Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-31
change in him that for the first moment
PietY scarcely recognized in the liXid face,

change in him that for the first moment
Piety scarcely recognized in the livid face,
shrunken features and starting eyes the
lover whose passionate looks had so wrung
her heart but short time before. Holding
the lamp in his right hand, and causing 1t
to smoke and to flare most dangerously by
the unsteadiness with which he carried 1t,
Nigel stared out at his visitor with eyes
which seemed to have lost the power OF
recognition. Staggering into the middle Of
the room, he faced his rival with the same
blank look, his Jaw hanging. and without
a question upon his lips.
Piety's first thought was that he had been
drinking again. and this was evidently John
MERGERS opinion also. Stepping forward
boldly into the room, the visitor said, In his
deep, commanding voice:
Halo, young man, you've been consoling
yourself for your misfortunes. see."
There was a strong note Of irony In his
tone, but 1t seemed to have no effect upon
the unhappy man before him. Nigel stared
at him blankly, then gave a nervous glance
round him, and finally caught sight. in the
darkness outside. of Piety's covering
shrinking figure. Then the muscles of his
face relaxed and his voice came forth,
broken, harsh, cultural:
why did you bring-her?
At the first sound of his voice Piety, who
was trembling from head to foot, crept,
limping and staggering, inside the door.
Her dry eyes were gazing at her unhappy
lover with steady stare of anguish; for,
alas! 1t was too plain that there was guilt,
d II
as he stood before them, haggard, miser-
able, haunted, with shifty eyes and convul-
sive twitchings of the limbs
AS she came in John Mercer looked round,
and a black, ugly frOwn hung in an instant
over his fair, calm features. Then he be-
trayed himself and let slip the fact that 1t
was not zeal for the course of justice, but
mere ordinary commonplace jealousy which
actuated him in his visit to the suspected
man.
"You was found with Miss Rede here
You'd got round her for to take your part
and to stand by you. How dared you! How
dared you! You, drunkard, thief, muir
derer, perhaps, and the scum of the earth!'
When once the usually stolid man thus
let his temper get the better of him he
showed himself a very savage-fierce,
formidable-in his jealousy and rage. Rails
| ing his fist, not scorning to take advantage
of the other mans dazed condition, he dealt
| him a blow in the face so sudden, so vio-
| lent, that Nigels face was in a moment
| covered with blood, and he reeled back.
with the lamp faring and smoking in his
| hand. The glass cracked, burst into frag-
ments, and the flame shot up high.
1t was all done in moment. P1ety had
| sprung forward as the blow was dealt,
| seized the lamp, turned 1t down. placed 1t
beside Nigel, not crying or sObbing but
tenderly wiping the blood from his face
with mute solicitude there was no mis-
| taking for anything but love-deep. honest,
unaffected love.
John Mercer understood 1t so, and ground
his teeth in helpless rage Nigel understood
it, too, as he put his hand on the girls
shoulder and patted 1t gently, softly, and
bent his head to whisper in her ear. ut
don't hurt, Piety. Don't look so shocked
my lass. 1t don't hurt. Now give over and
go back to him. It's him you've got to look
| to now"
He pushed back the horror-st1icken girl
| gently toward his rival and wea9 ON quick
~. in husky voices