Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-26
CHAPTER cx.-wEpprp.

SiSneui out she was not, and shc
would never be. Her heart was break
Ing In her bosom as she sat there,
watching. waiting. listening to the ever
heavier detonntlons of THO approach
ing thunderstorm and to the jubilant
peaiing of great organ down below.
She had told herself that; though
resigned, she could not bear to wit
ness the ceremony. Now as tho mo.
ment drew near when the marriage
would be thing finished. fixed, lrro-
trievable, she found herself unable to
endure the strain alone
SLOWLY. against her will, she rose
and stole across the floor TO her
fathers chair.
His breathing was slow and regular:
beyond doubt he slept; unqucstionably
there was no reason why she should
not leave him for ten minutes; even
though he walked. 1t could not harm
him to await her return at the end OF
that scant period.
Like guilty thing, on feet as noise
less az any sneak thiefs, she crept
from tho room. closed the door silently,
ran down the hall and descended by Il
back way, little-used staircase, to
tho lower hall. approaching the scene
OF the marriage.
Z Constructed In imitation OF an old
Spanish mission chapel. it contained
one of the finest organs In the world !;
at this close range Its deep-throated
tones We'd with the warnings OF the
storm. Judith, lurking In passage
way whose open door revealed the altar
steps and chancel, was shaken to the
very marrow of her being by the ma
jestic rcverberations OF the music.
Sine" they had regaiped contact with
civilization in section OF the country
where the Law estate had vast hold
ings OF land, the chapel was thronged
with men and women who had known
Alan's father and wished to honor his
son. F..
Above stairs, in the room judith had
quilted, Seneca Urine opened both eyes
wide and laughed silent laugh Of
savage triumph when the door closed
behind his daughter.
At last he was left to his own de-
vices-and at n time the most fitting
Imaginable for what he had in mind.
With r. grin, Seneca Urine raised
both arms and stretched thcm wide
apart.
Then, grasping the arms OF his chair.
nc lifted himself from IT and stood
trembling upon his own feet for tho
first time In almost twenty years.
GraspinS tile back OF tho. wheeled
chair, he used 1t as crutch to- guide
his feeble and uncertain movements.
and more confident.
This, then. was the secret he had
Rugged to his embittered' bosom.
secret unsupported even by the attend
ing surgcon; that through the motor
accident three days ago ho had re-
gained the use of limbs that had been
stricken MISUNDERSTANDING enough,
by a motor cnr-nearly two decades
since.
Slowly but surely moving to tho
bureau In the room. he opened one
of Its drawers and took out something
he had, without her knowledge seen
Judith put away there while she
thought he slept
Then, with this hidden in the pocket
of his dressing gown he steered n
straight II very. deliberate course to
the door. let himself out. and. like
@ materialized spectre of the man he
once had been, nav.gated tho corridor
to the head Of tho broad central stair
case, and, step by step. clinging with
both hands. negotiated the descent
The lobby of the hotel was deserted
AS the ceremony approached Its end
every guest and servant In the house
was crowding the doorway to the
chapel. None opposed the progress of
this CHASTITY vision In dressing gown
and slippered feet. chuckling insanely
to himself as he tottered through the
empty halls and corridors. finding an
almost supernatural strength to sus-
tain him till he found himself face to
face with his chosen enemy and vic
tim.
Tho first that blocked his way into
the chapel. bellboy OF the hotel
looked round at the first touch of the
clawllko hand upon his shoulder and
shrank back with Il cry OF terror--a
cry that was echoed from half dozen
throats within another instant.
AS II from the path of some grisly
visitant from the world beyond the
grave, the throng pressed back and
cleared way for Seneca Urine. father
OF the bride.
And as the way opened and he looked
up toward tho altar and saw Alan
standing hand In hand with Rose while
the minister invoked n blessing upon
tho union that had been but that IN
slant cemented. added strength. the
strength OF the insane, waB given to
Seneca Urine.
When Alan. annoyed by the disturb
ance III the body OF the chapel. looked
round. It was to see the aged maniac
standing within n dozen feet of him.