Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-10-06
be hard pindictive face

stealing your plate?" he said.
"Yesl The evidence is complete.
/ can put my hand upon the girl
your accomplice, the girl who con-
veyed to you the word which I'M
locked my plate chest the girl SUI
sic, who disappeared with you!
What! You stand there and dare
me. Ask her." and he pointed to
Lucille. who found my property in
your cottage, whether there is a
chance of escape for you?"
Harry turned to Lucille, his eyes
full of pity now.
"Lucille!" he cried. "You thought
me guilty. Youl' and he caught
lher hand.
The marquis uttered an oath, and
raised the heavy stick to strike Him;
jbut Harry turned and caught it,
poised it for moment with an awful
light in his eyes; then, finging it from
him, seized the marquis by the
throat.
The marquis struggled, but Harry
! held him as if in a wise, and fore
ing him against a tree, pinioned him
there.
Now" he said, between his teeth,
attempt to escape and / will Kill
you! Lucille and he looked at
her with pity and an honest mans
Indignation mingled in his eyes,
you have heard what this man says
now listen to me! / am innocent!
Until yesterday / did not even know
of this lying charge against me-!
He says that l disappeared took
flight; that is true! But not be-
cause l was a thief, not because |
had stolen his property, but because
| | loved you; loved you too well to
link your life with my darkened and
ignoble one! He says that Susie
fled with me! That she was my
accomplice! 1t is a lie! Until yes
| terday, few hours ago, l did not
know that she had left Darracourt,
for until yesterday l had not seen
her since the night before l left!
Lucille uttered cry; was it OF
Joy or despair!
Harry set his teeth.
He says that the plate of which
he speaks was found in my hut. 1t
was not put there by me, nor by SUI
sie Whose hands conveyed it there,
and why? Look at his face while
answer!" and he raised his hand
and pointed to the marquis.
Whose hand but his? And why?
Because he had plotted to blast my
good name in your eyes and to re-
move me from his path, me who
stood between his marriage with you,
/ between him and the Darracourt es-
tates and money!"
Lucille uttered a low cry of des-
pair and hung her head.
Look at himl" said Harry, with
lawful calmness-th calmness of a
judge passing sentence upon the
i convicted criminal. Look at his
craven face and see for yourself
which of us lies. Here / stand ready
to answer one and all! Let justice
ldecidei"
He paused to regain his breath,
and, still holding the marquis, went
on again:
sThe moment / heard from Susie's
own lips what this man had done |
came down here to confront him
face to face! | slept at the hut
last night, and with sleep came the
thought of all this meant to you.
1t was of you l thought, of the mis-
cry and shame that would fall upon
your innocent head when l tore the
mask from his face. And I resolv-
ed, for your sake, to spare him-to
go abroad and carry the load of un.
deserved shame with me! For your
sakel For your sake l should have
done this, just as for your sake
fled when happiness was within my
grasp!"
His chest heaved and his lips
trembled.
81 have been hardly treated" he
cried TREMENDOUSLY. II loved you,
lLucille-loved you as / think never
man loved before! But you'-and
he looked at her-"forgot me soon,
forgot all l had warned you of so
Iquickly, that l had scarcely left you
when you married-him!
| With low cry of anguish she
thtrew herself at his feet.
/ Harry. Harry broke from her
white lips, "have pity on me! For
give me. / did it to- save you!"
s'To-save mel"
/ Eyes, yes Oh, Harry, do not look
at me SO, it is killing me. Yes, to
save you. He threatened to pursue
iyou, to send you to penal servitude!
lit was to save you that married
him!"
j Harry stood trembling and speech
Hess for a moment, then he turned
Ito the marquis.
"You hound!" he painted, his eyes
blazing, "what can I say to you
l