Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-02

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Pines

convinced that l had been the victim
of hallucination, I nevertheless made
haste to cross to the window and take
a look through it's dismal panes. A
gale of binding snow was sweeping
past, making all things indistinguish.
able. but the absence Of balcony out
side was r~eassuring, and I stepped has
tily back. asking myself for the first
time what I should do and where I
should nov go to insure myself from
being called as a witness to the awful
occurrence which had just taken place
in this house. Something I must do to
save myself the anguish and Carme!
the danger of my testimony in this
world must never know. that I had
seen her here.
I could not be the death of two wom-
en-. The loss Of n weighed heavily
enough upon my conscience. I would
fly the place. would leave this
CHASTITY find to tell its own story. The
night was stormy, the hour late, the
spot a remote n and the road to it
but little used. I could easily escape,
and when the morrow came But it
was the present l must think of now
this hour. this moment. How came l
to stay so long? In feverish haste 1 be-
gan to throw the pillows back over the
quiet limbs, the accusing face. Shud-
deringly I hid those eyes q understood
their strange protuberance now and,
recklessly bent on fight, was halfway
across the floor when my feet were
stayed wonder my reason was not
unseated-by a sudden and tremendous
attack on the great door below, min
gled with loud cries to open which ran
laundering through the house, calling
up innumerable echoes from it's dead
and hidden corners.
1t was the police. The wild night,
the biting storm, had been of no avail.
An alarm had reached headquarters,
and all hope of escape on my part
was at an end. Yet, because at such
crises instinct rises superior to rea-
son, I blew out the candle and softly
made my way into the hall. I had
! remembered the window opening over
a shed at the head of the kitchen
staircase. I could reach it from this
rear hall by just a turn or two. and
once on that shed a short leap would
land me on the ground. after which I
could easily trust to the storm to con-
ceal my fight across the open golf
links. It was worth trying, at least.
Anything was better than being found
in the house with my murdered be-
trothed.
I had no reason to think that I was
being sought or that my presence in
this building was even suspected. 1t
might well, be that the police were
even ignorant Of the tragedy awaiting
them across the threshold of the door
they seemed intent on battering down.
The CLEAN of a candle burning in this
closed up house or even the tale told
by the rising smoke may have drawn
them from the road to investigate.
With a spring I reached the window
by which I hoped to escape and quick
ly raised it. A torrent Of snow swept
in. covering my face and breast in
a moment. 1t did something more
it cleared my brain. and / remembered
my poor horse standing in this blind
ing gale under cover Of the snow
packed pines. Every one knew my
horse. I could commit no greater
folly than to flee by the e fields
while such a witness to my presence
remained in full view in front. With
the sensation Of a trapped animal I
reclosed the window and cast about
for a safe corner where I could lie
concealed until 1 learned what had
brought these men here and how
much I really had to fear from their
presence.
l had but little time in which to
choose. The door below had just CIV
en- way. and a party Of at least three
men were already stamping their feet
Tree from snow in the hall. l did not
like the tone Of their voices; It was
100 low and steady to suit me. / had
rather have heard drunken cries OF a
burst Of wild hilarity than these stern
and p%urposeful whispers. Men Of res.
olution could have but one errand here.
My doom was closing round me. I
could only put OFF the fatal moment.
But 1t was better to do this than to
plunge headlong into the unknown fate
awaiting me.
I knew Of a possible place Of conceal
ment. 1t was in the ballroom not far
from where / stood. ] remembered
the spot well. It was at the top Of
a little staircase leading to the must
clans gallery. A balustrade guarded
this gallery, supported by a boarding
wide enough to hide q man lying be-
hind 1t al his full length. It would
offer me the double advantage Of con-
cealment and an unobstructed view OF
what went on in the, hall through the
main doorway opening directly oppo.
site. I could reach this ballroom and
Its terminal gallery without going
around 10 this door. "A smaller one
communicated directly with the corri-
dor IN which ! was then lurking, and
toward this | now made my way with