The Portland daily press., 1892-09-10
but yet these two things were the only

but yet these two things were the only
imperfections.
81 pronounced her an exceeding piece
of art-and infamy. was hugely in
terested to see how she could appear
perfect in her soul. I encouraged her
to talk. / saw with devilish irony that
an angel spoke. And to cap it all she
assumed the fascinating air of the medi-
ator-for her brother, seeking a recon.
ciliation between us. Her amazing art
OF person and mind SO worked upon me
that it became uncomfortable, it was so
exquisite and so shameless.
Il was sitting where the priest had
sat that afternoon, and when she leaned
toward me | caught her chin lightly
and trailed my fingers through her hair
as he had done, and that ended it, for
was cold and my heart worked with hor.
rible slowness. just as a wave poises
at its height before breaking upon tht
shore it hung at every pulse beat. and
then seemed to fall over with a sicken.
ing thud. | arose and, acting still,
spoke impatiently of her brother. Tears
sprang to her eyes. Such divine dis.
sanitation! / thought,-too, good for
earth. She turned to leave the room
and did not stay her. Yet we were to-
gether again that night. I was only
waiting"
The cigarette had dropped from his
fingers to. the floor and lay there smok-
ing. Shon's face was fixed with anxiety.
Pierre's eyes played gravely with the
sunshine. Vending drew heavy
breath and then went on: ss&@
sAgain next day it was like this-the
world draining the heat I watched
from the big mill. I saw them again.
He leaned over her chair and buried his
face in her hair. The proof was abso-
lutte now. started away, going round
about, that might not be seen. It took
me some time. I was passing through
clump Of cedar when I saw them max
ing toward the trees skirting the river.
Their backs were on me. Suddenly they
diverted their steps toward the great
slide, shut off from water this last few
months, and used as quarry to deepen
it. Some petrifed things had been found
in the rocks, but / did not think they
were going to these.
81 saw them climb down the rocky
steps, and presently they were lost to
view. The gates of the slide could be
opened by machinery from the little
mill. A terrible, deliciously malignant
thought came to me. / remember how
the sunlight crept away from me and
left me in the dark. [ stole through
that darkness to the little mill. I went
to the machinery for opening the gates.
Very gently l set it in motion, facing
the slide as I did so. I could see it
through the open sides of the mill.
81 smiled to think what the tiny creek,
always creeping through a faint leak in
the gates and falling with granite rat
tie on the stones, would now become.
pushed the lever harder, harder. saw
the gates suddenly give, then fly open,
and the river sprang, roaring, massively,
through them. Iheard a shrek through
the roar. shuddered; and q horrible
sickness came ON me. And as turned
from the machinery, I saw the young
priest coming at me through doorway!
1t was not the priest and my wife that |
had killed, but my wife and her brother"
He threw his head back as though
something clamped his throat. His
voice roughened with misery: ''The
young priest buried them both, and peo-
pie did not know the truth. They were
even sorry for me. But gave up che
mills--all; and / became homeless -
this"
Now he looked up at the two men and
said: Il have told you because you know
something, and because there will. |
think, be an end soon." He got up and
reached out trembling hand for a
cigarette. Pierre gave him one. "Wil]
ycu walk with meT' he asked.
Shon shook his head. "God forgive
your' he replied; 81 can't do it,"
But Vending and Pierre left the hut
together. They walked for an hour,
scarcely speaking and not considering
where they went. At last Pierre me
chemically turned to go down into the
Red glen. Vending stopped short;
then with signing laugh strobe On.
"Shon has told you what happened
here?" he said.
Pierre nodded.
"And you know what came once when
you walked with me. The dead can
strike" he added.
Pierre sought his eye. "The minister
and the girl buried together that day.
he said, "were"-
He stopped, for behind him he heard
the sharp, cold trickle of water. Silent
they walked on. 1t followed them
They could not get out of the rav1ne
now until they had comprised it's length
the walls were high. The sound grew.
The men faced each other. "Goodby,"
said Vending, and he stretched out his
hand swiftly. But Pierre heard
mighty flood groaning on them, and he
blinded as he stretched out his arm in
reply.
He caught at Weddings shoulder,
but felt him lifted and carried away,
while himself stood still in screeching
,~,I foI% 11a r1yo for. y1rcI,ir<r