Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-10-13
then, lifting her head, throwing it back
with gesture almost desperate, abruptly

| then, lifting her head, throwing it back
with gesture almost desperate, abruptly
spoke:
Mrs. Barry-I-I've got to say it,
/ can be of no further use to you now.
I'm bringing trouble, yes, even shame,
to you who have been so loving and
kind to me and; to your friends who
have been SO eager to help me. I'm not
tit to stay. Do me one last kindness.
Send me home.'
Her fingers were working nervously.
Her eyes were hard and hot and dry.
There was no weakness, no indecision,
no melting now. The girl had spent
long hours that day looking her trouble
in the face and had made her resolution.
She was set and determined. 1t was not
as suppliant she knelt. It was to urge,
almost to demand.
Nathalie, child,' began Mrs. Barry,
"you do yourself infinite wrong. There
has been no talk OF shame, no though.
of even blame attached to you, but those
who love you and would be your friends
are troubled because of your trouble. -
"Mrs. Barry, don't tell me there has
not been evil report, if not shameful re-
port. Can not see? Why otherwise
should Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Raymond
turn their heads away and refuse to
recognize me on the walk? Why should
Miss Maynard avoid meeting me, as she
has twice done, shrinking back into her
gate as though I were-con tamination
There has been talk-cruel falkland |
know it, and what is worse-ten times
worse-is that much that is said l can
never deny. In my misery I've tried to
hide it from everybody, but he has been
utterly reckless. He has logged and
dared and followed everywhere, even
here. Mrs. Barry-Mrs. Barry, there is
only one place on earth where l can
avoid him, and that is home. Send me
there. In pity send me home''
And then at last the overcharged
heart gave way. The poor girl burst
into q passion of tears, and turning she
threw herself prone upon the rug at the
sofa side, buried Der face in her arms
and sobbed like spirit broken child.
For several minutes the storm of her
passionate weeping ragged unbroken.
even as the invalid herself, when at last
she was persuaded once more to kneel
beside the couch, lay her swollen face
on her protector S bosom and submit to
the soothing Of her almost motherly ca
ress. For a long time as the sunshine
vanished and the twilight settled down
and the gloom and shadow of the com
ing night enshrouded the little parlor
the girl knelt nerveless, encixcled by
those loving arms. Mrs. Barry would
ask no questions, seek no explanation
now. Her one aim was to calm and
comfort. Condolences, she assured her
self, would follow. The maid came to
the doorway with the parlor lamp, but
was hidden to leave it in the adjoining
room and to excuse the ladies should
visitors appear. At last Nathalie herself
attempted to move. "Why, it is long
past time for your tea, she murmured
brokenly. "How selfish and forgetful
I've been Let me get it, she pleaded.
"And you, too, Nathalie, have not
tasted a mouthful since breakfast. Or
der tea, dear. Then Well talk.
But even after the soothing cup Ma
thalie Baird amazed her friend and
comforter To every plea that she
should reveal the name of the man who
had so destroyed her peace of mind and
to disclose the nature of the claim she
held the girl was deaf and determined.
"Do not ask me that" she said 81
have pledged my very word not to tell.
All l ask is to be allowed to go, to re-
lieve you of the shame and anxiety my
staying would surely cause Oh, Mrs.
Barry, Mrs. Barry" she cried aloud,
"you do not dream what he could do.
He threatens me even here under your
roof. Hesays unless l bring or send him
more he will come here to this house to
demand it. Oh, don't you see-don' t
you know why do not end it all, and
by stealing away at night and hiding
until the first train goes eastward l
could relieve you of all this misery:
Mrs. Barry. I haven't penny in the
world. He has taken every cent. .
ITO BE CONTINUED