The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-02-28

have to answer any inquiries the police
may make"
Shouldering the spade, he trudged into
the house.
| shall never forget the strange horror
of that afternoon. | sat pretending to
work; my visitor dozed over magazine
in the back of the parlor. We made no
attempt to converse. Now and then he
looked up usually when the clock struck.
| think he found the time as long as |
did. His danger was not yet passed; he
must have chafed Mt the sunshine of the
long summer day. Wheels sounded on
the road ut last.
My cousin is coming back" said l.
well, you know who l am" replied
my companion, without moving. go
and tell her Mr.. Hartland is here"
| went into the passage and told An
ME. She shook, swayed, caught the wall
with her hand. l could not comprehend
her agitation.
Here, and away" she cried.
81 guessed rightly that he might come"
l said DO you know him by sight,
Annc?''
'Of course | do"
Then she would know this man was
not Hartland. | wondered why he had
had the audacity to stay.
But Annie had entered the parlor and
greeted the man with three words.
You are come" she said.
Il have come" he answered, adding
and | thought he looked significantly at
me rs he spoke-''your cousin has taken
good care of me"
| don't know what Annie replied. She
soon left the room, and Mr.. Hartland
followed her. If he had gone with the in
tention of numbering her, had no power
to stop him. My nerves were utterly
shaken. Whether she was gone a long
or short time | could not say, but Annie
came back alone.
where's Mr.. Hartland?" | said.
Gle left" she carelessly replied.
The overStrain was too much for me-
and burst into tears.
ut has been so lonely" | sobbed in ex-
cuse, land | don't like strangers
Annie was very kind-kinder than
had yet known her-and when | went to
bed she came and brought me mulled
cider. | drank the stuff, but | did not
like it. 1t tasted funny, and, though
slept, it was with feverish dreams, and
could sleep no more
a farmhouse stirs early. but the sounds
that morning seemed earlier than usual
| rose and looked out of my window. 1t
was neither dark nor dawn, and on the
road below stood cart and horse.
Two people left the farm. watched
them get into the cart and drive away
They were Annie and Mr.. Hartand
More than IS months after | had left
Brackworthy | heard from my cousin
Annie, then in America:
Dear Florie-I and my husband feel that we
owe you some explanation for an affair you can
not have forgotten The man whose convict
clothes you helped to bury was my husband.
Never mind about his called crime. In my
eyes he is innocent, for never man killed
who deserved death than he who met his
death at my husbands hands, When | knew
Jim's sentence, took Brackworthy farm on pur-
pose ii possible, to help him. Our marriage be-
ing secret, was the better able to do this. Other
clothes were placed where Jim could find them
on the moor hiding place provided at Brack-
worthy whenever he should be able to get there
The rest you know. Pardon my inhospitality
had no thoughts while you with me save for
Jim. Pray forgive him also the fright he caused
you. 1t was necessary for his safety to intimidate
you into silence. Come and see us here, where
we are safe and happy, and we will promise you
q warm welcome
trying experience, but l have not cared
to avail myself of Cousin Annie's invita-
tion.-New York Press