Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-10-04
[CoNTINUED.1

CONTINUED.
But the father What was to think
of the father? Alas!' could have
but one thought, admirable as he ap-
peared in all lights save the one In
which his too evident connection with
this crime had placed him. l spent the
hours of the afternoon in alternately
watching the sleeping face of my pa
tent too sweetly calm in Its repose, or
so 1t seemed, for the mind beneath to
harbor such doubts as were shown in
the warning l had ascribed to her, and
vain efforts to explain by any other
hypothesis than that of guilt, the ex-
traordinary evidence which linked this
man of great affairs and the Hottest
repute to crime involving both theft
and murder.
Nor did the struggle end that night.
1t was renewed with still greater posi-
tiveness the next day, as | witnessed
tho glances which from time to time
passed between this father and daush-
ter-glances full of doubt and question
on both sides, but not exactly such
doubt or such question as my sus-
picions called for Or so / thought,
and spent another day or two hesitat-
Ing very much over my duty, when,
coming Unexpectedly upon Mr.. Grey
one evening, l felt all my doubts re-
vive In view of the extraordinary ex-
preston of dread-I might with still
tot ,, toI, TIE n
his features and made them, to my
unaccustomed eyes, almost unrecogniz-
able.
He was sitting at his desk in reverie
over some papers which he seemed
not to have touched for hours. and
when, at some movement l made, he
started up and met my eye, could
swear that his cheek was pale, the
firm carriage of his body shaken, and
the whole man a victim to some strong
and secret apprehension he vainly
sought to hide. When l ventured to
tell him what l wanted. he made an
effort and pulled himself together, but
l had seen him with his mask off, and
his usually calm visage and self pos
sessed Inien could not again deceive
me.
My duties kept me mainly at Miss
! Grey's bedside, but had been provid-
ed with little room across the hall,
and to this room | retired very soon
after this for rest and necessary
understanding with myself.
For, in spite Of this experience and
my now settled convictions, my pur-
pose required whetting. The indescrib-
able charm. the extreme refinement
and nobility of manner observable in
both Mr.. Grey and his daughter were
| producing their effect. | felt guilty
constrained. Whatever my convictions,
the impetus to act was leaving me.
How could l recover it? By thinking
of Arson Durand and his present dis
graceful position.
Arson Durand! Oh. how the feeling
surged up in my breast as that name
slipped from my lips on crossing the
threshold of my little room. Arson
Durand. whom l believed innocent,
whom loved. but whom | was betray
ing with every moment of hesitation in
which | allowed myself to indulge!
What if the Hon. Mr.. Grey Is an
eminent statesman, dignified, scholar
ly. and to all appearance, highminded
man? What if my patient is sweet,
dove eyed and affectionnte? Had not
Arson qualities as excellent in their
way, rights as certain, and II hold upon
myself superior to any claims which
another might advance? Drawing a
much crulaped little note from my
pocket. | eagerly read it. 1t was the
only one | had of his writing, the only
letter he had ever written me. l had
already reread it hundred times, but
as | once more repeated to myself its
we'll known Ines, felt my heart grow
strong and fixed in the determination
which had brought me into this family
Restoring the letter to it's place,
opened my gripsack and from its in
most recesseS drew forth an object
. which | had no sooner in hand than Il
natural sense Of disquietude led me to
glance apprehensively, first at the door
then at the window. though | had
locked the one and shaded the other
1t seemed as If some other eye besides
my own must be gazing at what held
SO gingerly in hand: that the walls
were watching me, If nothing else, anG
the sensation this produced was Sc
exactly like that Of guilt Tor what
imagined to be guilt, that was forced
3 to repeat once more to myself that i
was not a good mans overthrow
. sought, or even a bad mans immunity
from punishment. but the truth. the alb
solute truth. No name could equa
that which | should feel If nv ON