The National tribune., 1901-06-27

she made signs that the fire must be kin
died in the kitchen stove and supper pre-
pared, anyway.
Supper was at last announced and the
traveller ushcred into the plain, oldfash-
ioned dining-room
Here she met the cold, almost unsympa-
thetic gaze of Sukey, aud wild, horritied
stare of the mute
When she was alone with the hostess
the traveller said:
Il have been here before
Il know it," Sukey answered. 1T was
Is years ago"
You know me, then?" and Il shudder
convulsed her frame.
YES"
Then the fair head was bowed and a sob
issued from her throat.
1T was not my fault" she at last de-
clared. Il was not to blame. | have
suffered-oh, how | have suffered Heaven
alone knows what L have suffered since
the awful night when learned that young
Ashley was dead"
The chin of Aunt Sukey quivered with
emotion, and after moments silence she
asked:
"Haint you seen Mark Henderson
| since?"
No"
Nor hearn from him."
mot a word have | heard from him
nor about him since that night he com
mitted the fearful deed. l never dreamed
that Mark Henderson harbored such n
thought. | did not know that he was
| even angry with young Ashley"
We'll, I'll say this for Mark; he war
nightly worked on, ye know, by Tom
Ashley. Tom could be awfully agravatin
when he tried, and | jist expect he kept 4
naggin' at Mark all tn time, till be jist
driv him to ct"
Il saw Mark once that night, after it
was done. His face was white, his frame
trembled, while his eyes were so wild with
| horror and remOrSe as to cause me to
shrek. l was walking down the moon
lit path that leads from the tavern to the
old mill. Previous to the murder he had
told me how he loved me, and asked me to
marry him, but | put him off for while.
l loved him with my whole heart, yet it
seemed unmaidenly, immodest, to accept
him without taking time to deliberate on
the case, and /, on the foolish preteXt
of it being all so sudden, told him that /
must have time to consider the proposition.
But he was rash, fiery, quick tempered.
He demanded to know if there was an
other who stood in the way, and | said
he had no right to ask. Then he grew
furious, and said that he would remove
that obstacle. 1 little dreamed, as he
rushed away, that he had in contemplation
so mad a crime as murder. j had no time
10 ten hin IHeH IHaL L lOVeu MIN. An
hour later l learned from his own lips
that he had slain the man whom he had
suspected as his rival, and was then fly
ing for his life. Oh, l am so miserable,
l have been so miserable since that awful
night. / have almost felt that / was
guilty of murder myself. l have so longed
to see poor Mark, fugitive on the face of
the earth, and tell him how / have suf-
fered."
Aunt Sukey's face was very sad now.
She murmured:
Yes, he did it, and they were the very
best of friends"
There came a loud rap at the outer
door, and Uncle Matt rising opened it to
be met by a tall stranger with long hair
and beard. He was evidently man not
passed the meridian of life, and yet there
were streaks of gray in his hair and
beard.
The driver of the carriage had stabbed
and fed his horses and was making his
way to the house when be saw a man plod-
ding through the mud toward it. He was
weary and looked detected and anxious,
yet half afraid.
Timidly he approached the door and
accosted the coachman as he was about
to enter:
''Is this Selby TavernY' he asked.
Eyes, sir"
How many people are in thereT'
"Why, none, except the old folks, the
dumb girl, an tn woman l jist brung
here"
Il think it would be safe to enter"
His voice was deep and hoarse and his
features Drowned and weather-beaten. As
he entered the front door he discovered
the tall stranger sitting in one corner by