The Newtown bee., 1900-07-27

not-anything-that can dor'
She shook her head. Then SLOWLY and
as 1t reluctantly she said: 81 do trust
you-now."
II am your FRIEND" he urged, Railways
remember that"
But even as he spoke he was alone.
Priscilla had glided go noiselessly awav
tnat Malcolm drew his bahdaged hand
across his brow, half believing for an in
slant that he had been asleep, and had
dreamed feverish dream.
AT that moment Mrs Coles, in her SIT
ting room across. the hall, was telling Far
mer Bowen and his wife: "He's verv
bad, fear. The poor young minister is
nurted worse than any of Us knows. He
must "a hit bis head, for now he lies
there in the dark a-talkin' to himself
and, moreover, he's a-talkin' in. two differ
emf tones, just for all the world as IL he
thought be was two persons!
Malcolm's hurts proved much more
serious than they had been thought at
first, and it was midwinter before he was
sufficiently recovered from them to 20
about as usual. But still he had insisted
upon attending to his chief duties. and.
after that one night, he saw every one
who came to him. But during all that
time be had not been able to 70 farther
than from his room across to the old
white church; and Priscilla he had not
seen since her unexpected appearance in
bis study on that autumn night. She
had been more often in his thoughts than
even since that time, and as he could not
60 to her, he had hoped but hoped in vain
that she might come again to him.
AT last there came day when the
conviction grew strong upon him that
Priscilla needed him, and Malcolm start
ed to 60 to her at once. 1t was the first
time he had attempted to walk 90 far, and
1t was a tax upon his strength. AS he
slowly trsversed the untrodden, snowy
path which led up to her door, he saw a
pinched, white face at the window.
which he could hardly recognize as hers.
he found Priscilla almost at the point
OF death, for there was no mistakine that
strange pallor and the intense brightness
of her dark, sunken eyes.
Impatiently she put aside his anxiety,
and grasped his arm to prevent bis leav.
ing her to 60 for assistance then.
ut is toe late" she said, land nothing
mstters-since you have come-in time =,
He saw THAT it was true, she wanted
him for some Get purpose, and 1t would |
be cruel to thwart her there.
But after her pitiful story had been
told and Malcolm had fastened the doc
Tor to Pris cilla's bedside, the physician
said that nothing could be done. he had
been summoned full week too late. In
deed, he marveled what had kept the
alive go long!
II have watched and watched" Pris-
ella said brokeDly as Malcolm bent over
1er to catch the words, ssfor knew YOU
you'd come. wanted you. 1 couldn't
lie Till had seen you. There is some.
hing 1 never meant to tell living soul,
but want you to know. But no one
!se-you will keep my secret,--you will
Tide what 1 have hidden-all these ,
,ear.?' l.
II WILL" said Malcolm, "you may de- +
end on me-" t
"You know what they all say of me f
nat am witch-that am mad?" t
And you know that never believed Z
GU mad" he said, "though have Won. t
cred why you should wish others to p
link SO, and that you should have kept n
the pretense so long" o
II had to do it or 20 really mad! You 81
INIT kno~-yet! When my sister turned n
ON me-and every one was quick to p
'llow her example, had to do it! L G.
I'd to do something-day and night 1 II
as alone. Oh you don't know what it o.
cans to be alone and shunned by all 81
ntil at last I crept behind the hedges 81
hear the sound of human voices. And al
ben was tempted first to speak out p'
I'd tell something had overheard, ard
hich no one dreamed L knew and
ey whispered Witch! accepted the
me because it gave me a purpose n
netting to do-to pretend 1 was mad ia
ID that madness had given me power
ey feared and could not understand. .,
On know what else is said of me?'' m
II know. But whatever happened, nc
u had no evil intent, am sure of da