Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-01-05
CHAPTER XVII.

convinced Mason that lie WAS alone
with Gwyn when he felt her fingers
about his Eeck and face. In another
moment the cloth which had bean
thrown round his head was drawn OF.
and he was able to see.
lie found himself still in the sick
room nj a few PAGES from the armchair
In which he had been sleeping. But
the corresponding chair ON the oppo-
site side Of the fireplace where the old
woman had been accustomed to sit
was now empty.
At first he could not see Gwyn, for
she had got behind his head. which she
had placed upon her knees, while her
fingers were busy untying the towel
with which he had been gagged.
Her fingers We're so strong. she
worked with such hearty good will.
that In very few moments his head
was quite free, and he Mas able to
| speak.
All the use he made of this privilege.
however. was TO utter Thank you"
once or twice in a weak. faint voice.
She bent down over him. gazing into
his face with anxiety and distress.
which touched his heart. Then. seeing
him able to speak TO her. she uttered
| two words. THANK Cod" ard without
an instant's delay set herself TO unite
the cords with which he had been skill
| fully bound. Her hands. which We're
large and strong and dc1t. fulfilled
| their task in an incredibly short time,
untying knots and liberating each limb
in turn with steady dexterity, which
left no time for hysterical outburst or
even for kindly word.
Once. however, she glanced from her
work to his face. and the half shy. half
bold look In her passionate eyes carried
secret of hers swiftly into his mind.
! And again. when she bent her head to
unfasten one of the knots with her
strong. white teeth. while her long,
loosened black hair flowed over his
arms and breast, lie felt her warm lips
| trembling as they touched his hand.
and the knowledge the action gave
him thrilled him through and through.
At last he was free, and with low
VI VI SdtlotuNiiou sbC SPiu paNN "hN
stood up. offering him one hand to help
him to rise.
But he found himself for the moment
so much benumbed by the pressure of
the cords which had SO lately bound
him that he had some difficulty in get
ting on his feet. When he succeeded,
the girl gave him one glance of pas
sionate thankfulness and pride and
JOY. Clasping her hands tightly. but
with a look which was still shy AMI
modest, she whispered: I'm so glad, so
thankful. You are safe, quite safe,
now"
And then, having ascertained that
he was indeed, as she said, safe for
the time at least, the remembrance
that she was In her nightdress. that
her feet were bare, that her hair was
hanging in disorder about her shout
ders, came suddenly to her mind. Cast
ing down her eyes hastily and biting
her lip. she seized one of the shawls
which her grandmother had left in her
chair and, drawing it quickly round
her so that 1t wrapped her from neck
to foot. yet still with the modest af-
fectation of being only cold. not shy,
she seated herself in the empty chair
by the fire. and with an assumption Of
acting mechanically and from no mere
self consciousness she put her hands
up to her head and hastily twisted her
long hair into thick coil. which she
tucked into the shawl at the back Of
her neck
In the meantime she tried to speak
In matter Of fact tone.
You must think. doctor. that you
are in den Of thieves, murderers.
said she. But am going to show
You that you are mistaken"
Mason made no reply. After the
experience he had just gone through,
how could he give her even a conven-
tional assurance that he had no such
thoughts as she suggested?
You do think SO. don't yot?' she
asked, her voice breaking little on
this second question.
When at last he found his voice, 1t
was very subdued, very earnest.
u know" said he gently, that am
In house which is honored by the
presence Of noble, heroic woman"
At these words long shivering sigh
went through her frame and seemed to
convulse her. He glanced anXiously at
her and saw that her face was radiant
with strange Joy, that two tears We're
glistening in her eyes.
'"rhank you," said she simply in a
low voice. THANK you for your kind
ness. But what you are good enough
to think of me does not alter what you
think of-of'-
She stopped, her voice shaking, her
lips trembling. Mason then spoke in
the same low voice as before and in
the same deeply respectful manner.
II am ready to hear whatever you
may have to tell me about any one,"
said he. "In the meantime you must
remember that you are not strong yet,
that you must-must get some rest"
She sprang to her feet.
"But your said, she. "What will
you do? Where will you go? II
She stopped. drew long breath and
| WCht vi III tUuC W HlCu SuC tliCu III
vain to make composed and indiffer-
ent. "Of course you will be quite
safe
But when she got as far as these
words she broke down, sank again into
the chair and, burying her face in her
hands, broke into passion Of hys-
terical sobbing. He put his hand firm
ly on her shoulder.
Come" said he in tone which he
made determined and almost stern.
"Now must speak to you as the doc
tor. You must 90 back to bed, you
must try to sleep, and you may rest
quite sure that shall look after my
self very carefully till morning." She