The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-10-15
eyes, am very tired.n she answered

/ 81 hate the work. hate it,"
"But 1t isn't compulsory" he ex-
claimed. why do you do it?"
Because l must" she said, bitterly.
Paul Maryland was not a rapid think
er, and not until they had turned into
the street where she lived had he come
to some sort of conclusion. Perhaps
she was performing deeds of charity in
expiation of some trifing sin, magni-
fed by her tender conscience.
Yes, he loved her, She had guessed
1t long ago. ut was in that moment
when he had once unconsciously re-
vealed his secret that her work had
become suddenly hateful to herself.
Don't go in yet" he said. 81 want
to tell you something. Let us walk
back to the end of the street."
81 love you, Hester. love YOU" His
low voice penetrated through the traf.
fic of the street. Il am not young
man, but my feeling for you is deep
and strong enough to last my lifetime,
even unto eternity" He caught the
sharp sob that was choled in her throat.
"Hester," he cried, look at me! o, my
darling, what is itP"
81 am so happy!" she said. THAT is
ALL"
How long they walked up and down
the pavement neither knew. They were
jerked back to the reality of things
by faint, hoarse voice that seemed
to have sprung out of the darkness
beside them:
paul, for Gods sake, save me! 1t
is the last time shall trouble you"
go to my house by the back door.
I will join you in ten minutes"
And, catching at Hester's hand, he
hurried her along.
you are trembling, dearest. That
man has frightened you. He meant no
! harm. He is my brother"
"Your brother?" she gasped. Light
ming Jack your brother?"
"What do you know of Lightning
Jack?' Who are your"
"Come with me to my lodgings" she
said, family. 81 can't tell you here"
Hester Moore sat with her arms
stretched across the table, her head
bowed on them in speeohless, fearless
misery. The confidence which she had
withheld so long had been wrung from
her at last.
She was no angel of charity, but o
person sent from Scotland Yard to
track the burglar, Lightning Jack"
$50 this is our Little Gray Lady! A
human bloodhound paid to hunt down
fallen wretches."
Every word dashed her like a whip.
In the distress of that hour he was
blind to her pain, blind to justice, blind
to his very love for her.
well, your victim is ready at your
hand" he said, bitterly, to the trem-
bling representative of Scotland Yard.
"Of course, you will do your duty"
/ He walked from the room without
backward glance. For an instant she
remained thus, spiritless and dazed.
Then a gradual indignation worked its
way through her clouded brain.
/ What had she done to evoke con-
tempt, or forfeit happiness? Born of
detective father, she had been care
fully trained by the clever parent in
certain intricacies of the profession, and
since his death the work had been to
her a means of livelihood.
The cheap clock on the mantelpiece
struck II, and she raised her face at
] last, wonderous pity looking out of
her burning eyes. His seeming cruelty
had been but the outcome of fear for
the safety of his brother!
When the dawn showed through the
chinks of the blind, she threw open the
window and leaned out her face In the
chilly breeze.
"Hester, have been waiting for you,
hoping against hope that you did not
go last night to-Scotland Yard"
1t was Paul Maryland standing on the
pavement. He bent his face close to
hers, and whispered.
Thank God!" she said, with shak-
ing lips.
Death had spared her a terrible task
Lightning jack had died in delirium
in the arms of his brother.
One of the cleverest lady assistants
attached to Scotland Yard resigned her
post few weeks ago, on the occasion
of her approaching marriage.
The pew-opener of the Southwark
church was heard to remark that Sin
all her ken" no man had ever looked
so proud of his bride as did the "slum.
ming" doctor who brought back the
Little Gray Lady to live with them
Answers.