CHAPTER LVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 103, 23 May 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER LVI.

"UK IS SLEEPING AT LAST." " I will be found met cunning in my patience, But— dost them hoar ?— most bloody !" SIIAKESI'KRK. Very still. Not a word— cry. Not a moan. She had shrunk back at that fierce upward throe flung out her hand, slid downward till she lay almost Hat upon the lloor. Was he was it over Silence. Horrible, intense, sickening silence. She lifted herself — leaned over him. What if ho should bound up again ? No fear. Her shaking hands— shaking now for the first time crept up his sleeve, up his collar —ear. Was it in far enough ? Was there anything to arouso suspicion ? Oil, tho tiroshine was " redding down," so she could not tell ! But she could feel. Yes— ah, yes, it was just as he had said. It had gone in— in. She would be sure, though. One finger after .mother she thrust in Us oar. lifted her-elf erect, leaned on it with all her strength Safe— safo ! She vus the woman Dennis had taken her to be She replaced the wood from near tho pot of neliotrope w hence sho had taken it She would like to be positive, though, that there was no bruise— drop of blood. Well, she would— a little later. In feverish haste she composed the limbs. , What a curious weightiness they had al- ' ready. As she drew one arm into an easy attitude of slumber she touched his hand. For the first time there came to her an inclination to cry out, so oddly stiff it felt, Iso chilly. She stumbled to her feet. It was over. It was all over. .Now she was free wealthy and freo for Demrs. But how she wa- trembling ' It was not cjwardics, nor any " lily hveied " scruple. She had not altered, wavered, in that moment. Ah, she must have something to make her hei>elf again— to stjady her nerves. She knew uheietolay her hand on her deadly friend. Mie crossed the room. In a corner -tood a high narrow bookcase. She i cached up to the third shelf, tiok down a bottle of absinthe there t-ecreted, applied the ivry poison to her lip", took a few great gulps replaced the exhilarating, insidious cordial, and went down stairs. She found Miss Vernell in the morningroom. By her '"ide was a huge basket of house- linen which required repairing, She was mending away for dear life. She looked upas hersister-in law entered and greeted her uith a busy little nod and smile. " Is he resting ?" Miss Vernell sank wearily into a chair. "Yes ;he is sleeping at last Ho was so restless. I have just been sitting beside him and trying to soothe him out of his morbid fancier." Miss Dorothy darned a rent with sympathetic lack of haste. "You must be worn out. Except at meals, I don't believe you've sat down today." The bride laughed. Then she sighed and shook her dark head. "Dorothy— l may call you Dorothy mayn't I ? -I'm dreadfully uneasy about James." Quite startled, Mi s s Dorothy dropped her Ken.-ington "splasher.'" "How? I<? he ill ?" Perple verily Mrs Yerncll flung herself back in her low chair and cla-ped her sparkling hands above her head " I don't know if it is exactly illness, but thi3 Golon— wh.it is the namo of it —this Golondrinas ad tir seems to be preying awfully upon him. He didn't sleep halt an hour last night, and you saw youiself how he acted to-day ' llelievedly Miss Dorothy took up her splasher "Oh if that's all 1 He's been worried about business matters before now." ' But, Dorothy !" " Well?" She hesitated. " Is there heart disease in your family?" she broke out at la.-t. " Bless my heart !" ciied Mi-s Dorothy. Her fat little hands fell helpless in her lap Then a« soon as she could get breath, " Now what under the morning star do you ask such a question as that for?" Mrs Yernell's Hashing eyes were strangely troublpd. Mr? Verticil's diamonded fingers were knitted ner v ou&ly above her raven head. " O}}, just because James complained so much lufet night of palpitation. I laid my hand upon his heart. It was going like a trip-hammer. You could almost heir it beat. Once he said, 'Letitia. this thump, thump is smothering !' Anc<l then to-night again he clutched his left side suddenly. The action alarmed me I questioned him k Oh, only a brief pain !' was his answer. You can't wonder though that 1 am nervous. " I don't !" said Miss Dorothy, her comp'acent little countenance, too, taking on a troubled look. Nine ! Ten ' Half past ! They had talked rovingly on many subjects, the proposed trip in January to Florida, the way their fi lends had received the news of the wedding, the prospects for a gay social winter. Now Miss Dorothy laid by her work and took off her glasses " Come," she declared, " yon must go to bed, Letitia. Between all the ilying-round you've done to day and your anxiety about James, I'm sure you're used up. Though indeed I car.'t say you look so !" Not very easily could slje. Mrs Vernell'd sloe-black eyes were a? bright as stars. Mrs Verneli'a cheeks burned brilliantly under their Jacqueminot Glow She rose with a languid emile of assent. They went upstairs together. Mrs Vernell's wifely solicitude had made a most favourable impression on her sister-in-law. As they reached the apartments of the former, both paused. " He may be awake now," whispered Miss Dorothy " I'll wait and hear if he is feeling better." The bride held the door of the sittingroom ajar. " Oh, come in ! He is hero." There was a wavering glimmer from the dyin^ fire, otherwise the room was pitchdark.

Mrs Vernell lighted the gas, turned it on quite high. She then went over to the lounge and bent above the still figure thereon. With eyes of ilume she scanned oar and cheek. No, no ! not tho faintest sign of a blow. Not a drop of blood. Not tho tinioat blue bruiso. She laid her hand on his shoulder. "James!" softly Miss Dorothy a fow feot back of her hoard tho gentle word. Silence. "If he is sleeping," murmurod she, " it is botter not to disturb him, Letitia." Letitia turned reluctantly away. "Uhe wero to awakon he might find it difficult to go to sleop again," whispered on the little old maid. "Though wait! lie may got cold lying here. I'll get something to throw over him." She wont into the adjoining room, from tho drawer under the cedar wardrobe drew a great soft crimson comforter of eiderdown. With this in her arms she approached the sofa. Sho {lung it lightly over him. His head was a little bent, so sho could not see his face. " There now !" still in that hushed voice. "Ho will sleep just as comfortably there. I'm sure he'll bo in botter hoalth and spirits in tho morning. Will you turn down tho gas, dear ? Soe a\ hat it is to be a wee woman." Mrs Vernell did as requested, and followed Miss Dorothy as she tiptoed into the other room. Thero that energotic little body closed the door and turned to her with a mild asumption of authority. " Now, I'm not going to stir a step till I sco you safe in bod, and then I'm going to bring you up a glass of wine negus. '' And this kindly threat she acted up to, staying till Mrs Vornoll's immobility and regular breathing bespoke peaceful slumbor. Then sho crept away. And at that very moment, Koborts going down the dimly-lighted basement staircase almost ran into a dark figure stealthily and noiselessly ascending. Visions of burglary, murder, ilared up in his brain. Should he shout, give an alarm ? Lightning liko were his doubts decided for him. A strong hand was on his throat, a young, supple hand, a familiar voice in his ear. "Keep still, Koberts ! Don't bo a big fool! Can't you sco it's only I? My aunt is expecting mo. No one else must know I'm here." And he opened his hand. "Oh, Mister Yoyle !" the footman gasped. " You did so scare mo, sir. I was just agoing to yell ! You didn't grab me a second too soon." Voylo laughed. " 1 knew it, Koberts. You must excuse rough treatment. You'd have roused the whole house in a minute." " That's? all right. Did you know your uncle is home, sir?'' "So I saw by the paper to night. Here, Roberts !" fumbling in his pocket, drawing out somo money, and pt easing it in the man's palm. " Thih for a smoke! And leave tho door open. I've just u matter to »co about, then I'll bo oil" Keep dark about having seen mo at all, like a good fellow !" "That T will, Mister Yoyle !" 11 All in bed ?" "Yes, sir. (lucsa Miss Vcrnull's up, thouiih, if ?ho bo expecting you." " Ye*, I Mippo^o so. Good night !" (< Good-night, Mi^tir Yoyle, He went on softly upwaid. A» he approached the colonel's room, the half parlour, half library, and general pleasant loaing room, which opened ol) his sleeping apartments, he noticed that the door stood ajar and within the light burned low*. Was anyone within? Tho gas was not usually left burning here. As he went quietly past he sent a sweeping glanco around the room. It waa deserted. But no ! was not somo one lying on the broad lounge in tho window alcove ! And was it not— yes, by George, it »vtv his uncle. Where was hit! wife? Probably in the nc\t room, and he had Hung himself down here to think and smoke as had been his custom for years before retiring. That comforter thrown over him though ' When ho was not even partially undressed, he must have had a chill. As the boy stood looking into tho dim room a sudden self-scorn stirred him, an irresistiblo impulse. Here he was sneaking through the hou.-e liko a thief dreading detection, half afraid lest a sound should betray him, asking silence ot servants. Jt was contemptible, unbearable! tho time for such work was over. He wouid have it out with hU uncle now ! He could not injuro his case. All the proof? ho could musteronthesubjoct were in Judge Duran's hands.and only to-day had he told him that he need have no fear of the issue. If that was so he would fire the fir3t shot now — tax Colonel fames Yernell to his face with robbery and trust betrayed. With impetuous youth to think is to act. He wheeled around and went straight into the lion's den.