Page:By Sanction of Law.pdf/222

 "Daddy," she said, "I would never have believed a Lauriston capable of the ungentlemanliness of opening another's letters.—Give me my letter."

Colonel Lauriston stared so wildly at the girl that she began to believe he was out of his mind.

"Give me my letter, Daddy, please."

"No!" he thundered with such vehemence that the vibration of his voice seemed to shake the wall. His face was now that of a demon. He leaned closer and closer to the girl. Her eyes never left his. He raised his hands while his eyes fixed themselves on the pale pink whiteness of her lace bound throat. His fingers moved spasmodically. Lida recalled his threat to kill.

"I've a mind to kill you—choke you to death—you—you—you—ungrateful child. I—I—I—will kill you."

He bent closer to the pillow on which Lida's head was resting. Suddenly just as he was about to lay hands on her a medallion of Lida's mother, revealed itself from beneath the enfolding lace, due to her heaving breast just as wild hands were about to clutch the throat of the girl.

Colonel Lauriston's madness turned to an expression of horror. With a cry as of great pain he snatched the medallion from about the girl's neck, snapping the ribbon that held it and strode from the room, crying, "Oh, God! that I should live to see this day." He bore the crumpled letter with him. "Oh, God, I'm mad—I'm mad! Cursed and mad!"

As the door closed behind him Lida leaped from the bed.