The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-01
CHAPTER x.
Continued.


sharp cruel-looking teeth pressed his
under lip for a moment of silence be-
fore he burst out: Internal idiot!
YOU have driven the last nail into
your own coffin. Elsie, Glynn's wife!
I'd strangle her with my own hands
first! You have left me no alterna-
tive. / must in mere self-defense at
tack you, You have shattered your
own safeguard! If you have told
Glynn and that sharp-tongued old
woman, must not keep quiet any
longer. I have but to be firm, and
you go to a dishonored grave, fol-
lowed by the horror and disgust OF
the creature on whom you spent your
life!-ay! who, rejected by Glynn,
will yet be mine
Lambert had listened with a wild
mingling of fury and despair. He
gazed at Deering to see if there was
any sign of faltering, of hesitation,
but the leader of the rebel angels
himself could not have looked more
determined to make evil his good" I"
Contempt as we'll as hatred cleaned
from his fierce light eyes. A sudden
sense that all hope was over, that a
dark cloud streaked with blood was
already rising between him and his
darling, his jewel, pressed with mad
dening force upon Lambert. -
Deering misunderstood his mo-
mentary stunned silence, and added
with a sneer: II am master of your
fate! Find a way out of the di-
lemma if you can"
There is one way left" cried
Lambert, hoarsely; and snatching a
revolver from his breast pocket, he
fired almost before he ceased to
speak.
The ball pierced behring's right
temple. With a groan he fell to the
ground, dead, helpless, harmless!
Lambert stood quite still for an
instant He then put up his weapon
carefully, and bending over the pros
trate form took out the pocket re-
volver to which Deering had alluded.
Examining it, he found the six cham
bers loaded, then aiming low in the
brushwood he discharged one OF
them, and, laid the pistol at a short
distance from the dead mans out
stretched right arm, as though 1t had
fallen from his hand. Then he turned
and walked briskly back to the little
inn.
A great deadly calm had fallen
upon him. There was no more dan
ger from Deering, nothing to fear
from his vile projects; but he, Lam
bert, had died, too; he had done that
of which he dreaded being falsely ac-
cused. He had done with life, and at
least he had cleared venomous beast
out of his darling's path; nothing
now remained but to efface himself.
None will ever know the exact
truth, and my jewel will always be-
lieve the best of me; time will heal
up her wounds, ay, soon enough" He
had loved life, and enjoyed it, and
done his best in his own rough way,
and now he firmly believed he was
doing his best still. No horror at his
own act thrilled him; he had but
executed wild justice.
Reaching the little inn he called
fer his horse, and asked for a glass
Of ale.
you'll have to ride sharp" said
the landlord, as Lambert paid his
bill. II thought you wouldn't be
back in time; that's what you artist
gentlemen don't think of. We've lots
of 'em sketching about Denham woods
in summertime"
"Ah! few have done so complete a
bit of work as have" returned Lam
bert grimly, as he started at a quick
trot.
His horse was fresh and free, and
did the distance to Earlshall within
the time allowed by his rider.
Meantime the first and second
dressing bells rang in Denham House,
but the master did not come in from
the walk he had evidently prolonged.
The dinner hour was long past, and
Lady Frances grew uneasy. Deer
ing's valet was called, but could give
no explanation of his masters abb
sence. Night closed in while search
was being made, and then cold and
rigid figure, that a few hours ago
was the lord and master Of Denham,
was brought reverently back, carried
by the gamekeepers and gardeners,
and followed by the awestruck men
who had assisted in the search. Tt,
revolver, which had apparently fallsI
from his hand, was recognized by the
valer as belonging to his master; in
deed he saw it in its accustomed place
that very morning. Yet neither Lady
Frances or Weldon could accept the
idea of suicide. He was so active,
so full of schemes, so instinct with
life. But there was the incontro-
vertible fact-Deering of Denham
was no more, and BERTHE his son
reigned in his stead.
Away by the beautiful shores of
Lake Leraan Elsie Lambert enjoyed
a growing sense of security. With
Lady Gethin she grew in favor day by
day; her thoughtful softness, her de-
light in learning, and her delicious
voice charmed the somewhat exigeant
dowager. Again and again she
vowed to herself that she would never
rest till she had won back that dear
girls rights and exposed Deering. Il
believe every word that good =oul
lambert saws" was the general cli-