The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-21
CHAPTER III.

broken now, and the day had been damp and cloudy. Max, coming in from the farm, stood watching her. She had not seen him, and there was sad, hopeless look on her face, which went to his heart like child's cry. He remembered for the first time that he had seen her look like that when sleeping, or when he had caught her face off guard during his illness.
 Was it possible that she suffered? Was her fault burden and a shame to her? Oh, if that were so, would it not be possible that between them they might outlive it? If it were so, he had failed ill his duty to her. She had been suffering, and he had held aloof; she had been in trouble, and he had not helped her. For the first time in her presence he felt it possible to speak.
 Muriel turned from the lamp and drew down all the blinds but one.
 "I don't want the beacon tonight, Muriel," he said ''I am home already"
 She turned to him brightly, with her old smile; but somehow Max had liked the sad LOOK better.
 "I am so glad you are home early. We can have cosy talk before dinner. You won't mind dinner being little late tonight? Mir. May is coming. We had better leave the beacon for him."
 Max hated Philip Nays visits. He saw the effort it cost his old friend to sit at the table of man he believed had wronged him so deeply, and seemed himself to feel all the pain of the struggle. He knew that he was forgiven-for Muriel's sake-and was as bitterly humiliated by the forgive ness as if he had stood in need of it. Then he saw that Muriel feared the man to whom she had lied-and that hurt him most of all. It seemed to him when they were together that he bore the shame of all three.
 He only asked carelessly why May need be late.
 "He has been to Oxford, and could not reach DenhaR Station till 6:3O," Muriel said, "but he has promised to ride across the fields, over the wooden bridge, so as not to keep us waiting moment longer than he can help"
 "He can't do that" said Max. Il locked the gate leading off Denham Road to the field path this morning when I went through, because the bridge was not safe the floating ice on the river has all but broken it down. It was all I could do to get over safe, so locked the gate, lest any one should chance to come through our fields. May will have to come by the road"
 "The bridge not safe :" cried Muriel. "Oh, Max and Philip was so anxious not to keep us waiting that I let him take my key"
 "Then I must go and meet him. The bridge would scarcely bear me this morning; it is not likely to bear him and the horse tonight"
 "Don't go out again in such weather; send one of the men,"
 "They have gone home; besides, couldn't send the poor fellows out, af- ter a days work"
 "But you are not we'll enough to go out in the cold"
 "Poor old Phil will be drowned if I don't"
 By this time he had reached the hall door, and she had followed him. He turned back to kiss her, and then hurried out.
 Max, don't want you to go," she called after him; "come back to me, darling"
 The words followed him down the damp road; he turned for one last look as she stood in the doorway, and then hurried down the road.
 The short cut from Denham main road lay straight through the fields, then along by the side of the river for some hundred yards, then, turning sharply, went over the bridge, and from thence straight towards the light in Murieps window. Crossing the bridge being out of the question, Max intended, when he reached it, to leave the path and station himself in the field by the river, opposite that part of the path which lay along the further bank; from thence he could shout a warning to his friend.
 He hurried across the fields, breath less and anxious, but full of new hope. MuriePs parting words rang like the refrain of a song in his ears. MuriePs sadness was an augury of hope.
 He neared the bridge; but, when he was about to turn of into the fields, he saw he was too late, for there was May riding rapidly along the path be- side the river. He would turn the corner on to the bridge before Max could stop him. There was no chance of warning him except by the bridge. Max got almost half across it, but the middle part had been entirely car