Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26

carry out the bargain which he had sealed
by words as solemn as had ever come
from the lips Of man.
Again and again he recalled George
Crawshay's death, and the horror OF that
last grim scene in the prison hospital %
stamped itself on his brain that he could
picture every detail of 1t. Again anc
again he recalled his own words:
destroy me II do not keep my oath"
He had fulfilled part Of his bargain. He
had found the man, but the man was still
alive. It was clear that absolution would
only come with his own death:
More than once he wondered II he were
not already undergoing the punishment
he had called down upon his own head
Was he not suffering the tormenfs OF q
hell on earth. was not his very lie In II
self working out fulfllment Of the oath
that were the case. would 1t not be better
to do the business thoroughly, to ruin
himself body and soul. with definite
purpose? Perhaps by doing that he would
make his peace with the dead
So his thoughts. Wild ana uncertain
almost beyond the powers OF clear
headed philosopher. They wandered. now
feebly, now with swift. tumultuous rush
down many paths. but they always re.
turned to one dark certain place. and that
was the House of Fear.
Sir Richard Gaunt was afraid. and
therein lay the terror Of the whole thing
He did not know what he feared-nothine
human. nothing definite. not even the God
whom he had dehed and blasphemed
from his youth.
One morning, four months after his
mothers death. he was shaving himself
with hand that was remarkably steady
for man who had been drunk the night
before. When he had half completed his
task. he paused with the razor laid fiat
against the side of his throat and look
OF fear in his eyes.
He was seized with sudden and al
most irresistible desire to cut his own
throat. He had no wish to take his life.
but he longted to turn the razor on its
edge and draw it fiercely across the flesh.
He even pictured what he would see in
the glass after he had done 1t. The wish
seemed to come from without and not
from within. It was almost as though
some one had laid a hand on his wrist
and had hypnotized his will. Men have
been known to experience something OF
the same feeling when they have stood
on the edge of platform. and have felt
a longing to throw themselves In front
Of an advancing train. They have no de-
sire for self destruction. but merely a de-
struction. Sir Richard Gaunt was for q
moment oblivious OF everything except
the reflection Of his own throat half COW
cred with lather and an intense desire
to slash the razor across. II with all MS
strength.
Then suddenly the razor dropped from
mis- .nerveless fingers and clattered on tha
dressing table. The noise broke the spell,
and he stepped back and leant against
the bed. white faced and trembling In
every limb. The desire had passed. but
the horror of 1t remained. He looked
round the room, as though expecting to
see some one. Then he rang the bell.
Finish shaving me, Hinton" he said.
as the valet entered. MY hand is
shaky."
The well-trained servant betrayed no
surprise. but completed the task with
swift dexterity.
You can shave me every morning. Hin
ton" he said. when the man had sponged
his face and removed the towel from his
neck: land take the razors away with
you now. Then bring me UP q brandy
and soda"
The man obeyed the orders without
asking any questions. and Sir Richard
Gaunt sat down In an armchair and
swallowed half his drink in a single gulp.
He resolved never to shave himself
again. Perhaps the dead had already
risen to destroy him-by his own hand.
II must get out OF this" he muttered to
himself. TT won't do 1t can't 60 on. ]
must get out Of 1t. shall go mad"
But he still fingered on, trying to solve
the two problems which had presented
themselves to his mind, and sinking still
lower into the depths.