Graham guardian., 1900-06-01
l'or..r~o., .-~r, .ooo,s n.cs

| my hrsi easy breath. Oh. EvtIy1ft"
tMrs. Lancaster was gazing into ths
| girls eyesD what 10 the matter with
both OF ns?"
Evelyn shook her head; her rich
abundan, hair glisfenipg like threadnr
of FURNISHED gold In the sun.
Il know what's the matter with me,v
she said. with little laugh. Il nope
something else is wrong with YOU
Mrs. Lancaster sighed. "When geib
back from his house ! may tell yorW
what am going for. but ] shall nor
0ow--no shall NOT now"
Mrs. Lancaster had several time1h
taken short drives In the pony cart
which was always at the disposal or
the guests of Carnieigh. and 30. wherrr
she oriered IL out at ten o'clock. no.
one made any comment. As sbee,
drove up near the dilapidated dorni-
ellie Of the Fanshsws she began tu-
shrink from her intentions, The plactrs
certainly presented . torn-down. for
bidding aspect. In front. not twenty
yards from the porch. was a decayirg-
rail fence and gate that sagged to-
the earth. The roof Of the porch sazs
low and siat. dank and moss-growFx--
and on II lay some pieces Of raggsdN
east-off clothing on which two or three
cats lay sleeping in the sun. The twrs~
sisters half lay. half sat on ihe porch
and Mrs. Fanshaw stood in the fronk
doorway. her dull gaze on the rart.
and its inmate. The dogs sprhn4
from under the house and ran bark-
l. IL
Tanshsw. thinking that the lady hadeF
stopped to ask some question abouA-
the road as passers-by often did.
shambled down the steps and out .os-
the cart She succeeded in driving thu
dogs back. and then leaned over thEs
gate expectantly.
81 called to see Mr.. Ronald Fan
shaw" announced the visitor; 'is be st,-
bcme?'
"Yes. ma'am." answered Mrs. Fam
shaw; "he was up in his room jett-
now. Won't you light an come in?'-
The room into which the arisfo--
cratic caller was ushered had worm
scrap OF carpet from the door 10 ,he~-
big. socty fireplace. There were ON
the walls several warped cbromox anh
erudeiy enlarged crayon portraits OF
Fanshaw and his wife. also photo
graphs Of every member lefu the fam--
iiy except Ronald who Mkaa never
cared TO have his picture taken: Mrs
Fanshaw gave the Hsstor a turkes--
wing fan. and brought in some fresm
water. Mrs. Lancaster was sipainR
II from the edge OF the big cracked
tumbler when Ronald came down tho
narrow creaking stairs and enteretRa
she room.
"Yoa may not know who ann -
began Mrs. Lancaster. as he stoeR
waiting for her TO resume her chaire
after she tad risen and given him her.
hand.
"ion may rest assured. madam. that /:
every body in this neighborbood knows =
you. at least by sight. The poor snd 4
needy have good cause for remember~
ing you"
She started at the sound OF hi9- q
voice ard stared at him for fully NJ
minute: hes eyes were expanded tm
surprise and she seemed nr bic 70 re--
ply TO his compliment She put her
handkerchief 10 her quiyering lipA. :
and when she finally spoke IL was with
q visible effort AZ self-eontrol
~ hope you will pard,.l me-" She
faltered. "but your voice is 80 Ike
that Of dear one who was taken
from me q long time agony hus-
band who met tragic death dur.
ing the war. Last night when .
heard you speaking In the distance Y
WAS reminded OF him. and now--Ohf
Il is very silly OF me. but--you rah'G
imagine how rpuch your voice RE-
sembles his. and t,he speaker swal-
lowed something which seemed to-
stick in her throat) 'then your hair,
and eyes and hands remind me OF hiss
800 very much
Ronald had flushed red. and seemeda
at loss how 20 proceed.
u am sorry he said. finally, III any
features Of mine bring up sad reeol-
lextions
II nm silly goose" the visitor
said. with little laugh. which was noS-
quite her own. - hope you rcceiyeds
the note wrote you yesterday
Ronald bowed. ''lt was the one thing
which sustained me-made me work
on to the end. aimos, lost hope yes--
terday afternoon There was not D.
man op my side, even the sheriT waa-
afraid 10 open bis mouth. A dozen mens
had threatened to hill me-"
His auditor waa bending towards
him. feasting on his features with wide
open eyes and hands tightly ciasped in
her lap.
II was almost sorry ! advised you
10 try 10 save him. Mr.. Fsnshaw. when
the climax was reached and realizes
youy own peril; bat aow that you havo
triumphed am glad wrote yoa--oh..
80 glad! for your work Las, night-
has shown me what noble man ,oe~
are, and"
- think" be ssi3. seeing that shc-
was no, going 30 proceed. ''that the
20 the evil natures of these people,
bu, 10 certain ability 10 believe in
the Innocence % . man accused ~ thia-.
one Was.
1T Is certainly good Of you TO defenk
them as you do" ssia the old lady. her
eyes sill; hrns eagerly. s~arehingly "a
his face. .'You have heard perhaps OF
the capture and confession OF ths resh
criminsl2"
He told hsr be had iust received tho
news.
Continued next week.