Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-12-30


gown with waist-cord of crimson silk,
from the thighs down was covered by
black woollen rug. He stared IN
blinkingly at nothing: a man seven
eighths dead, completely paralyzed
but for his head and his left arm.
Presently faint clicking signal dis
turbed the stiffness. Seneca Trine put
forth his left hand and touched one
Of row Of crimson buttons embedded
In the desk. Something else clicked
this time a latch. There was the
faintest possible noise of a closing
door, and a smallish man stole noise
lessly into the light, paused beside the
desk and waited respectfully for leave
to speak.
"Well?"
"a telegram, sir-from England"
"Give it mel"
The old man seized the sheet of yell
low paper, scanned it hungrily, and
crushed it in his tremulous claw with
a gesture of uncomfortable emotion.
Send my daughter Judith here!"
Two minutes later a young woman
in street dress was admitted to the
chamber Of shadows.
"You sent for me. father7"
''Sit down"
She found and placed a chair at the
desk, and obediently settled herself
in It.
"Judith--tell me-That day is this ?"
my birthday. am twenty-one."
"And your sisters birthday: Rose.
too. is twenty-one."
Yes"
you could have forgotten that" the
old man pursued almost mocklngly.
do you really dislike your twin-sister
so intensely"
The girls voice trembled. you
know" she said, I'VE have nothing in
common-beyond parentage and this
abominable resemblance Our natures
differ as light from darkness"
"And which would you say was
light?''
Hardly my own: I'm no hypocrite.
Rose is everything that they tell me
my mother was, while I'-the girl
smiled strangely-'T think-I am more
your daughter than my mothers"
A nod of the white head confirmed
the suggestion. 1T is true. I have
watched you closely, Judith, perhaps
more closely than even you knew.
Before was brought to this"-the
wasted hand made a significant ges-
ture-"I was a man of strong pas
sions. Your mother never loved, but
rather feared me. And Rose is the
mirror Of her mothers nature, gentle,
unselfish, sympathetic. But you. Ju-
dith, you are like q second self to
me-"
An accent Of profound satisfaction
Informed his voice The girl waited
In a silence that was tensely expect
ant.
"Then, II on this your birthday /
were TO ask a service Of you that
might injuriously affect the happiness
Of your sister,"
The girl laughed briefly: "only
ask til"
"And how far would you go to do
my will?"
Where would you stop in the serv-
fee of one you loved?"
Seneca Urine nodded gravely. And
after brief pause. Rose is in love-"
he announced.
ooh, know know the father
affirmed with faint ring of satisfac.
ton. 81 am old, cripple, prisoner of
this living tomb; but all things I
should know-somehow-I come to
know in course OF time!"
TITS true-that Englishman she
scraped an acquaintance with on the
Riviera last year-what's his name?-
Law, Alan Law"
"In the MAN." the father corrected
mildly, you are right Only, he's not
English. His father was Wellington
Law. of Law & Son.
She knew better than to interrupt,
but her seeming patience was belied
by the whitening knuckles of hand
that lay within the little pool of blood
red light
And presently the deep voice rolled
on: Law and l were once friends;
then-it came to pass that We loved
one woman, your mother. / won her
all but her heart: too late she real
ICED Il was Law she loved. He never
forgave me. nor him. Though he
married another woman, still he held
from me the love Of my wife. could
not sleep for hating him-and he was
no better of Each sought the others
ruin; It came to be an open duel be-
tween us, IN Wall street. One of rs
had to fail---and held the stronger
hand The night before the day that
was to have seen my triumph,
walked In Central park, as was my
habit to tire my body so that my brain
might sleep. Crossing the East drive
/ was struck by motor-car running
at high speed without lights. was
picked up insensibie-and lived only
to be what ! am today. Law tri. |
umphed in the street while I lay help |
less; only living remnant of my |
fortune remained 70 me. Then his |
chauffeur. discharged. came to me and
sold me the truth; Il was Laws car
with Law at the wheel that had struck |
me down--a deliberate attempt at as
sassinatioa. sent Law word that /
meant to have a life for life. For
what was I better than dead? / prom
ised him that. should he escape, |
would have the life OF hia son. He |
knew / meant IL, and sent his wife