The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-12

burning yacht, but the boats had been
at hand. and Rachel had been the first
to be lifted into one of them She sat
now In the bows. pale, still, almost
stunned with grief.
Rachel, M. Petitjean wishes to
| speak to you; he is very Ill. I don't
think he can live long"
1t was Mr.. Herbert speaking. He
| touched his daughters arm.
Rachel. go to him, poor fellow; he
is dying, and Is very anxious to speak
| TO you"
Rachel silently obeyed. She bent
down close to the still form lying In
the bottom of the coat. She hated the
| Frenchman. He had come between
her and her lover. He had given evil
dence against him. How he had man
aged to do so she could never made
out. She had refused to marry him,
and yet he had still worried her and
| panied her beyond measure.
Rachel" gasped the Frenchman-
| already his face wore a death-like pal
lori am very weak, but I will strug-
| gle to saw what 1 wish. what must
| be said; ! cannot die without telling
the truth. I am wretched now; ma
| fol, why did do that dreadful deed!"
| The boat rose gently up and down
as she cut through the water towards
the land. and Rachel still thought OF
| Guy in his solitude.
Rachel" gasped NJ. Petitjean,
catching hold of the girls hand and
holding 1t in feeble. nervous grasp.
II am the murderer: l did 1t! 1t was
! jealousy, child, my longing to have
you as my wife, my little queen OF
the chateau and of my riches, and I
crept that night, that dark night, af-
ter you and Guy Dorrington. I watch
| ed you, I tracked your steps, then I
stole along the cliff with my revolver.
| ] meant the shot for Guy, but It MISS
| ed and hit his companion. 1t was I.
| child, l tell you again l am the MUIR
derer and l sent the gcndarmes to
| take him."
He had raised his voice and his
words seemed to pierce through the
gloom and weight of sorrow which had
bowed down Rachers fair head.
What do you mean?" she almost
screamed. What have you done?
Guy is suffering instead of you; my
Guy, my own darling! And now you
are dying, and will not be able to set
| it right! o my God! Great God in
| Heaven, have mercy, help us, oh. help
| u.s."
She was standing up now in a per-
| feet agony of excitement, which was
| almost as terrible to witness as her
previous hopelessness and despair.
1 Then her own sweet common sense
seemed suddenly to return to here she
| trembled still with excitement, but
surely her prayer had been answered,
! that wild, earnest cry from the very
| depths of her soul.
you must write it all out" she said,
in hurried tones. My father and the
sailors. there are two in the boat, they
must witness all; you are very feeble.
| be quick: oh, say YOU VIII do it? And
Guy; o Guy. You shall be saved! His
| end is not far off. NJ. Pctitjcan. but If
we are quick we may yet save him.
We will do it; he shall he saved"
1t was done. The dying man, with
| almost painful force of will. fceby
| dictanted a few lines showing that he
was the culprt. that Guy was inno-
cent. Mr.. Herbert and two of the sail
orS witnessed his signature, and then
dropping the pencil from his hand NJ.
| Pettjean died. and his fair yacht pass
ed away almost at the same time: she
| drifted away seawards. moved on by
the gentle land brecze--a sad. black.
charred object, no longer beautiful
| buoyant
| They were leading him to his execu-
tion, Guy DOrrington, the young bar
| rister i'm the midst of his strength AMI
manhood. He was crossing the prison
| courtyard, between two warders, to
mis- doom-young. strong and grave,
| very grave, and perfectly quiet. Lit
| tie sparrowS were chirping and hop
ping about his path, the morning sun
light was creeping across the high,
grim walls down into the gloomy yard
| upon the little birds and the prisoner
He smiled a very faint, sad smile as
| he watched the busy little creatures:
he thought they We're his last sight
| of life-that beautiful, fresh, strong
| life, which he loved. All, how he Lowell
It. He had tried TO subdue that great
love for it i'm his lonely cell, he had
| endeaVored to look forward bravely
and chcerfully to the future, to the
other side of the grave, but he had
not been successful in his struggle.
| He had never before realized how
much he loved and valued life.
4 hasty step overlook the melan-
choly procession, the sparrows were all
put to flight, and painting, breathless
| messenger stood beside the cwarders.
STOP" he cried. THE prisoner
must not die, he will be released;
fresh evidence. greatly in his favor,
has been suddenly brought to light"
He unrolled and showed to the ward
ers an official document Guy was led
back TO his cell, hardly knowing or
realizing what had happened to him.
Then that life so dear to him was
not yet to be snatchcd away from
him, not just yet, and he might think
again of his love. perhaps he might
soon see her, and fresh hope gradual
~ dawned upon him and seemed to
tighten his prison cell.
He was a free man once more. He
met Rachel outside the prison. She
had travelled night and day in order
to save him; he had been allowed one
interview with her just before his re-
lease, but now they We're united, and
their love was strengthened-if that
were possible-by the long, terrible
separation.
II trusted you" murmured Rachel,
resting her small white hands on Guys
shoulders. you told me to trust you,
and | did all through, Guy, during
those awful days-too terrible TO be
spoken of; and father is satisfied, dear,
4 ne Is not against our plans"
| Guy could scarcely speak,
MY dear" he said, with great sob
of joy shaking his coice, then you
can trust me, and believe in me al