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Show 1 BY WHOSE HAND P By EDITH SESSIONS TUPPBR, Author o "Br m lltlr'M Drttdth," ' Tbo Blmtk Diamond,' Etc Cop-flrht. im, br Wlll.fd Fr.cktr ft Co Copjtlfhu 1W0, t- bitMi & Smith. CHAPTER XII. Continued. She never finished tho sentence, for, with a dexterous movement, I caught her freed hand nnd In a trice uer wrists werp onco moro firmly confined. Then with tho long trailing trail-ing end of tho scarf, I proceeded to bind her to a chair, Sho did not resist. Sho seemed dazed and bewildered nt this proceeding, pro-ceeding, and did not speak until I was leaving tlio room, "Why why do you leave mo so?" sho stammered, "whero aro you gqlng?" "I am going for tho police, to whom I shall hand you a prisoner, accused of murdering Reginald Dairy Dai-ry niple." As I closed the door behind mo I saw her wrlthLg llko somo netted animal, and the awful faco turned toward me was llko one that might havo peered from tho portals of hell. CHAPTER XIII. A hurried walk brought mo to the drug store, where Fortune and tho dotectlve were awaiting me. A tew words explained tho situation. situa-tion. Tho detective took from his pocket a pair ot hand-cuffs, and critically crit-ically examined them. "I hope theso aro small enough," bo said, with tbo air of a connoisseur. connois-seur. "From what you tell mo of the lady.'I Judge I shall neod them." In sllcnco wo hastened to Bojanta's apartment. Tho detective led tho way, and Inserting the key I had brought with me, flung wide the door. As he did so, an exclamation c horror burst from his lips. .lust Heaven! What a sight met our gaze! There, prone upon her fnce on the floor, In tho midst of her tangled black draperies, on which tho golden serpents gleamed with horrid symbolism, sym-bolism, her bands still bound with the yellow scarf, writhing In convulsions, convul-sions, lay Bojanta. Colled nnd twisted twist-ed about her distorted form was In- Took unerring aim and fired. forna, tho cobra, Its frightful hooded head erect and hissing defiance. Tho dotcctlvo gave one glance, drow his revolver, took unerring aim and fired. When tho smoko cleared away tho serpent was doad. Ho disentangled the struggling form from Its colls, released tho hands nnd laid Bojanta on tho couch. Her torrlble death throes wero soon over. Tho murder of Reginald Dairy Dai-ry rn pi o was avenged. It seoms that I had not secured my prizo as firmly as I thought. Sho had struggled desperately at her bonds and succeeded In freeing her body from tho chair. Then, going go-ing to tho serpent's cago and turning her back to It sho had, with her fettered fet-tered bands, contrived to shovo up Uio sliding door, and thus invited ber awfu) destruction. There is only a stop between sorrow sor-row and Joy, horror and happiness, heaven and hell. When, ten da'n later, I prusentod myself nt tho Dalrymplc place and looked about at tho (lowers, tho exquisite ex-quisite sky, tho purple sea, I could scarcely bnllcvn that I had really passed through those fearful scenes of which I havo written. Thoy seemed llko a hideous nlghtmnro, from which some kindly hand had roused me. Angolo camo Into the room and suddenly sud-denly paused, wondering, sho told mo afterwards, nt tho Joy upon my face. "Angolo dnrllng," I cried, "you nro Innocent, neod that," and I held out Bojanta's confession. She read It, and thon swiftly, silently camo to my outstretched arms. I slowly, reverently, laid my lips on hors In tho first, long, bewildering bewilder-ing kiss of lovo. Only a step from boll to heaven! Aftor a tow moments of such happiness hap-piness as seldom cornea to morbus, wo sent for tho Professor and Satano. When they came, I told my sloe, keeping back nothing; not oven my suspicions of tholr complicity, Satano flushed, thon turned very white, but camo to mo and with unspeakable un-speakable grace, held out her hand, saying: "I forgive you. I do not blame you In tho least It was but Just Uat I. who bat) luspected this wronged, innocent woman of such an infamous deed, should be myself suspected. sus-pected. Let us bo friends." I took her hand In both of mlno nnd pressed It warmly. Then, turning turn-ing to Angele, she said: "My little Angele, onco before, with hatred In my heart, I falsely said, 'I hopo you will bo very happy.' Now, my slstor, with only lovo and tenderness tender-ness and regret, I say It sincerely and honestly. You bellovo me, do you not?" For reply, Angele threw her arms about tho stately Miss Capcl and kissed her with tears and smiles. Then, without one word or look for tho Professor, Satano quietly left tho room. After ho had congratulated us, ho followed her. Turning to me, Angele said: "I hope they will bo as hnppy as we are." This I echoed with all my heart, though I added, as I drew her to my breast: "My llttlo love, can any two human belngH bo so supremely happy as wo nro? Think of tho black night through which wo have como to tho morning of peace and Joy and lovo." CHAPTER XIV. Miss Capel Resumes Her Story. I. havo left my sister to enjoy tho now-found happiness, which, by right, belongs to hor. By rlgnt, I say. Yes, for every human being has a right to a certain share of happiness. happi-ness. Angclo has long been defrauded defraud-ed of her portion. Now it bos como rushing upon her llko a torrent from tno mountain heights, sweeping away overy evil and baleful memory, and bringing the pure, limpid waters pf a noblo lovo. God bless her and glvo her peace after all ber cruel trials. For myself, what is there? Nothing, nothing. And yet I am still young and beau- tiful. I am a woman capablo ot In- tenso lovo. Though on tho altar of my heart the ashos llo thick, undor-neath undor-neath smouldora tho flro. Whoso hand will Btlr thoso ashes and fan tho flro to a glowing blaze Henri's? I love hlra. Yos, why not confess It to myself? It Is with shnmS that I am forced to acknowledge that I again lovo a man who does not love mo. Reginald Dalrymplo novcr loved mo. What ho loved was the passion of love and thq satisfaction of conquest. con-quest. Thcro lurks In the nature of many men a vestlgo of barbarism. Women nro their lawful prey, and had they lived in tbo Orient thoy would havo bought and sold them, or seized them as booty, to bocomo tho sport and toy of their lolsuro slaves of their fancy and dcslro. But bo-Ing, bo-Ing, by chance, of the Western world, thoy aro forcod to confine tholr love of conquest to tho subjugation of woman's will nnd nature. To seo her ylold her personality Inch by Inch, until It Is absorbed In his; to mako hor tho cnptlvo of his whims tho slave of his caprlco; to causo hor to bow hor head and kiss tho hand of her master, as ho locks on her flowery fetters this Is tho attitude of men llko Itcx toward women. When ho hud succooded in cnt'iralllng ono woman's hoart, straightway he sighed, llko Alexander, Alexan-der, for now realms to conquer. But Honrl! ab, ho Is qulto different. differ-ent. Not that ho Is not strong and masterful In nnother sense. Ho Is by no means weak of, will, but ono to respect and look toward with a do-greo do-greo of awe. One would oboy him as a soldier an adored commander, not as a slave her despot. I bad written thus far when a band stolo over my shoulder and qulotly took possession of my manuscript. It was Henri's! I sprang to my feet and confronted blm. "Henri!" I cried in genuine agony, "do not read It I beg, Implore, command com-mand you you shall not" "Did I hear you nrlght?" ho said with a mocking bow, "command-Miss "command-Miss Capcl, did you say command?" "Yes," I answered, "I should wot have used such a word. I beg your pardon." "Cajnmand Is a bad word at all ' times,"' ho gravely said, "It shouM be carefully used. I am not going to i read your manuscript, child. I only wished to tcaso you. Hero It Is, my fair accomplice," and he returned It to me. Then sitting down by mo ho con- , tinned, "How do you enjoy knowing you havo been Buspcctcd of murder?" I confess It was to mo dnow sensation." sensa-tion." "Mr. Scvcrancn Is-not the only ono who has suspected mo," I roturaod proudly, t "Satano,' ho cried earnestly, thdt Is what I wish to talk to you about My dear cousin, can you ovor forgive for-give me. I was blinded to your noblo qualities. I Raw only tho woods In your heart's garden. You havo rooted root-ed them out. I have watched the process. Day by day havo you gardened gar-dened there, and In placo ot all thoaa a noxious growths there aro only fair, - " , sweet flowers. Satano, dearest, I love you. Will you bo my wlfo?" I do not qulto recall what happened hap-pened next He had his arms about mo and was looking down at me with those wonderful eyes. Ho was so gentle and kind. There was no trace of tho authoritative air ho had assumed as-sumed toward mo that evening In his " I room. Ho was only a sweet, court o- A ous lover. sj "You will let me read what you wore writing, will you not?" ho tenderly ten-derly asked, "I feel suro It Is something some-thing about mo, Satano." I hesitated one moment thon I gave It to blm and ho read 'It through. Turning, he claBped mo again In his arms. "Dearest, you arc right I do not , . , - wish a slave, but rather a soldier; a ) soldier who has bravely fought and vanquished her worst enemy; a soldier sol-dier who will bear and enduro all tho fatigues, tho hardships, tho forced marches of llfo, for tho lovo sho bears her shall I say commander comman-der darling? Is this a case whore ono may bo pardoned tho uso ot that obnoxious word?" And as be lifted my faco to his I know that for his kiss, his pralso, hts love, I would follow him through every ev-ery changing fortune, overy forlorn hopo, on to victory or to death. THE END. |
