The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-05-13
'TWIXT NINE
AN D TEN
By KATHARINE HOLLAND BROWN
Copyright. 1909. by McClure's Newspaper
Syndicate

oh please don't bring that up
again. thought we We're just going
to be good friends
The man stared ahead into the soft
gloon of the June night. Il can't help
it, He spoke with a dull conviction
which stung Helen more deeply than
any sword thrust of reproach. 1--WE
loved you since you first came to the
varsity
Helen need not look to see the tor
tured passion in his eyes. She set her
teeth angrily to keep the tears back.
IF l didn't like you so much, Ford, it
would be easier to speak. But I'm GO
ing to say it out now You're deter
mined to marry me because you are
positive that you could make me hap
py. But I'd never be cOntented, for
for l want to be the one to give"
why. Helen
"Oh. l don't mean material things.
But women want to do more than that
Ford. We want to be needed, to be de-
pended upon. You're far cleverer than
|. and your wife must be your equal if
she dares hope for content. You'll
never StOop to her; she must rise to
you. | couldn't do that I'd have to
stay in my miserable little valley,
watching you soar above and hating
you for showing me always the hope
less space between us. If you were in
trouble. my hands would be tied
might long to aid you, but l could new
er reach your height
How can you say such beastly
things: You know I'd do anything on
earth to make you happy"
That's just it. You'd dominate al
ways; you'd pass beyond my power to
follow. Let's go back now and not talk
about this again"
She slid her hand through his arm
and drew him up the hill Away across
town and campus the varsity clock
rang nine long. mellow notes
Ford looked at her with reproachful
eyes. Manlike, he spoke his thought
in words whose harshness hid the
pain whence they sprang. Helen lifted
g white and angry face
Let us cross the observatory terrace
and go home through the gardt ~ she
said icily, The shorter the walk the
better"
Ford followed her in silence. Behind
the observatory the terraced gardens
lay black in shadow, redolent of honey
suckle and half blown roses. Ford
swung down to the second slope, and
Helen followed, steadying herself on his
broad shoulder. He stepped on to the
third terrace Helen stopped to grasp
his arm again. Before her startled eyes
he vanished over the black verge.
There rose to her mutfled crash.
"Oh. are you hurt?" She sank on
her knees and peered down. Dimly
outlined against the shadow she could
discern long, gray cylinder PROSTATE
on the turf Was it-could it be NOV
ing?
why don't you answer, you wretch
ed boy? Where are you?"
Down a six foot hogshead. Lot of
stuff-lime, | guess-in with me. Fell
In, then tipped it over
"Why don't you get out?'
Whitening silence.
Cant help you. Ford? Please"
The cylinder palpitated slightly.
"W-well if you won't break your neck
getting here"
Helen dropped over the edge and
sprang to the end of the cylinder,
whence protruded shadow darker than
the surrounding gloom. She laid her
no Enr6'c 6nfon cn1ncc hood Shn
snatched it off again, with a cry. Some
thing wet and warm streaked through
her fingers.
Ford, you're hurt! Oh, what shall
do?"
Nonsense. Head just scraped a rock
as l came down. Grab my shoulders
and pull. Once get my arms out I'm
all right"
Praying inwardly that she might not
dismember him, Helen clutched his
collar and gave frantic pull.
"G-r-r! Oh! Let up, please" Ford
was gasping with pain.
"Why, Ford, was l strangling you?"
Nope. Nails. Seven inches long and
driven in downward, every blame one.
OOl elSHleeu Iuu lutO Lie HoW. w Hel {
you going|'
Helen wasted no time in reply. She
clambered up the terraces and ran to
the observatory. Barney and Bridget,
entering the rear gate after blissful
hour on the river, caught the flicker
Of her white gown through the shrub
berry and fell up against tree trunk
in spluttering dismay
did you see it, darlin'?"
"Sure. It's the banshee!' Bridget's
eyes shone round as the observatory
dome. AN she's after me intirely!
Oh, Barney, if I'd on'y been vaccinated
whin the missus told me tor
Helen sped on to the dome library.
Doors and windows stood wide open.
She stood on tiptoe and peered In,