The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-01-22
CHAPTER XIV.
Changelina.

III TIC vague, Cuiil gray VI tudS ooiA
and desolate dawn, Judith stirred abb
ruptly on the couch of a sleepless
night, and with the rapidity OF one
who has arrived at a settled purpose
after long period of doubt and per-
plexity, rose and bathed and dressed
herself in negligee.
In the adjoining room she (, .ear
small, stealthy notes.-the sounds
made by her sister moving about and
preparing against the unguessable mo-
ment when her rescue would be at.
tempted, according to the information
conveyed in that midnight message.
For chance had conspired with her
insomnia to station Judith in the re-
cess OF her darkened window, idly
viewing the gaunt framework OF the
unfinished building from an angle
which, when Alan edged out along the
girder, showed him plainly in silhou-
cite against the sky.
In Judith's eyes his identity was un-
mistakable. She had hardly needed
| the night-glasses which presently she
brought to bear upon him at the mo-
ment when he was laboriously inditing
his message-while grim death stalked
him from behind.
She had seen him throw the watch
and had heard the double thump :
impact with the wall and fioc. ~.
Roses bedchamber.
And she had witnessed with wildly
beating heart that duel in the air
able to surmise it's outcome only from
the fact that the victor spared the life
of the vanquished.
The infatuate chivalry of that man
So, then, she had known that mes
sage had been delivered to Rose-and
had taken no steps to learn its i'm
port or Illustrate whatever plan OF res
cue 1t proposed.
That was not like her: but then she
was so unlike herself, that night, that
she scarcely recognized anything in
her-but only the counterfeit Judith OF
her dressing-table mirror.
A dozen emotions tore at her heart
and mind. She was estranged from
the father to whom she had heretofore
accorded passionate and answering
devotion. She was at odds with his
creature, Marrophat, because she had
repulsed his overtures at love-making
And the old, not unkindly but rather
compassionate contempt In which she
had ever held her sister, Rose, because
of her inability to comprehend the gen
tleness and sweetness of that alien ma
ture, had been transmitted into violent
hatred.
And all because it had been her des
tiny to learn to love the man who
loved her sister and was loved by hel
in turn.
The bitterness of that ate like ar
acid in her heart.
The pain of that unnerved her, bring
ing her to this present stage of weak
ness and infirmity of purpose.
But that she could no longer suffel
this state of affairs to endure was thu
. one clear fact on the horizon OF he
tempestuous soul.
And ultimately it brought her to he
, determination.
The clock was striking six as sh,
, Left her room: across the street work
ingmen were streaming into the build
Z ing to begin the labors Of the day.
Brushing unceremoniously past tn,
drowsy and Indifferent guard in TIT
corridor outside the door to Rose'
room, Judith turned the key that re
, NAMED In the lock on the outside, re
moved it, entered, and locked the doc
J, behind her.
! Without any surprise she found he
, sister already dressed to the point O
donning her outer garments.
r Rendered half-frantic by this uneS
pected interruption, threatening as
5 did the perilous scheme that Alan ha,
t proposed, Rose greeted her sister witt
q countenance at once aghast an,
4 wrathful.
: what do you want?" she demande,
4 tensely.
"To come to an understanding wit
. you," Judith told her coolly.
j There is no understanding possibl
1 between US: you know that as well q
t l."
'Yet one there must be-"
e 81 insist that you leave this room a
once!"
8 Insist by all means-and b
8 damned! / may leave this room-an
n may not, dear little sister. But on
e of us will never leave It alive"
d With start of terror, Rose shran
|. back from this strange, wild thin
e that wore the very shape and sen
n blance of herself.
I What do you mean? You cannc
y mean to murder me in cold bloot
+ JUDITH"
mot T." Judith laughed harshl,
; But, since it has pleased Destiny I
decree that we must both love on
y man-let Destiny decide between U
and bear the blame of murder!"
. Judith"
"a zone moment" Crossing to q sid
table. Judith took up a glass from
Is tray that held silver water-pitche
y, and returned with it to the table tn:
IL occupied the middle Of the floor. At tt
p, same time she opened hand till the
n fast clenched and disclosed a sma
le blue bottle with red label shriekin
s. the warning "POISON!"
~ "Strychnine," she explained cor
n posedly, Gin solution" And emptie
8 the bottle into the glass.
of A measure Of courage returned
Rose. do you expect to be able
n mako mo drink that ?" che demands