Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-04-04
CHAPTER ii.
A u S t y n


great caution lest it should squeak upon |
its iron hinges looked out again upon |
the front of the house. Everything was |
enveloped in a flood of moonlight The |
fine grasses upon the lawn glittered like |
spears of ice with the heavily falling |
dew drops. The call of a night bird to
Its mate was the only sound that broke |
the stiffness. The beauty of the night
touched her deeply and the song OF the
nightingale more profoundly yet. She
leaned her head against the window frame
and her slight form shook with suppress
ed sobs. The thought came that every
minutes delay would make it more diff
cult for her lover to escape from the
house. In few hours the village would
be stirring. He would be seen by some
peasant going early afield. as he left the
grounds. She must at once summon him
from his hiding place. In few min
utes he could be gone, and she would
breathe freely again.
Advancing on tiptoe to the door of the
chamber, she turned the handle softly and
stepped out into the passage. The house
was pei fectly quiet. In the semi-dark-
ness she crept timdly up the corridor,
feeling her way with the tips of her fin
gers against the old oaken wainscoting
mat She tried to recollect what door
mat it was. She stopped and passed her
hand over it. 1t was an old-fashioned
rag mat of American make, such as one
sees in the houses of middle class farm
ers in New England. 1t had been her
lovers request to have such a thing at
the door of his room. 1t reminded him
of his old home across the seas. 1t was
all right. This was the apartment she
wanted. She placed her fingers upon the
handle of the door, opened it little way,
and called softly:
Charles ~
To her surprise there was no answer.
She opened the door wider yet, and went
in. The moonlight, shining in through
the window streamed over the carpet and
made every portion of the chamber plain
i ly visible. She glanced quickly around.
To her intense establishment the room
was empty. Trembling with fear and ex-
element she again issued forth, and stood
once more in the corridor. At the very
moment that she did so, pistol shot
reverberated loudly through the chateau.
And then from all parts of the house its
inmates rushed hurriedly.
1t was q terror-stricken assemblage of
men and women, aroused in the dead OF
the night by that sharp, ominous appnll-
ing sound. In the supreme quiet OF the
chateau the pistol shot had rung out with
terrible distinctness. Though terrified
beyond measure in the almost certain
knowledge that some dreadful tragedy
had taken place, Harriet Weldon did not
hesitate a moment. Dashing along the
corridor she flung aside the heavy drap
cries which separated Nine. Roupells
sleeping apartment from her sitting room
and bravely entered.
Face to face, NJ Chabot and herlovei
were standing. On the floor between
them, lying at full length, her face. turn
ed upward, CHASTITY in the dim light OF the
solitary candle, lay Nine. Roupell. From
bullet wound in her forehead, little
blood was slowly oozing on to the Hoo
and mating with its crimson flood thu
gray, waving and carefully combed hair
The room seemed suddenly TO fill will
people, all looking through kind of mist
\ A CHASTITY, unwholesome pallor was oil
each face. The ordinary proprieties o
life were set at naught. The conven
tionalities of dress were forgotten. Emil.
was bending over the PROSTATE woman
her fine features pale as death, but Sc
as in marble, and showing no trace
tears or womanly weakness. She SCENE
the only collected one in the room; a.
the rest stood gasping and staring, helI
less. bewildered. frightened group. Emil
WINGED no surprise at seeing Van Lit
there so unexpectedly, everyone els
did. With much presence of mind, she a
once turned her attention to the sufferer
to see what could be done for her. Sh
: gave orders clearly and rapidly, and wit
marvellous self-command.
Lift her up and place her on the be-
Keep her head raised. This pillow 81
Bring me water, quickly"
She bathed the cold. inanimate face
she folded her handkerchief up into
wad and placed it over the fatal spo
She bound over it as tightly as possib
a long bandage torn from the white CO.
erlet. Then she turned to Jean, I'll
coachman, who, hearing the disturbant
from the adjoining stables, had rushe
into the house accompanied by the ga
dener.
Take the fastest horse you have an
ride to the village Send DR.. Croiz
up here; and then keep right straight c
into Paris. Here, take this with you
She turned to the writing table al
hastily penned the following note:
y please come to us Immediately, al
bring with you the best surgeon you CO
find. Aunt Ruth has been shot fei
fatally Come at once, beg of you,
r, you may be too late.
e EMILY WELDON"
~ She folded the note and addressed it
n Dau1 Mason