Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 10, 1885, Page 7

A TAMILY AFFAIR. BY HUGH CONWAY, Author of *'Called Back” and ‘“‘Dark Days CHAPTRR XXX CONTINURD, " This then was the emissary who went RortY on behalf of Beatrice, this, the bearer of the flag of truce between her and Maurics Hervey, A strange intermediary yot pose sessing some valuablo qualifications for the offlce, insomuch as she was devoted to her own side, hated the foe, and, above all, was full of tho belief that in some unknown way #hs would be guided so as to enabls her to bring the negotiation to a satisfactory issue, Bho listened with apparent attention to [Boatrice's many and clear instructions; but ler thoughts were in reality far away. In this matter she believed she was called upon o act more the part of a principal than that of an agent. Beatrice, who was anxious to know how Hervey was to be found, had to rost satisfled with the assurance that Mrs Miller would oxperience no difficulty in tracing bim. Provided that Hervey was atill in London her assurance was justified, for as his time on_ticket-of-leave had not yot oxpired, his address could no doubt bo obtained upon application in the proper quarter. This was about the only detail Sarah had as yet stoppad to consider. She had not yet thought how ber end was to bo gained, whether by threats or by entreaties, She felt that all sho had to do was to meet the man face to face, and then she would find bersell guided to act for the best, Beatrice, who had some misgivings on the score of allowing her faithful servant to make so long a journey unprotected, had carofully loolol up routes and trains, She fancied that Sarah would travel in_ greater easo and safoty if sho went to England via Paris by the great through oxpress train which runs across Europe from Constan. tinoplo to Paris, stopping only two or threo times in each country which it traverses, 80 Mrs, Miller traveled in such luxury as a railway train can offer, She reached London without any mishap, Here she went to a friend’s, tho one to whose care Beatrice's correspondence had been ine trustad. After a night's rest had dispelled the fatigue of the journey she bogan the first vas a simplo one. Sho inquired ertained where tho register of ticket-of-leave men resident in London was kept; then, upon app oftice and satisfying the authorities that sho sought tho man for no evil purpose, the ad- dress was given her. $he took a cab and drove straight to it. Hervey, who had by effluxion of means been thrown from the lap of luxury on to the bard floor of Lare existence, was housed in what was little more than a garret. In- deed tho money which Mr. Field paid him on bebalf of Frank Carruthers was the one plank between Lim and starvation. He had parted with his rings and cther valuables, All that ho could call his own was a decent suit of clothes, This be bad clung to tenas siously, kxowiug that if it comes to bege ging, a fairly dresssl man has a betber chance of awakening sympathy tuan one who is in ragsand tattors. The contrast betwoen decent, broadeloth and empty pock- etais so painful that when askel one feels compell d to do something to tone it down, He was sitting in his cheerless, sordid room, smoking his short pipe and working out schemes of vengeance and plunder much as ha had worked them out in his secluded state in Portland prison. He was cursing his own clumsiness and want of foresight, as indeed ho cursed them at least a hundred times a day. Ho was unwashed and un- shorn, and his right arm, although nearly mended, was still in one of those shiny black slings. Altogether ths man was in a condition of body and mind far from envi- able. For hours he had been sitting and think- ing of the glorious life he would lead assoon 28 hio conld ascertain the whereabouts of his wife. Then he would be ablo to soar out of this slough of poverty, and eat, drink and be merry. No wonder then when after the ceramony of a slight knock, Sarah Miller opened the door and stood before him, a cry of absolute joy sprang from his lips, Next to Beatrice she was the one he most_wished to so2. Now that sho was here, Beatrice must also bs accessible. His cheok flushed, his eyes brightened, If the privations which o had been enduring bad at any time urged him to promiso to himself that if good for- tuns brought him again in communication with his wife his hand should rest lighter upon ber, the thought vanished as his visitor crossed tho threshold, His tune £ triumph was at hand, and his one idea was to wring all that could bo wrung from her whose youtbful folly had linked her lifo to his. He felt contempt for hor weakuessin having given bim, by sending her servant to seek him, the chance he so sorely needed. Sarah, with her white, thin face as usual thrown into strong relief by her sombre garb, stepped towards Hervoy and stood Jooking at him with that peculiar rapt ex- pression which at times came over her fea- . As soon as ho bad rbcovered from arprise at this unhopod-for visit, Her- o1 the woman curiously, but for a n'them. Still to gaze and gaze at the man, not in an not in fear, but as ono actu- ated by motives of curiosity. 1t was a kind of gaz> which no onas coull bs expacted to endure for long without showing symptoms of impatience, sho continy < Saral Miller opened the door and stood before him. “What the dovil are you looking at me His rough She liko that forf’ asked Her voice brought Sarah back to herself. drow her Land across her brow. “Iiis there, it is written there,” sho muts terod. “What 15 written there, you oll foolP’ asked Hervoy. Sho made no reply, but her thin lips moved, and agaia her eyos glanced at him with a stranze, wild Jook. “Nit down,” said Hervey, sharply; “and try and talk Jiko a sensible woman, and Kkeep your wits from wandering.” Ho pushed a chair toward hor. She sat down and scemed waiting for bim to speak again. “Woll, what do you want! ho said, “1 suppose she sont yout” “Yes, my mistress sent me." P «What for? Has she sent me any joney, or is she trying to starve me! Let Yako cara. 1 shall find her again sowmo 0 “Wes" said Sarah, in curious, me- \ehanical accents. *Yes, she bus saub you “How much s it0 Hand it over,” | i drow a stmall. bag from her pockst. ey cluiched it eagerly, **There is fifty 5, sho said, in the same mechanical as before. y poundst’ flercely. “What does shie mban by sendifig me a paltry sum like that? Fifty pounds while my vife has thousands a year|” “Take it or leve it, as you choose,” said “Tll tako it, never fear. Oh, yes Pll take it. Perbaps it's meant as a_peace offering. Now let moe hear what elss you have tosay. You didn't come here just to give me this wretched sum.” Mrs. Miller rose from her seat and looked down into the man's upturned faca Her voics when she spoke underwent a marvel- lous change. It absolutely rang with pas- sion. “No, Maurice Hervey,” sho cried, ‘T come to offer you the one chance, to show u the one way which is still open. It may too late to tread it, but I say to you, show mercy and perhaps mercy may be shown to you. Be warned, I say, and leave that poor girl in pence, Live your life and lot her live hers. She is one of God's cho- son, Maurice Hervey. Beware how you war against Him, His anger is like a two- edged sword—" “Keep your flights to yourself and tell me in plain English what you mean.” ““Take the money sho offers you. Go and trouble her no *sre.” Horvey laughsd his mocking laugh. My dear Sarah,” be said, ‘‘your zeal makes you anticipatomatters. I must remind you that as yet I have been ~fered no monay.” @Byt Miss Beatrice will pay you money,” said the woman eagerly, *Ob, take it, take itl Go away and never seck her again.” “Ah! now you're coming to business. What money will she pay" “She will give you flve hundred a year.” A scowl passed over Hervoy's face, but he restrained the oath which rose to his lips. “You are sura that's the bast offer, Saraht” “Sho will give no more.” “And if I refuse, what then?” Sarah cast a quick glance around, and showed that she fully comprehended the squalor of Horvey's present abode. “If you refuse it,” she said, “'I shall go back to her and tell her you cannot be found. Then you will be left to starve. Starvation is hard work, Maurice Hervey." “Yon hag,” cried Horvey; “you would lis to her.” 1 would do more than_lie for hor sake,” said Mrs. Miller. “Will yeu take the money !’ Ho shrugged his shoulders. “Needs must when thodevil drives," be said, airily. *Yes, Sarab, 1 can't help myself, I must close with tho generous ofter. Now tell me where to find my devoted wife, so that I may convey the news of my submissien.” “You wiil take it?'sail Sarah, broath- Jessly. “Have I not said I must? “Thank God!” Asshe spoke she clasped her hands and murmured words of thanks. Hervey watched her with a curious look on his face. Sho saw it and it startled her. “You will sign papers?” she said. “Oh, yes; I'll sign anything. me where to find her.” “No, no. You caunot sen her. She will got everything done. Tho lawyer will get the papers ready, and when you have signed them the money will bo paid.” “Very well” said Hervey, carelessly. “There's nothing more to say, then.” Tbe readiness with which he acceded to her stipulations roused Mrs. Miller’sdistrust. “Do you mean to play me false!” she asked. Wil you swear on the Bible to keep your promiser” “Certainly T will, but Tam afraid there's no Bible in this house to swear on. A sad state of things which shall bo rectitied before you coms again.” Mrs, Miller made no reply to his jeering words. Sbe opened a small bag which she carried and drew out a well-tbumbed, worn Bible. Hervey smiled his contempt. “Placo your finger between the leaves,” she said solemnly, “then kiss the sacred book and swear, 5o help you God, you will keep your promiss.” it must be a loft-handed oath,” he said, s ho obeyed her. She clasped her band over his, and when with a sneer on his lips he had taken tho prescribed oath, she opened the book and marked tho verse on which his finger bad at random beon placed, *‘Read,” she said, *and be warned.” Hervoy read: “God shall likewise destroy thes for ever.” ‘Without another word she closed the book and left the room. As the door closed Hor- vey laughed a_scornful laugh, He waited until shs must bave reached the street, then ran swiftly down tha stairs. ‘Lhe lower part of the bouse was used as a kind of marine store, and in the shop were two lads of about seventeen. Ho czlled one of them. “A lady dressed in hlack just went out, Tollow her and find out where sho goes and I'll give you a sovereign.” Tho boy, who knew something about the state of the lodger’s finances, looked amused, but did not budge. *Make haste, you fool,” cried Hervey. *‘Hero's the money waiting —see it!" Tha sight of areal tangible sovercign sent tho lad off in double-qu..< time, and uttor- ly unsuspecting evil Beatrice’s ambassador was cloverly tracked to her temporary abode. Meanwhile Horvey returned to his garret in a joyful frame of mind. However mat- ters might turn out, a comfortable change in his circumstances had taken place. The worst that could happen would insure bim a comformblo income, but, so far as he could arcange it, Le meant to avoid the worst. Hemeant to find Beatrice, and by the power ho held over her, force her to surrender to him all save a bare pittance. Let her only be once more within Lis grasp and he would take caro that she escaped no more, He ground his teeth as be thought what be bad already paid for an uct of care- Now tell 1 tho mas, | lessness, The chance of repairing it was at last within his reach. Ho positively gloated as he pictured the horror with which his wife would greet him when ho again invaded her retroat. He laughed in glee at tho paternal right which furnishod a weapou so sharp to smite, so irresistible, to compsl her to yield to his demand. Yes, money and revenge were once more within his reach. His spy returned in due course, o bad earned his sovereign, for he was ablo to give Hervey the name of the street and the num- ber of the house to which Sarab Miller had gono, Hervey laughed again. Ho dressed bimself, visited the barber’s, aud then went to keop watch on Sarah's abode. He watched until nightfall. Early dawn found him once more at his post. Noon and ovening ho was still there, and evening brought bim the reward of his patience. A cabdrove up to the door, a box was placed upon it, and u dark-robed figure entered it. Thedcor was shut and away rolled the cab, It was scarcely out of sight when Horvey rang the bell of “the bouse and asked it Mrs, Miller was in, No, she bad just left, Ah, that was unlucky; he wanted to see ber on important business, Where could he find bert “You'll have a long way to go unless you can overtake her,” said the woman of ‘tho house, laughing, ~ *She's just off to for ign parts.” “Going abroad! Whero is she going “All the way to Munich, wheraver that may be." His heart leapt. At any rata now ho knew where to find bis quarry. *Munich be exclaimed. “I must try and overtake her before she goes. What station is ity ““Cbaring Cross. I heard ber tell man,” He bade bis informant adieu with seant ceremony. e baild the first cab be saw, and was soon rattling in pursuit of Sarah, | Although he did not know at what time the train started, be was quite at ease as te catebing it. Ho knew the grace which a woman always allows berself in the matter of trains. He bad judged rightly, for the first thing he saw upon entering the station was Mrs. Miller at the office engaged in registering her box. He ventured to creep close to her, and heard bor with the incre- dulity which a woman invariably displays when she surrenders personal custody of ber luggage, twice inform the clerk that she was going to Munich by way of Paris After bearing this, Hervey slipped away, took his ticket, and having watched Sarab " enter the train took his seat in another com- partment, So that Beutrice's ewissary as | she started on Ler return journey, joyiul at | the the apparent success of ler wission, little 1 thought that ehe was in something of the same position as the man who, according to the old German legend, carried unwittingly the demon of plague into the village which held all who were dear to him, CHAPTER XXXIL PURSUED, For hours and hours Mrs, Miller remained blissfully ignorant of the fact that the wheals which were bearing her to her desti- nation bore also sorrow and ruin in the per- son of Maurics Hervey. The fellow-travel ers did not confront each other until the next morning, and when the through train was well out of Paris. Sarab, indeed, had been all but invisible since she boarded the Dover and Calais boat. The crossing had been a rough one, and sea-sickness claims precedence with the mind the most preoccu- pied, Sarah had suffored much, and as soon as sho found herself in ths smootb-going train bad sought forgetfulness of her woes insleep. Hervey, who hal no wish to pre- cipitate matters by an untimoly revelation of his presence, bad also effaced himself from general observation. But some time after the train bad left the Paris and Lyons station Sarah opened the door of her ~omfortable compartment and in the narrow gangway of the train came full upon Maurice Hervey, He was smok- ing and watching the flying landscapa through the glass windows at the side of the narrow passage, Ho turned, looked at Barah, and laughed in cruel merriment as be saw hor gazo of horrified surprise, “You!" she gaspal. “You have followed me,” “Every step sinco you left my bumble sbode, my dear Sarah.” Bhe turned away and re-antercd the com- rtment she had left. Hervey followed er, and with a laugh threw himself down on tho seat nearest to the door. The train was not full, and the compartments were small ones, so it happened that the two peoplo were alone, It was typical of the man's cruel nature that e looked forward with feelings of keen enjoyment to the torture which he meant to inflict upon the woman during those hours of travel, Ly forcing upon her the preseace knew so unwelcome. , yes, Sarab,” he said jeeringly; ‘I followed you, and I shall never leave your side until'you lead mo to my beloved wife. It’s mo good thinking you can give me the slip. Tosave trouble Imay tell you Iknow you are going to Munich, What a clever woman you are, Sarab, 1 am so much obliged fo you.” She wrung her hands convulsively, then coverad ler face and moaned. She had acted, as sho thought, for the best, but this man's craft had overcoms her, Her mistross was to be made to suffer, and through her. Through the one who would willingly sacri- fice body and soul to save her from pain! “Don't be sulky, Sarah,” said Hervey. “The game's up now; you may as well give Here, muke yoursalf useful and fill my pipe. Ican’t uso this confounded right arm of mine.” She took no notico of his roquest, but presently sho raised her head and looked at him. “Be warned,” she snid in low tones. “Ouce more Lsay, be warned in time. Leave this train at the next station. Fly while you can.” Ho laughed scornfully. 1y?" be said. Sbe made no further appeal. She sank Dback into stony silence, and from that time Do rewark, no question, no taunt of the man's could draw a word from her thin lips, Hour after hour went by and Sarah Miller sat in lier corner motionless and silent as a statue, But ber thoughts! Her thoughts were busy enough. They thronged and invaded her brain. They chan red and shifted from incoherence to systematic arrangement and back again to incohere: Through all the jumble the one fearfu. truth shono out dis- tinctly. She was taking this man toher mistress. No food had passed her lips sinco she left London. All desira t~ cat had left ber whon she first _caught sight of Hervey's batefui form. Her hands were hot; her veins seemed full of fever, anl now and again a mist scemed to close round her, from which she emerged only to see once more the cruel face of her tormentor. o the hours went by. Hervey had food sent into the carriage. He also consoled himselt at short intervals with brandy and water, He bought cigars, smoked them, and gruinbled at their bad- ness. Sometimes he rose, walked out into the gangway and stretched his legs, but ho kepta keen watch on the woman. Not a second time would he fail from lack of vig- ilance. For amusement he now and again taunted bis companion, and his jeers, ap- parently unnoticed, drove her to the verge of desperation. Her hands grew hotter, her pulses beat with fiercer rapidit The sun sank; the twi'ight died nway; the Iamps wero lit. Every ] >ur, every moient Dbrought grief nearer ane nearer to Beatrico. Tong before another sun rose the train would boat Munich, The thought maddenzd tho white-faced woman, Shortly after tho train left Stuttgart tho steward looked in and in broken Eng- lish suggested that the beds should bo pro- pared. Mrs. Miller shook her head, and signified that she bad no wish to retire to rest. Hervey ordered more Lrandy and aleo declined the proffered couch. The steward wished that he could have tho re- fusal of one of those unmade couches and 1he time to occupy it, shrugged Lis should- ors, and withdrew. The travelers were onco mora alone. In less than five hours the Jjourney would be at an end, Suddenly a wave of inspiration flooded the poor woman's harassed brain, An in- spiration which made all things clear as day. A strange brilliancy shone in her oyes, In a flash she saw, or believed she saw, to what end these things were leading. God's hand was at work, Had she not dreamod a dream in which Maurica Hervey figured? Had she not per- suaded herself when she first saw him that sho had seen written in his face that his days were numbered! Was sho not sure— sure as she was of her own eternal con- demnation—that God meant Beatrico to taste bappiness as well in this world asin the next! The hour of deliverance was at hand. The inspiration which bad told her that her errand would be crowned with suc- coss was not that of a lying spirit. God was at work, Hervey had been led to take this journey; to break the promiso he had made; and thereby accept the fate fore- shadowed by the fearful words to which his finger bad fortuitiously pointed. This jour- ney, begun in craft and in deflance of God's warning conveyed through herself, would nover be ended. Sbe, by tho light of ber wild faith, read the Divine purpose plainly as if it was written in letters of fire, If the line of demarcation botween fanati- cism and madness in the poor woman's brain was not by now entirely obliterated, it bad grown faint, blurred and indistinct, She was bovering on the vergo of insanity, and tho method which sometimes lies in madness was at work and supplying the loss of the reasoning faculties. Now that the truth bad come to ber, now that she knew by inspiration why this man Lad been per- mitted to traca and follow Ler and for a while enjoy bis triumph, she found hersslf speculating and wondering how and by what nieans the interposition of the Divine Land would be shown. She waited for the moment when, from some apparently eartbly cause, the cup of triumph would ba dashed from his lips. Sle waited and waited, and although the hours passed with. out a sign, naver wavered in her belief that even at the last moment deliverance would be brought about. Onco or twice she turned and looked at her companion, and by the same strange fancy which bad beforo seizal her, per- saded herself that the sometbing which she imagined sbe saw in his face and which be- tokened approuching death, grew more and more distinet. Bho felt no pity for the man; nor would she Luve darcd to attempt & second warning; but she gazsl on bim with a kind of awe, raised Ly the thought that in @ bLrief space of time this wretcheld “Now, isit like- creature would be lying in the place pointed for him, lying thero, and to 1 there, forever, and ever, and ever! Hor madness, if it may be called madness, deepened as the time passed by. After all 1n spite of its claims to supariority, the min is but the slave of the body. The yoke may be thrown aside for a whils, but sooner or later its pressure becomes apparent, Fa. tigne and want of food were, with Sarah Miller, completing what dist; had be- gun. Yet to herself it seemed that she had never seen things clearer, never reasoned more cogently than at this moment when her brain was taxed beyond endurance, How would God act! Would He strike this man dead as he sat there! Would something frightful happen! Would the train be over- turned? As this question exercised ber, overy jolt as the wheels passed the points sent & thrill through her and mads her fancy the moment was at hand. No. This could not be the appotnted method. Merclless as her oread taught ber to belleve the One to whom she prayod, her sense of justice forbade her to suppose that many othor lives must be sacrificed for the sako of dostroying Maurice Horvey. She must wait patiently and in faith, not antici- pate God's purpose. But the time was growing very short! Suddenly she turned and knmelt on the floor of the carringe. She offered up a prayer that things might be made clear to her; that her agony of suspense might be brought to an end. Hervey watched her and laughed aloud. “‘Quito right, Sarah,” be said, ‘Never negloct your religious observances, I am “Quite right, Sarah, he said. * Never neglect your religious observances.” afraid you can't pray yourself out of this situation; but there'sno harm in trying.” The sound of his voice gave another and & fresh turn to her thoughts. At that mo- ment her prayer was answered and overy- thing grew clear. Tho clouds which trou- bled her rolled away, or it may be, closed round her to break no more. BShe shivered, and still kneeling, turned her face to the speaker. Her look for a mo- ment startled him in spite of the contempt be felt for her religious vagaries. And well it might startle him, Now she knew all. She knew why she had lived. She knew to what sho was pre- destined. Cycles ago this moment bad been decreed. It was sho whom God had ap- pointed to remove this man from the path which led one of elect to happiness. The Delief that ages and ages before sho was born, hier place, not only in this world, but also in the next, had been irrovocably fixed, the terrible conviction that she was one of the many doomed by God's will to eternal torture, a fate which not the prayers of a lifetime, or ‘ho conduct of a saint, could avert or in the slightest degreo mitigate; this fearful belief closed round her like the walls of a prison from which there is no escape, from which death itself there is no release. How in such astate of mind could she turn with feelings of love and adoration to the Supreme Being Who had doomed her to such unutterable woe? No, sho could fear Him, tremble before Him, abase herself at His feet, pray her wild hopeless prayers, but such love as she had to give was fain to be- stow itself upon an earthly object, and for the want of a better that object was Beatrice, Even as Jael, even as Judith, had their mis- slon so had she, Sarab Miller, a mission equally terrible, that of slaying a man whom God had doomed. With her brain flooded, per- meated by this one fearful thought, the woman roso from her knees and resumed her seat. Everything, she fancied, with her mind bewildered in reality, yot to herself seem- ingly clear, pointed to the carrying out of this decres of destiny. The solitude, the night journey, even tho man's half-belpless condition were but details of a settled scheme, The opportunity was here, only the way and the means were wanting. These in good time would be vouchsafed to her. She would be shown how she, a weak woman, was to take the life of a strong man. Little did Maurice Hervey, as from the effects of fatigus, cigars and brandy he sat half dozing in the corner of the compart- ment, dream what thoughts were passing through the mind of the woman near him. Tobim she was nothing more than an ad- dle-headed sort of creature, who once upon & time had done a great deal towards bring- ing him to ruin an act for which he rightly believed he was now paying ber in full. How was she to do it Time was passing, and yot the path was not yet pointed out. See, the man’s eyes were closed! Had tho moment come? If she had a knifo she might eveu now drive it into his heart! Butshe had no knife; had nothing which would serve her need, or rather God's nead. Sud- denly she remembered, as one remembers a dream, that hours and hours ago she had seen a fellow passenger opening & bag, and had noticed on the top of that bag a pistol. Had she Leen allowed to catch sight of the weapon for tho purpose which she was deputed to carry out! If so, where was that pistol, and how could she get it into her bands? Sho rose, and without any settled object, passed Hervey and stepped out into the gangway. Her movement awoko him, Ho put his head through the door and watched her as a cat watches a mouse. Sarab went the length of the long carriage, but found nothing to guide her to her end. Every door was hermetically sealed, It seemod as if she and her companion wera the only per- sons awake, The only sound heard was the ceaseless rush of tho train as it tore its way on and on through the night, The woman returned and resumed ber seat. The means had not yet beon given be A pbantom of common sense also flitted through her mind. Ifshe killed this man in such a manner it meant arrest and trial of herself. It meant shame and ex- posure to her loved mistress. No, she must wait yet a while, God had not yet spoken tlio last word; not yet shown the exact way in which His work was to badone, Yet her Lelief never swerved, never wavered: Or not until she knew that the end of the long, dreary journey was close at hand; ot until akind of instinct told her that ina few shortminutes Munich would be reachbed. Hervey, whom necessities had deprived of the meauns of telling the time, was still sleepiug his wakeful and suspicious dog's sleep. Buddenly the long, shrill whistle sounded. The man started up, wide awake, and for the first time for hours a doubt as to her true reading of God’s purpose flashed through Sarab Miller's brain, The time was so shorts There was somuch—so much 10 be done. The way was still in darkness. Would the last few moment light it up? She clenched her hands convulzively, dig- ging the nails of one into the flosh of the other. She glauced once more at Hervey's face which, from hig fatigue looked pale and wan, She rose, and mechanically, like one in @ dream, stepped out of the compartment into the div ly lighted gangway. Hervey followed her. Without knowing why or wherefore, sho walked tle whole length of the carriagg, 1n v «he operied the door at the end out into the open air. Horvey and the door olostd bebind them, and the man and the woman stood alons on ths iron platform ®hich lies be. twvesn ono carriage and its forerunner, The train bad not yet slackened speed. Its wild rush still whippsd the naturally calm air into a flerce gale, The woman's dark bair, which had become untwisted, streamed behind her in elf locks. A tall black figure, with a white, & death-white face and burning oyes, staring fixedly at the destination to which the train was burrying her, as fixedly as her mind was turned to the work which she yet believed she was doomed to exccute, The night was cloudy and moonless, Some way ahead, a little to the right, the lights of the great city lit up the dark It was on these lights that Sarah Miller's eyes were fixed, her lips the while muttering inaudible words. For a few moments Hervey stood in silence by hor side. Then he spoke, “It's 1o good, Sarah, you can't give mo the slip. Tl follow you everywhere. Be a sensible woman for once, and don't give me more bother.” Bhe spoke, bub not in answer to his words. “That glare! that red glare!” she cried, in a thrilling voice. ‘“‘Look at it! Look at it welll Do you know what it means to you and to me” Before he could reply she answered her own question. *It is ths red glare of hell,” she eried instill wilder ncconts, ““The glare of the fire which burns for you and for me. The shriek! Hear the shriek of the damned!” Once more the whistlo sent its piercing scream of warning far on the night air; and in another moment the strong brakes would bave fallen on the great wheels. Hervey, really startled by his companion's wild bear- ing, turned to her savagely, “‘Here, no nonsensel” he said roughly. These were the last words ho spoke. Sude denly, and without th» slightest warning, the woman threw hereelf upon him. Her arms clasped him with the strength of fronzy. Her weight threw him off bis balance. He staggered backwards. He mado one wild grab with his uninjured arm at thoiron rail, missed it, and most likely could not haveheld it had he caught it, thaa slipped down tha three or four ironsteps,and, with the womnn's arms still holding him, tho two fell with a fearful thud on to the six-foot way. His cry, if hoe had time to raise one, was lost in the rush of the train and the shrick of the steam-whistle. All was over in a socond— the train was speeding on, leaving behind it udark mnss lying between the up and the down lines. At the very last moment the way bad been made clear to Sarah Miller, Even as she fell with her victim her one thought was of frenzied joy that she had found the means to do God’s work. For a minute or two after the last car- ringo of the train bad swept by, that black mass lay motionless in the six-foot way Then part of it began to show signs of life, Slowly and painfully the woman detached hersell from her victim. Shorose to her knees, and remaived there staring fixedly at the whito faco that looked up to her own. Hor frenzy for tho moment Lad passed and she scarcely knew what had happoned or what she had done, Sbe was unhurt. The man had struck the ground first, and so borne the brunt of the shock. His head had fallen heavily on the ballast of the line, and he lay without senso or motion. Was he dead? This, when her disjointed and scattered thoughts wero once miore able to resum the terrible kaleidescopic pattern into which fanaticism bad shaken them, was the one question asked by the woman. She felt for the moment no remorse, no horror, but the dread seized her that her band might have failed; that the work might not yet be dono; that she had not fulfilled her destiny. She bent over the prostrate man und placed her cheel close to his lip: He breathed! Sho felt the faint breath on her cheek! She laid her hand on his beart and felt its pulsations, slowly distinct. She had failed! Hervey was alive The work had not been distress. and would recover. done! She peered wildly into the darkness. She scarcely knaw for what gho looked. A large stone, a piece of iron, anything which would show her that the hand which had guided her so far on the fearful road of fato had not deserted her; but she found nothing, absolutely nothing which could serve her need. But suddenly, away along the down line shesawa round red lightcreeping apparently nearer and nearer. Her heart leaped at the sight. To tho uttermost Ditterest end the way was clear. The final word had gone forth, the final revelation was made to ber, She placed ber hands under the man's shoulders, and by an effort of strength, desperate and far beyond what might have been expected from ber framo, dragged him over the fow feot of roadway which lay between him and tho metals. Ho groaned once or twice, but remained senseless and motionless as she placed him yight in the track of the coming train, il 4‘[:‘,;"'( i She placed him right in the track of the coming train, The red light was close—close at hand, but the man lay still and recked nothing of t. The woman baving accomplished her ghastly work, wound ber black shawl tightly round ler bead, then fell upon her nees, waited, and lived un age in cvery moment. She heard, through the mufling, the rush, she felt on ber bands the wind of the metal monster as it swept by ; but she heard or felt no_mo; Sbe rose and shuddered con- vulsively; then, witbout a glance to see what ber band bad wrought, stepped over the line, down the steep embankment, and was lost in the night. She bad done what she believed to be ber appointed task. No longer would Maurico Hervey stand be- en Beatrice and happiuess! 'he poor wroteh wasalmost cut in two. The wheels which bad crusbed thelifo out of him were those of an engine on its way to pick up trucks on a siding some way down the line, The driver felt the slight obstruction, and baving marked the spot where it oc- curred, upon his return stopped the train and knew what bad caused that momentary jolt, knew that a man's life bLad,in that second, passed away, Tho body was picked up, placed in a truek, taken to the Munich station, and thenco to the place appointed for the reception of the bodies of unlnown mea who meet with & sud- den or violeny death, CUAPIER XXXIIL Y1 AM MAD." If by any chancs Beatrice, who certainly bad trouble enough to make bLer wakeful, bad risen with the dawn of tho morning which followed tho tragaly, and looked out of her casement sho would have se2u s sight which would Lave cau ber much surprise. Sho would have seen Sarab Miler, whom SN 10 1000, #be believed to be in England, standing on the opposite side of the street, utter despair and anguish writter in every lineament, sing at hor mistress window like one ng the object, the dearest on earth, an eternal farowell—eternal because even the consoling hops of a meating in some future stato is absnt. But Deatrice, who, in the earlier watches of the night, had been awake for hours with her sorrow, slept on until the sun was high, Perbaps it was well for her sho did so. Tobe poor self-appointed instrument for working the divine will had, after she left the sceno of her dark work, wandered about the outskirts of Munich, aimlessly and hope- Jess! Had it been broad daylight, and had there been persous to see ber, an occa sional stiffied moan and a wringing of the bhands would bave boen all that showed the agony of mind she endured. But it was not, as might be supposed, the agony of remorse. It was agony at the thought of the further sacrifico which such senso as still was hors told hor she must make, inordoer that the de- sired and predestined results might follow the act of the night. Bhe was mad and she was not mad, On what may bo called the religious side of the quostion, Ler mind, as may be guessed from her deods, was gone past redemption. It may be that this had beon her true state for years; ever sinco she had accepted as true the inexorable logic of creed which she had partly been taught, partly framed for her- self. * Tho fire way have been burning for years giving now and again transient flashes, and only waiting for cortain circumstances to fan it toa cousuming flamo. The flerce burst was now over, but the fire would burn and not again be hidden until it bad devoured life as well as reason, 8he bad killed, murdered this man in all but cold blood. Apart from the horror at- tendant on the actual execution of the crime, ahorror which began to haunt her and be ever with hor, sho felt no poignant misery, no maddening regret. In her wild, dis jointed way she lamented, not the man's death, but the fact that she bad been chosen to bring it about, She lamented it oven as Judas might o lamented the hard fate which, in ordar that prophecy might be ful- filled, singled him out, and decreed that ho should betray his Master. And, if it be true that a providenco saves and slays, who shall say that the woman's mad reasoning was unsound? On the other side, the material sile, Sarah Miller was, as yot, sane, or nearly so She could look forward, plan, and even carry out. And the anguish which racked her mind was the homo-coming of the trutb, that ber act must part her and ber mi: s for ever. Here was tho crowning sacrifice, Here was, perhaps, tho earthly punishment, Never again to gaze into that dear face; never again to hear that loved yoice; never again to ba near Ler to minister to her wunts, to aid hor, schemo for bhar, and, if needs be, sin for her, Never to sce ber in the happiness which bad been sodearly bought. Here was the sacrifice! It must be made, and sho must find strength to make t, and skill to insuro its being of use. To see her mistress, to meet ber even once more would be to ruin all. Sha must never know whose hand it was bore her freedom. She would never suspect that hov servant bad been the means of cutting tho knot which it seemed no earthly power could undo. Ah, no earthly power could have undons it, So when at last the morning broks gray, and trees and other objects loomed phantom- like and unreal through the mist, Sarah Miller planned and schemed, sceking the way to insure what she bad so dearly bought. All her thoughts reachod one end. She must fly far, far from the spot. Bea- trice must never hear of her again; never know that sho left London. If Ler prox- imity to the dead man became known the truth might be guessed and all be lost, t re sho went she must seo tho house in which ber darling lived. She must stoop and kiss the doorstep on which those loved feet had trodden, She must waft her no nate and unheoded farewell, then leave the placo and bo as one dead. She struggled against the desire, but it overcamo her. With tho first streaks of daylight she entered the sleeping city, and, utterly worn out, stood before her mistress' window, and for a while watched it as one might watch the last fading ray of asun which has sunk never agam to rise, and lighten the darkness which shall bo eternal, At that early hour of the morning the street was silent and deserted. There was 10 one tonotice the strange looking creaturo who stood and, with wild despair in her eyes, for over gazod on one spot. Her look for tho time was such that no one, not even the one mostpreoccupied with his own con- cerns, could have passed ber without feel- ty raised ns to why sho was and what gave ber that ap- pearance of dire distres After some minutes spent in this manner the woman crossed the road. Her limbs dragged after hor and made her exhausted state apparent. She leant her hoad against the door of the houso which held her mis- tress and sobbed convulsively. A dizzy feol- ing came over her, and she folt that she was upon the point of fainting and falling senso- less on the doorstep. By a supreme offort she roused herself and shook off the incipient stupor. 1f once she sank down hor weary limbs might rebel and refuse to do her bid- ding. She might lic thero until ber presence was discovered, and that discovery ruined all. No, if she were to sink an1 perbaps die, lot 1t be as fur away from Leatrico as her waning strength could carry her. Sweot as it would be to breathe ber last within reach of her mistress, even such poor cowfopé could mot be vouchsaled to Ler. 1t speaks volumes for the iron strength ot her will, msomuch that iv strugglel with and overcame, not only the woman's physi- cal fatigue, but also the craving for one glimpse of Beatrice which chained her to the spot. ~ Bho tore herself away, and withe out once looling back forced ber tired limbs to bear ber to a considerable distance, Here sho found a quiet doorstep on which she sat unmolested, sat and fought against ber ex- baustion, until such time as she would be able to procure tood, It was not long bolore, slowly, little by little, unit by unit, the city began to awake, Here and there the shuttors wentdown from ashop, and ab last the weary woman saw all but fucing her & bak window, She entered the shop, bought somo bread and begged a glass of water, Not for her own sake, but for the rako of another, she was callod upon to eat and drink, Blo ate bLer bread, and then somewhat strengthensd again bogan he. pilgrimage Bhe ciept through the streets uatil she reached tho railway station. Here she as- tained at what time the uext train for the west would start, Sho had a long timo to wait, She hid ber- > corner of the waiting room, and tatue. But her brain was burn- ing and her pulse throbbing. A strange sound, u fierco rushing sounl, was ever in her ears; great wheels seemed turning and turning in her head; and if for & woment ¢ho dared to close her hot ani weary oyes, she saw (brough tha darines o light, & T ITIRRASTE S flaron Ilghlk red nearer and nearer, But in vite of all this :hnunuos tako her seat in the train, able to exult thi sho had found the strength to bear her so far; able to pray that her strength might last until she once more stood in London. Then all would be safo. No matter wh becamo of her then, The work was finishe what did the futvre of the tool mattor? The train left Munich, and as it stramed out of the magnificent station, the woman veilad her face with her black shawl. In spite of lier conviction that she had bub executad a pre-ordained task, she dared nos 1ook upon tho spot wheroshe had knelt on the revious night. Miles and miles passod bee Jore ‘sho removed the somber covering from her white worn faco, As the train hurried on the wheels within her brain whirled faster and faster, the rushing sound grew stronger, and the fierce red light shone red= dor, fiorcer and nearer. Savo for such inquiries as the nlig\!nx of the journay forced her to make, and su spoech as was nocossary to procure the food and drink which nature absolutely demand- ed, the woman spoke no word during that long journey back. Except that now and again she prossed them to her brow, in & vain endcavor to stop the wheels which whirled in_her brain, her thin hands were for ever clasped boneath her dark shawl Bho sat and stared into vacancy. How could she closs her oyes when doing so ad once brought the rod light before them? For all sho know, that journoy might have Iastod months or years, Periods of time meant nothing to her now, Eternity, not Time, lay before her, The long journey by land, the shorter journey by sca, passod like a protracted yef incoherent dream. All she knew or cared to know was that sho was spoding on to London. At lust the sound of English voices, the sight of English faces, told her that sho had reached the last stage of her journey. Lhen she roused Lerself and made ber final preparations. Sho searched her pockot, and tors into small bits every piceo of paper it cor tained, 80 that no written word could ‘o left to givo clew to her identity, Last of nll she drew from an envelops a photograph of Boatr Sha gazod at it long and passions ately, and then, with a deop sigh, tore it across and across, and threw the pioces to the winds, She dared not even keep this poor relic of her darling. London at last] Sarah Miller stopped from the train, and once more stood on the platform which she had quitted rathsr more than threo days before. 1t was now past 8 oclock in tho morning. Whither should sho turn. Sho stood Lesitating and bowile dered. There was one thing more which she had settled to do. What was it? Oh, thoss wheels, thoso wheels, will they never stopl Sho pressed her fingers to her temples, and strove to recall what resolution had slipped from hor mind. Al, now sho remembered what it was Her money, she must get rid of that. Ske had no further need of money, now that she had reached the final goal. ~In her pocket wero both German and~ English coins, She collected them, and creeping stealthily to the box which stands awaiting contributions for some, doubtless, vory deserving charity, she dropped in every coin that was upon her person. This done, she believed thero was notbing left which could in any way show who she or whence sho came, She passed out under the archway, a soli- tary, dark robed figure with a head bent as in grief. Ske passed from tho gastly white glare of electric lamps into tho all but de- serted Strand. She walked some way up the Strand, then, without any definite "ai; turned to the right and by and by foun herself on the embankmant. Still she wandered on until she reached ‘Waterloo bridge. She went lalf way across i stopped short and gazed over the er. But no thought of estruction had entered into her head, ough tho red light was still before her sh still sounding in her ears, and tho: n wheels in ber brain circling more rapidly than ever. No, the river had but for her tho attraction which a smooth, calm, peaceful stream has for all who are in deep distress, 8o she looked and looked; oven craned over the parapet to peer into its somber, placid depths. At that moment a blinding light flashed upon her eyos and a hand grasped her shoulder. *Now none of that nonsense,” said a sharp voico—the voice of a policeman who had seen her dark form against the onowork of the bridge. The woman turned Ler face to his, and the anguish written upon it persuaded the constable that he had arrived just in the nick of time, River air's bal at night for suchas you,” hesaid in a kinder voice. “Now you go straight homo like a good woman. I'll see you safe off the bridge. You can go (rom which end you like, but if you stay here any longer, well, I must run you in.” Sho clasped her hands. “I am mad?’ sho cried in piteous, imploring tones, *‘Can't you see L am mad? Take mo and put me where mad people are sent to,"” Strange as a confession of insanity scemed, the puzzled policoman was bound {0 take her at ber word, tho more so because sho would not or could not give any account of herself, or name any place of residence. 8o she was led away a docilo captive, and spent the rest of the night, or rather morning, under detention. Mad or not, she bolieved Lor work was now done; belioved that she would bo be- stowed where her mistress would never find her, never Liear of her, Mad or not, her one concentrated aim was to keep tho socret of. the way in which Maurice Hervey diod, If mad, the poor wretel's cunning bad all but! supplied tho place of reason. All but, for as usual it had forgotten ons important thing. Unless Beatrico was in-, formed of her husband’s death, unless that doath were proved beyond a doubt, Sarah Miller’s crime would be useless aud ber sace rifice futile, CHAPTER XXXIV, IT WAS NO DREAM. Carruthers, as was his custcm, called for Beatrice early one morning. Now that he had firmly resolved that he must, would, could, should school himself to accept the position which it ssemed likely was to be his for the future, he could sco no reason why ho should bo debarred from enjoying every moment of Beatrice's society. To say that Lio was resignod to his fate weuld be absurd, No one is resigned to fate, Ono is compelled to submit to its tyranny, that is all, Of course Frank was unbappy, and of course Beatrice was unbappy. At heart they were as wretched as any sentimental school girl could wish them to bo amid such circumstances, But all the same they were not so truly miserable as tbey imagined, Given two young lovers kept apart by fate —with & lookout of eternal darkness—withe out even the hopo of secing hope glimmer in the distance, 50 long as they know that each loves tho other, even as he or she loves her or him; 50 long as they can sco each other, talk to each other, even if that talk must be on indifferent subjocts, they can not be alto- gether unhappy, This morning Beatrico left her boy in charge of the smiling Bavarian servant and went for a walk with Frank. 1t was a fair May wmorning, fairer perbaps clsowhere than in Munich, which is a dry, dusty, barren land, For some time they walked in silenco, and apparently without any sottled destination, By and by Carruthers spoke, “When do you think you will be return to England 1" Le asked. oyos were cast down., Bhe did nos answer his question, *'Beatrico, you will take my advice im this 1 Lo spoke gravely and tenderly, “Yes, I will take your advice. 1 will do all you wish—ba guided entirely by you, Heaven knows I bave guided mysolf long enough, Bce where it has lod me. Her eyes filled with tears as sho s Fre ‘x:x clenched his hands bebind b Pk “What do you proposo ¢ What think T should dof xhe uske 1 49 704 *Lthink we should go straight ba England; straight to Oakbury. - 1 wni",‘.“‘,m".' | With you, and if you wish it, tell Horace {and Hepborfbverything.” A (70 BE CONTINUED ] like blood, and dri