The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-11-01
CHAPTER xy.-fcontlnued.l

CHAPTER XV.-(COntinuedJ
That brought to my mind what ! had
almost fofgotten-the woman whom my
imprudent curiosity had brought into
pursuit Of her. felt ready to curse my
folly aloud, as l did in my heart, FOR
having gone to Messrs. Scott and Brown.
"Olivia," | said there Is woman IN
Guernsey who has some clue to YOU
But could say no more, for thougnt
she would have fallen to the ground IN
her terror. | drew her hand through my
arm and hastened to reassure her.
mo harm can come to you contin-
ued, whilst Tardlf and are here to pro-
tect you. Do not frighten yourself; we
will defend you from every danger"
MARTIN" she whispered-and the
pleasant familiarity Of my name spoken
by her gave me a sharp pang, almost OIL
gladness-''no one can help me or de-
fend me. The law would compel me to
20 back to him. A woman's heart may
be broken without the law being broken.
/ could prove nothing that would give
me a right to be free-nothing. so
took 1t into my own hands. | tell you
would rather have been drowned this
afternoon. Why did yon save meY
did not answer, except by pressing
her hand against my side. / hurried her
on silently towards the cottage. She
was shiyering in her cold, wet dress, and
trembling with fear. 1t was plain to me
that even her fine health should not be
trifed with, and loved her too tenderly,
her poor, shivering, trembling frame, TO
let her suffer if | could help it. When
we reached the foldyard gate, stopped
her for a moment to speak only few
words.
"Go in" said, "and change every one
OF your wet clothes. win see you again,
once again, when we can talk with one
another calmly. God bless and take care
Of you, my darlingw
She smiled family, and laid her hand
in mine.
"You forgive mef' she said.
"Forgiye you'll" | repeated, kissing the
small brown hand lingeringly; Il have
nothing to forgive
She went on across the little fold.
Then made my way, blind and deaf, to
the edge of the cliff, seeing nothing, hear
ing nothing. flung myself down ON the
turf, with my face to the ground, to
hide my eyes from the staring light Of
the summer sun.
Married? That was what she had said
1t shut out all hope for the future. She
must have been a mere child four years
ago; she looked very young and girlish
still And her husband treated her ill
my Olivia, for whom had given up al
had to give. She said the law would
compel her to return to him, and could
do nothing. l could not interfere even
to save her from life which was worse
to her than death.
My heart was caught in vice, and
there was no escape from the torture oi
its relentless grip. Whichever way
looked there was sorrow and despair
wished, with a faint-heartedness haC
never felt before, that Olivia and haC
indeed perished together down in tbs
caves where the tide was now, sweeping
below me.
Martini said clear, low, tende
tone in my ear, which could never b.
deaf to that voice. looked up at Oliyii
without moving. My head was at he
feet, and | laid my hand upon the hen
of her dress.
Martin" she said again, "see, | hav'
brought you Tardif's coat in place o
your own. You must not lie here in thi
way. Captain Carey's yacht is waitinl
for you below"
/ staggered giddily when stood on m,
feet, and only Olivia's look Of pain stead
led me. She had been weeping bitterly
could not trust myself to look in he
face again. Tardif wds standing behin'
her, regarding us both. with great con
cern. -
Doctor he said, when l came il
from my lobster-pots, the captain sen
a message by me TO say the sun would b
gone down before you reach Guernsey
He has come round to the Havre Gosse
lin. I'll walk down the cliff with you.
"Take care of mam'zelle,," said, whel
we had reached the top of the ladder, an,
the little boat from the yacht was dane
ing at the foot of it, There is som
danger ahead, and you can protect he
better than l.
"Yes, yes," he replied; ''you may trus
her with me. But-God knows shoul
have been glad fit had gone well wit
you"