The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-19
Copyright, 1893, eu The Anthor.l

care to 90 any closer to the hedge, which,
leaiiess as 1t now was was thick enough to
afford an efficient screen.
There was no answer, and no sound; and
II Rachel had not been 80 quick of sight
and hearing, she might have thought that
she had deceived herself. and that what
she took for q man had been moving
branch or the trunk of an old tree. But che
was quite sure that her eyes had not de-
ceIved her, and rather glad of chance of
giving vent to ths vague anger and Ill.
temper which possessed her. she tarried to
address spirited little lecture to the I'M
seen man.
Aren't you ashamed of yourself. stink
ing along behind bushes instead o. coming
out an answering for yourself like mani"
She paused. and as there was still nc an
swer she presently went on again: What
are ye doin' there if we mean honestf What
are ye following me fort Or who isit ye
are waiting fort Is Ii for Jack Monnel.
with that knife o yours after all yer fine
promisesW
But. although Rachel had q very shrewd
suspicion that her words were not wasted
upon the night wind, but that they fell
into listening pair of ears, she got no
answer and had to go on her way, giving
the hedge q wider berth.
When she got near home, however, she
struck into little copse so quickly that
she knew very well If any one was follow
ing ner, he would be puzzled as TO where
she had gone. Threading her way slowly
through the narrow foOtpath among the
brushwOod, she came out at q spot near
the high road, some distance away from
the cottage. And there she ran against
Coultas Storm. who darted away before
she had q chance of speaking to him. she
was rather puzzled by the speed with
which he must have got from point TO
point. However, he was gone, and there
was no chance of questioning him fnrther
at present. GO she returned quickly to the
cottage. where her grandmother. very anX-
lous about her. was waiting at the door.
Rachel received the old woman's con-
graLulations on her safe return rather I'M
graciously, and to the suggestion that
Coultas had looked like murder she al
fected TO laugh with greas amusement;
There's no harm in the poor chap Gran
n.y." she said. AN it's true enough he
cares for me more'n-others."
AN what about T. accident to Jack Men
nelf" asked the old woman abruptly.
Rachel hesItated, rather puzzled what to
answer.
.sOh. we'll. we mustn't be too hard on O
lad if be says first thing as comes upper
most when he wants to get word WI
lass all 20 himself" said she indulgently.
But Mrs. Wade was not satisfied. NOW
that the tide seemed to be turning little
in Coultas Storms favor she. of course, be-
came more alive to the advantages OF tie
well-to-do Jack Mennel She grum bled q
little from time to time as they sst &C their
knitting in the freight and made saroas-
tic remarks upon the deterioration In men
and maidens since her own youth. when, so
1t appeared undecided maidens and unsat-
isfactory lovers were unknown. Rachel
bore 1t all very quietly, being In fact, sd
much interested In her own thoughts as
not To find herself forced to listen TO her
grandmothers com plants
The gale rose higher and higher, until
old Mrs. Wade's attention was perforce Oh
verted to the question whether or not the
fishing boats would be able to go out that
night. Having happily got on this new
topic. she worried 10. without much assist
ance from her granddaughter. until both
women were startled by a loud knocking
at the door.
Before either could speak. the door was
burst open, and q man whom they knew by
sight as neighbor. entered hurriedly.
Slight as was his acquaintance with the
two women. he. of course, knew all about
handsome Rachel and her two lovers. de
went up to the girl and jerked his thumb
over his shoulder IN the direction OF the sea-
shore.
En-, Miss, but there's two lads been
fighting abawt you Ger yon. an one
on 'em's took himself off. an t'Other's
lynn ON Z sand a. bleedin' to death"
bleeding to deathp' echoed the girl with
pale lips. and she stood up with scared
look on her face. and prepared to accom-
pany him.
GAY, he were stabbed by T. other one.
take it.. Leastways, / saw knife on Z
ground"
The girl rocked where she stood.
"Oh, how could you do itp she moaned,
covering her face with her hands. After
oil your fair words an your promises
"Eh. so tina know'd 1t were comm. did
tina, lass" said the man. surprised.
But Rachel Eade him no answer. She
was quiyering with emotional excitement.
This horrible intelligence had suddenly
opened her eyes to tho state of her own
heart. she gave scarcely moments
thought TO Jack, in spite of the picture her
informant had described. 1t was of Coultas
that she thought; it was for the dishonor
he had brought upon himself that she
smarted. Mechanically she followed the
man out of the cottage, but at the garden
gate she stopped him.
Tell me-" she cried hoarsely. twas he
stabbed in the backW
mot zackly. More in shoulder like" an
swered he reassuringly.
He began to think the girl knew as much
OF the affair as be could tell her.
The girls heart was too sore for many
words, but as they came in sight of the fig
ure of the wounded man lying on the shore
she Missed out between her closed teeth:
TO leave him alone. too-and bleeding
to DEATH oh. shameful, shameful
AYE. lass, you're right there" assented
her companion as he strobe few steps in
front OF her towards the PROSTATE figure
Rachel hung back. Inexperienced in
matters of emotion. she was overwhelmed,
bewildered by the strange tempest of pas
sionate feelings to which she suddenly
found herself prey. Why was il that she
She did not know herself She only knew
that it was with a great effort that she
controlled her impulse to run away in
search of his assailant. With leaden feet
she approached the spot where the fisher
man who had summoned her was now
kneeling In the sands raising the head of
the wounded man. 1t was quito dark. and
the wind was blowing hard; her voice. not
so firm OF so steady as usual. seemed to be
half drowned by the blast.
Jack" she said, TREMENDOUSLY, as she
drew near. Pm main sorry TO see you like
this. am indeed. 1t was a towards thing
to do to We. an Pm not the woman to for
give the man who done it,"
She had not yet gwen moro than a glance
down at the wounded man; she was stiff.
constrained. awkward.
The answer TO her words was half grunt.
half groan. Possessed by the wish to
know not who had committed this outrage
but how it came TO be DONE the girl went
on as she came q step nearer:
Who done it. Jackf"
"I-I dunno"
Rachel did not shrek, did not utter a
word. But she felt as If the ground was
reeling around her. Then she sank down
on her knees in the sand, and the tears
gushed out from her eyes and fell on the
upturned face of the wounded man.
1t was not Jack Meunei. but Coultas
Storm.
CHAPTER IV.-THE woMAN's PRIVILEGE.
Breathing hard. the young man struggled
to raise himself on his elbow: she put her
strong arms under his head, supporting
HIM.
A.. - l.