Cruel As The Grave

But the cries of the child from the adjoining nursery caused her to

start up, and run in there to comfort him.

The searchers left that room, and pursued their investigations

elsewhere. They went all through the house without finding any clue to

the mystery. They attempted to search the grounds, but the night was

pitch-dark, and the rain was falling fast. Finally, they returned to the

room of death.

All the ladies and all the servants had gone away. No one remained in it

but Sybil and Miss Tabby, watching the dead.

Sybil sat near the head of the body, and Miss Tabby near the feet.

At the sight of his doomed young wife, Lyon Berners senses reeled again.

"She is so inexperienced in all the ways of the world, so ignorant of

the ways of the law! Oh, does she know--does she even dream of the awful

position, the deadly danger in which she stands? No; she is unconscious

of all peril. She evidently believes that the explanation she gave us

here, and which satisfies her friends, will convince all others. Oh,

Sybil! Sybil! an hour ago so safe in your domestic sanctity, and

now--now momentarily exposed to--Heaven! I cannot bear it!" he groaned,

as he struggled for self-command and went towards her.

She was sitting with her hands clasped, as in prayer, and her eyes, full

of the deepest regret and pity, fixed upon the face of the dead. There

was sorrow, sympathy, awe--anything but fear or distrust in her

countenance. At the approach of her husband, she turned and whispered

gravely: "She was my rival where I could least bear rivalry; and I thought she

had been a successful one. I do not think so now; and now I have no

feeling towards her but one of the deepest compassion. Oh, Lyon, we must

adopt her poor child, and rear it for our own. Oh! who has done this

deed? Some one whose aim was robbery, no doubt. Has any trace been

discovered of the murderer?" she inquired.

"None, Sybil," he answered, with difficulty.

"Oh, Lyon, such awful thoughts have visited me since I have sat here and

forced myself to look upon this sight! For I see in it that which I

might have done, had my madness become frenzy; but even then, not as

this was done. Oh, no, no, no! May God forgive me and change my heart,

for I have been standing on the edge of an abyss!"

Mr. Berners could not speak. He was suffocating with the feeling that

she now stood upon the brink of ruin yawning to receive her.

"Heaven help you, Sybil!" was the silent prayer of his spirit as he

gazed on his unconscious wife.

Miss Tabby, who sat whimpering at the feet of the dead, now spoke up: "I think," she said, wiping the tear-drop from the end of her nose, "I

do think as we ought not to leave it a-lying here, cramped up onto

this sofy, where we can't stretch it straight. We ought to have it taken

to her room and laid out on her bed, decent and in order."