The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-02
TIE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

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degree unknown to her, Evelyn tried to
lind the switch by which the lamp
from the bed and crossed the room to-
ward the heavily -curtained window.
Was escape to be thought Oft In
sober reason, no; but sober reason says
nothing to a woman driven by the SUI
prems dread Of wrong and guarding her
EVELYN knew in her own mind that 80
shrewd and daring a schemer as Count
Odin would leave her no loophole, neg
lect no pfeeaution, nor spare any insult
by which his own safety might be as
sured. She knew it and yet must 90 to
the window and draw the curtains back
and touch the heavy shutters and feel
her. heart sink when she came to see
that they were twice barred and that
no woman g hand could open them. De. .
spair alone could have led her to be-
Eeve that the count would be SO foolish;
but despair did not mock her twice and
she left the door ant1ied lest she should
tempt. Let it be sufficient that abe was
the prisoner Of the house, far from any
human aid, alone with her own cour-
age for her friend. She admitted it
and sank down upon the sofa, to stretch
her hands to- the warming blaze, and to
breathe that simple prayer to God for
aid which is the supreme pathos OF
womanhood. -. .--. :. ,.<s.= :.
The night was silent without the
silence of midwinter; the fire blazed as
tho in enmity to the cold of the early
morning hours. Evelyn had no watch,
nor did she know what hour it might
be. When distant bell chimed, she
caught a faint sound upon the still air.
h,,% %o1I v1%n AID +hn
passing hours there. came upon her,
desperation she could not master; de-
sire to kill this man who had so affront-
ed her, to brave him at whatever cost,
even if it were to die at his feet. Eta
Romney lived again in this, the Eta Of
which knew few laws but those of
might. She was her mother g daughter
now; the voice of. heritage spoke, and
she would not still it.
The distant church clock ,chimed
again and she counted three strokes
upon it's bells. It was clock in the
morning, then, and another four hours
it ever come in that suffered and cur
tanned room which she must call her
prison? Sometimes she could have
wished that the count woulds throw
down the challenge to her and that she
might answer him there and then. Sus-
pc1l50 dS cVcT COfLuTcu uoT nerves. Uu6
IN her case also contributed to the vic
tory of reason. For Gavin 8 sake the
evil in her heart must die, she said.
She must act not only as a brave wom-
an but as wise one. Moreover, her
true self, beginning to speak, reminded
all London tomorrow, and that such a
man as Count Odin would never face
the publicity of it.; his one sure weapon
was his threat against her lover. At
this she cowcd and knew that her heart
had grown cold again.
Could she, indeed, save Gavin by
words Had she believed it she would
have spoken that word, SO greatly did
she love. But she did not believe it.
in his daring and success, remained un-
shaken. Gavin might even come to this
house, she thought; and dreamingly she
sat very still by the Preside and lis
tened for the sound of his footstep.
A profound silence followed upon the
foolish act. When next she moved it
was with agitation and sudden spasm
of fear she could not quell. :
She was no longer alone in the room.
How she had come to believe herself SO
she could not even imagine. Out Of
the darkness a pair Of jet black eyes
were looking up to her own. The wav-
ering freight becoming stronger as the
coal Redeemed and burst into brighter
fame, showed her the huddled figure
of a young girl crouching by the CRATE
and watching her 80 intently that the
very glance seemed a tragedy.
nDjala!'' she cried in spite of her
self" Djala, the gypsy girl''
She knew it was no other and her
fear passed with the knowledge. Many
day had she seen this child with the
gypsies who had followed the count to
England. That she should be in this
house at such time was the greater
mystery. Evelyn knew not whether the
omen were good or bad.
"Why do you not speak to me9''
she said; "why are you silent?'
The gypsy started up as tho the sound
Of voice had walked her also from
revegie. - r. " . ,0s~s.
"Excelleney,'' she answered, speak
ing5Yin such broken English that Eve
lynn caught her meaning with difficulty;
excellancY I wait for nv brother and