Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-17

picture than that Of this loving. ten
der-hearted wretched old man as he
sits there. waiting for Karlof and the
iEnominious end Fortune gone with
the winds. poverty lcering into his
face. shame drawing her red fingers
across his brow. honor I'm sackcloth
and ashes,
And but two short years ago there
had not been i1 all the wide land a
more contented man than himself a
man with conscience freer. Cod,
Even yet ne could hear tho rolling.
whirring ivory bali as IT. spun the cir
cle of that fatal night 40 Monte Carlo
Man does not recall the intermediate
steps Of his FAR. only the Grst step
and the last Tn HIS waking hours The
colonel always heard the sound 81 49,.
and 70 ratified through his troubled
dreams. He could not understand how
everything had rune as 70 had II
seemed impossible u az en- two years
he had dissi1ated n fortune. ~ullied
HIS honor. becc7red his child. It was
all so like 2 horrible dream II only
he might wake. N only God would De
/ so merciful as 20 permit him to wake
lie hid his face. There IS no he'll
/ save consci snCe makes IT,
The music lau-hej and si-hed and
laughed. Dc vas The music ~ love
/ and youth. ioyous. rollickinc pulsinE
music.
The colonel snrang go his feet sud
| denly his hands at his throat. He
was suGocatinr The veins gnarled on
/ his neck and brow. There was in
hiss heart a pain as OF many knives.
His arms fen: or what use was IL 20
| struggle fa was caught. trapped in
| a me- OF Dis own contrivinE.
Softly he crossed the room and stood
/ hy the portiere beyond which was the
MUSHROOM She was happy. happy in
/ her youth and ignorancet she could
play an those sprighuy measures. her
/ spirit as light and conscience-free:
she could sing. she could laugh. she
could dance. And al the while his
heart was breaking. hreakingi
How shall face her mother?' be
Eroaned.
The longing which always selves
the guilty 20 confess and relieve the
mind came over him. m 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
hieh a pedestal that 80 was utterly
impossible for him TO disinusion her
young mind 90 see for ever and ever
the mute reproach In her honest eyes,
90 feel that though his arm encircled
her she was beyond his reach
] God know that ne could not tell this
child Of the black eulf he had digged
for himself and her
The bell sang its 5uzzine note; there
was the sound Of crunching wheels
on the driveway. the music ceased
abruptly. silence. a door opened and
closed. 8 moment or So later Karlom
preceded ty the girl. came into the
study. She was crave because she
! remembered Nts Chadwick He was
grave also. DE had various reasons
for being so
Father. the count tells me that he
has an engagement with YOU" she
said. She wondered II this appoint
ment in any way concerned her.
1T is true. my child. Leave US and
! give orders that We are not 20 be dis.
turbed."
She scrutnized him sharply. How
strangely hollow his voice sounded
Was he III?
Father. you are not we'll Count
You must promise me not to keeI
him long. however important this in
terview may be. He is IN and needs
rest,"-and her loving eyes caressec
each line Of care in her parents fur.
rowed cheeks.
Annesley smiled reassuringly. II
took all the strength OF his will. al
that remained OF high order OF cour
age. 10 create this smile. He wanted
to cry out TO her that IL was a lie. 1
mookery. Behind that smile his teeth
grated.
Il shall not keep him long. Mademoi-
Iselle." said the count He spoke gent
ly, but he studiously avoided her eyes
She hesitated for a moment on the
1 III CNAOluf sue hucW not why. hct
lips even formed words. but she did not
speak. What was IL? Something op-
pressed her. Her gaze wandered indie
cisively from her father TO the count
from the count to her father
When you are through" she finally
said, bring your cigars into the music
room"
with the greatest pleasure
Mademoiselle." replied the count
And play, II you so desire; our bust.
ness is such that your music will be as
a pleasure added"
Her father nodded; but he could
not force another smile to his lips
The brass rings OF the portiere ratified
and she was gone. But she left be
hind peculiar tablesu, q tableau such
as is formed by those who stand upon
Ice which is about TO sink and engul.
them.
The two men stood perfectly still.
ekAk u. 4.