The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-19

mad shift 20 get upon my elbow feebly
fierce, denouncing It hotly for a lie
who slandered her like this. DickT' Put
a name TO the cur. and as I live and get
my strength again. I'll hunt him down and
choke him With that lier'
Nay" he objected. soberly: that would
BE my quarrel. were there ever a peg to
hang a quarrel on. But IL came by a sure
hand. and one that is friendly enough 70 all
concerned. An old free borderer. Bphraim
Yeates by name. brought me the tale He
had been spying round at Appleby Hundred.
wanting TO know, for some purpose OF his
own. why the redcoats and Cherokees were
hanging on so long: and this much he over
heard one night when he was outlying IN
der the window of the Withdrawing room
Baronets slackness. stamping her FOOT at
him and flashing him with the taunt that
he was afeard OF one or both OF US"
1 fell back on the bearskins to shut my
eyes and call up all the might OF love to
grapple with this fresh misery. Il
was in this fierce conflict Of faith
against apparent fact that ! deserted the
parting Of the Ways for the lover and the
husband.
Jennlfer believed this most incredible
thing. and yet he loved her-would 20 on
loving her. as he had said. IN spite OF all.
That was the lovers road. and ! could new
er bear him company on It Could I be-
AAth1 "a - EANAAN-@@g $3.50 N1os -A-
sure no husband-lOve could live beyond that
moment OF conviction.
But at this perilous pass the husbands
road ran truer than the lovers. Richard
believed her capable OF this hard-hearted
thing and went on loving her bl!ndly in
spite OF IT. But as for me. ! said l would
never give belief an inch Of standing-room:
that had 1 stood in Ephraim Yeates's shoes.
having the witness OF my own eyes and
ears. I would still have found excuse and
exculpation for her. .
1 stole a glance at Jennifer. He was sIt-
ting with his face IN his hands a silent
figure of n strong man humbled. He had
called her 4 DelIlah. and the green withes OF
her binding cut sore into the flesh.
You say you love her. Dick: can you be-
lieve her capable OF this. and yet go on
loving herr / asked.
He let me see his face: IL was haggard
and g~rief-marred.
'Fd pay the DEVILS own price could /
say mo- to that. Jack. But I cannot"
Then l swear ] love her better than you
DO. Richard Jennifer. She hates me we'll
God knows she has good cause TO hate me
fercely; yet I would trust her with my
life"
I looked to see him pin me down at this:
and though the words had fairly shaped
and said themselves. l laid fast hold OF my
courage and was prepared 20 make them
good. But he would only smile end draw
the bearskin cover over me. tucking me
IN as tenderly as a mother. and saying very
gently:
so she has bewitched you, too; and now
there are two poor fools OF love instead OF
one. But you are stronger than 1. Jack.
You will break the spell and put II down
and live beyond it. ana that 1 never shall
God help met" And with that he went TO
his own bed beside the fire. telling me 1
must lie quiet and try to sleep
did lie. quiet. but sleep came rot. nor
did 1 WOO 1t. For long past the time when
I could hear his measured breathing 1 lay
awake to plan how I might 6raw the bar