Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-02-20


claimed, earnestly. Il think must have
been quite mad when II believed
What, child-what?"
THAT you had killed Jacob Lynn"
The words were out; but, now that she
heard her own voice express aloud what
for so long she had only whispered fear
fully to her heart, its whole enormity rose
before her, and she wondered how for
q moment she could have thought it pos
slDle She fell upon her knees, her hand
still held in his, the tears streaming from
her eyes.
"Oh, can you ever forgive me, Ste
phen?''
What is there could not forgive you,
Jenny: he said, softly, in the low, ca
resslng tones which, though strange to
her so long, held still their powerful
charm.
Iell me why you suspected me?' he
asked, gently, drawing two chairs to the
ire, and seating himself so naturally in
one that she could not we'll refuse to take
the other.
And then she told him as much of the
story as she could, though the evidence
she had once believed condemnatory
seemed miserably weak, told thus to his
face.
Il did not always believe it," she fin
ished, apologetically- "often the suspi-
cions seemed as ridiculous and unbound
ed as know them to be now, and then
then
He waited quietly for her to continue
looking straight into the fire, not at her
downcast face.
L could not bear the uncertainty any
longer. l wanted to prove it one way or
the other, and to do so | went to your
bungalow, when you were away, and
searched"
Il know it, Jenny; I was there. l saw
your
An ejaculation of dismay escaped her
lips, and she covered her face with her
hands to hide it's burning crimson. She
felt so ashamed, as though she could
never meet his eyes again. What oh,
what must he have thought?'
Don't be sorry about it, darling. You
would not be if you knew the comfort it
has been all this time to be sure that you
loved me still, impossible as it must 9th
erWise have seemed in the face Of your
determined coldness."
You saw me at the writing :"
she faltered.
Il saw you kiss what I had written I'M
derneath your photograph, and since then
it has been a hundred times more DEAR
he concluded, warmly. There was so
much | could not understand in your be-
havior at that time; but that one all
important fact at least was clear-you
loved me. That was all l cared to know.
You wouldn't wish to rob me of that
knowledge, Jenny? Lift up your face,
darling; don't look so ashamed"
He was standing beside her chair now,
his hand resting on her shoulder; and
she looked up into his face.
II ought not to be ashamed of that, Ste
phen-not of loving you, mean, but
''All the rest is blotted out, forgotten!"
he declared.
''But-'' she repeated, nervously.
Don't say anything to spoil it, dear.
Let us talk of something else. You never
spoke to any one else of your suspicious,
did your
Eyes; Mr.. Knollys asked me great
many questions some time ago, and am
afraid he gathered something from my
answers which made him think what
thought then. But directly l knew that
you were innocent, told him SO, only |
am not sure that he believed me-not
quite sure, at least
''Never mind. Let him believe what he
likes Perhaps it may keep him off the
right track" Then, meeting James sur
prsed, confused glance, he added quick
ly: Tell me how you discovered it was
not -
Don't ask me-" said Jane, in low,
Dained voice. lit is all too terrible-tOo
sad!
Go be continued.)