,
Was he ill?
"Father. You are not we'll Count.
you must promise inc not fo Irpp
bin long however important tl'- in-
tcrview may be lie is iu and needs
rest g. and her loving eyes c-..eed
each Hle OF care in her parents fr-
rowed checks
Anresley smiled reassur.nsly n,
took al the strength Of DIS WIFI au
that remained Of high order of cgur-
age. TO create this smile DE wanted
20 cry ont ~ her that 30 was Ue "a
rnockery. Behind that smile hs teeth
grated.
II shall not Keep him long M1lem1.-
selle." said The count lie spoke GENT.
j., bat me studiously avoided her csc8
She hesuatfd for moment on fh.
threshold. she knew not why Ufr
lips even formed words but she dId not
spcas What vas it2 Somofblog OPP
pressed her Her gaze wandered inde-
Cisiyciy { ON her father - the count
from tie "Cunt 10 her father
when you are through" she finally
said. bring your cigars into the music
room
with the greatest pleasure.
Nader oiselle." replied the count
"And play. II you so desire; our bust
ness Is such that your music viii be az
. Rlss sure yd1od"