Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-11-24


with the s;imc unhrnding expression turned
lii head and Slowly walked away
| started up, looking about me wildly.
The fire had burned down. Only a few en-
bers .;lowed in the p;rate. The lamp was
turned down; Its light fell upon some food
spread upon the table.
Then realized my position
Ny face and hands were wet and clarnlny
with heat and terror. That terrible, warn
iug dream haunted n.o. What should do?
The thought Of lying down again 10 sleep
WAS rcpu-uant to me. with the dread Of
dreaming again. II must be nearly morn
INK for the fire to have burned So low. In a
little while that fair haired woman and her
husband would come with friendly greet
lngs. lie would press my hands and she
kiss my cheeks again. | was not uncon-
scious OF the kindness and generosity that
animated them, and yet the prospect of
meeting them was, knew not why, as re-
pugnant to me rs the idea of sleeping again
i'll their bed.
Walking ac"l = the room, my eye fell
upon some children toys and doll upon
a shelf. They perplexed me with a new
and unaccountable fear Turning to the
mantelpiece | saw Il photograph in frame
owner of the doll and playthings on the
shelf-perhapS the fair haired woman's
child. At that supposition the cause Of
my repuSnant fear was revealed to me-
and remembering the word of Taras said
to myself: This is the honest woman and
the good man who would shrink from me.
This Is the child whose lips may not kiss.
What then? asked. Let them shun me.
N hai l. ind g.. 1.
Not l. The world is good enough without
them while Taras smiles. But how long
will he smile? by this time the firemen
have found the charred bodies, and every
one is talking Of the tragedy at the Mar
iner's Joy. Soon enough, in a few hours,
the news will reach Taras, and he will know
what have done-know that am muir
derer. Then he, too. like the Taras in my
prophetic vision, will turn his back on me
without one CLEAN Of pity and go away.
Should stay and suffer that! My spirit
rose in wild protest. That dream should
not be realized; that pitiless look should
not forever haunt my life.
With these thoughts running through
my fevered imagination, l hunted about
the room for the sodden rags had taken
Off. They were gone. The woman had re-
moved them with the determination that
I should not wear them again. Well, I
would take those she had given me to
wear. 1t mattered little whether they
were a gift or not. 1t would not add
greatly to their loathing to know that the
murderess was thief as well. put ON the
shoes she had left and took wooden shawl
as well to wrap about my head; then
opening the door cautiously that no noise
frbt otoy, ho eli al
found my way down stairs by the glim-
mer Of light that came from below.
The shop was before me. but on the right
Of the stairs was half open door. The
light was in that room, and glancing in
saw Taras stretched on a couch asleep.
could go no farther. The thought that /
should look upon his face no more seemed
to take away all power from my mind and
body, and stood there dazed with that
sense of utter bereavement, until impelled
by wild desire passed into the room and
drew quite close to him.
sank upon my knees and put my face
so close to his that felt his breath upon
my check, but could not see him for the
tears that blinded me. My fingers hung
quivering over him, for yearned to touch
him, yet dared not. My tears ran down
my cheeks and fell upon the floor. Then
could see him. The same sweet kindness
was on his face that had Weakened my soul
from its letAargy.
THAT is what will remember all my
life" said to myself as rose His watch
lay on the table, and beside it ring l had
noticed on his finger when was cutting
the cord that bound his hands. took 1t,
feeling that he would not begrudge me this
for a keepsake.
There was fog in the street. but the cop
perry background to the line of housetops
and the quick, heavy tread Of men going to
work showed that 1t was morning. had
no knowledge Of the neighborhood. but
that did not trouble me. My only object
was to get away from Taras and hide my
self where he could never come to kill my
happy memories with a reproachful look.
After awhile knew by the long lines Of
carts and barrows, the voices Of porters and
costers and the smell of fish that must be
near Billingsgate market, and soon after
saw the monument looming in tine yellow
fog. l crossed the bridge and went down
the steps into Tooley street, not with any
definite object, but because the thick dark
ness down there seemed to offer oblivion.
Finding myself alone at the foot Of the
steps, tore Off piece Of trimming from
my dress, and passing it through Taras'
ring l tied it round my neck, hiding the
ring in my bosom.
l have but the faintest recollection Of
what happened during the day. my mind
being too scared by previous events to be
sensitive to slight impressions l remem-
Der feeling wretched and hungry and sick
with the fatigue Of walking. wandered
on because found no place to rest until
hazard led me into Greenwich park about
dusk. There fell asleep on a bench.
1t was raining when l awoke, but it was
too dark to distinguish anything, even the
trees. and could not sleep again for shiv-
sriug with cold and the aching Of my body.
So sat there in dull resignation. watching
the daylight come and marking one by one
the heavy drops as they FLASHED on the
bench beside me, falling from the boughs
above. until goaded by hunger threw of
my lethargy and went down into the town.
It was still early, but the coffee shops
were open, their windows clouded by the
warmth within. The first one entered
was full Of customers. and the man serving
them was 80 busy that he scarcely glanced
at me In replying to my humble appeal for
food.
"Oh. 1 amt got the time to attend to
beggars-out you gor said he, bustling
along with his hands full of empty cups.
The next one was less crowded, and q
woman was In the kitchen before the fam
ing fire She turned round, setting her
hands on her hips, and looked me down
from head to foot as asked her to give me
something to eat and drink.
II amt got no money. but I'll do a Job Of
fovs