Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-10-28

a quarter Of a mile, and was looking
around cautiously before descending
to the metal way when disheveled,
dust-stained figure stared UP from
the earth, as it seemed, by his side
and clutched him.
The marquis nerves were strung
to their utmost tension, and he ut
tered cry of terror.
The sound of his voice seemed to
lend additional strength to the as
sailant, and he flung his arm around
the marquis neck and forced him to
the ground.
The marquis looked up and saw,
glowering above him the face of
mailman. The gaudy scarf. with It's
false diamond pin, was hanging in
rags, into which the brushes had torn
it; the brass chain glittered like the
eye of a fiend from the stained and
tattered waistcoat. 1t was Sinclair,
but Sinclair transformed by a mad
mans frenzy into a demon.
The marquis tried to call out, but
his voice died away in feeble scream.
That's right" Kissed Sinclair, with
Economical laugh, Call out! Call tor
help! Go ont Yell! Shout! Roar!
Who's to hear you now? What, I'm
forger, am I? You've cheated and
tricked me, have your"
LET me go! Mercy" gasped the
marquis.
LET you go! Yes, I'll let you go!
Not met I've got you and Ill keep
you! You'll send me to penal servi-
tude, will you? You I saved from
beggary! Where's my money? Do
you hear? Where's the money you
promised me? Give it to me or pll
kill you! I'm waiting for it! want
to give It to her-Marie! I'll make
a lady of her with it! Give it to me!
No forged checks, mind, but the mon
ey! All in golden sovereigns! Let
you go? Not me! I've got you and
m hold you, marquis!"
His grasp-the grasp of mailman
grew tighter. The wretched man
beneath him felt choking; the light
died out of the sky, the trees spun
round, he felt his breath failing. With
a gigantic effort he seized his as
saiIant around the body and, drag
ging himself up, struck out with one
hand.
The blows fell thick and fast upon
Sinclair's white face, but he only
laughed the louder and tigh-ened his
grasp.
you'll go and leave me to bear
the brunt of it, will your he yelled,
close to his victims ear. you'll let
me go to quad for that check, will
you? No! I've got you, marquis, and
III hold yOu!"
The marquis nerved himself for
one last effort, and the two men stood
erect, clasping each other like dem
ons mad with rage.
Suddenly, above Sinclair's yells
there came the shrek of an approach
ing train. It was the London express. /
In the madman's ears the sound
a kind of threat.
"The train!" he yelled. Wen go |
by that train, you and me, marquis.
Well go and get the money. III !
never leave you. The mOney?-do |
you hear? Marie's wafting!" and !
grasping the marquis cOnvulsiveTy, he |
forced him down the bank.
The two struck the metals and fell |
upon the line of rails. A red light .
"a cloud of smoke arose before them. |
A wild, awful cry of terror and des- !
pair arose in a shrek from the mar
1uis' lips, echoed by the madman's /
laughter, and the next moment the |
train had passed, leaving the two
men still locked face to face-and (
dead!
Two years after a lady walked |
slowly in the sunset across the park. |
The lights were beginning to show |
in the windows of the Court behind |
her, and as the great house burst !
into light 2 faint music, that grew |
louder every moment, came from the |
beIfry of the church.
It was the village bells pealfng vel |
come to Harry, Marquis of Mere, |
who that evening was return, ng from
a journey around the world to take |
possession of the place of which he |
had so long been robbed.
The lady stopped for a moment to |
listen, and as she did so one could |
have seen, by the light Of the Ian
terms which had been lighted as the |
bells rang out, that it was Lucille. |
She looked so slim and giTlish that |
one might have fancied that time |
had stood still, and that none of the !
tragic events set forth in this vera |
cious history had cast their shadow |
over her.
SO slim and girlish that it was
not until one saw her beautiful face
one knew that it was the face of a |
lovely woman who had passed through |
a great sorrow, and not that of a
maiden in her teens.
Two years is a long time, let gray |
boards say what they will; out two |
years are not too long to efface such |
a sorrow as that which had fallen
upon Lucille. But they had effaced |
it, and as she stood now and listen
ed the old smile stole over her face. /
Give minutes mOre!" she murmur-