Gilpin observer., 1903-05-28
CHAPTER vII.-(continued.)

you, then? In one word, speak"
well, then, Neil Semple and Capt.
Hyde have fought duel. That is
what comes of giving way to passion.
l never fought a duel. No one should
make me. 1t is fixed principle with
me-"
Poor Neil! His fault, am sure, it
was not"
Joanna! Neil is nearly dead. If
he had been in the right he would not
be nearly dead. The Lord does not
forsake a person who is in the right
way"
In the hall behind them, Katherine
stood. The pallor of her face, the
hopeless droop of her white shoulders
and arms, ,ere visible in its gloomy
shadows. Softly as a spirit she
walked, as she drew nearer to them.
And the Englishman? Is he hurt?"
KILLED. He has at least twenty
wounds. Till morning he will not live.
1t was the councillor himself who sep
arated the men,"
my good Joris, 1t was like him."
For a moment Katherine's con-
sciousness reeled. The roar of the
ocean which girds our life round was
in her ears, the feeling of chill and
collapse at her heart. But with a
supreme will she took possession OF
herself. Weak | will not be. All
will know. All will suffer" And
with these thoughts she went back to
The room and took her place at the
table. In a few minutes the rest fol-
lowed. Batavius had anticipated
madam's amazement and shock. He
had felt a Just satisfaction in the suf-
fering he was bringing to Katherine.
| But nothing had happened as he ex-
pected. The meal instead of being
pleasantly heightened over such dread
full intelligence, was hurried and ST.
lent.
1t was some comfort that after it
Joanna and Re could walk in the gar
den and talk the affair thoroughly
over. Katherine watched them away
and then she fed to her room. And
oh, how she wept. She took from
their hiding place the few letters her
lover had written her, and she
mourned over them as women mourn
In such extremities. In the full tide
Of her anguish, Lysbet stood at the
door. She heard the inarticulate
words of woe. and her heart ached for
her child. She had followed her to
give her comfort, to weep with her;
but she felt that hour that Katherine
was no more a child to be soothed
with her mothers kiss. She had be-
come a woman. and a woman's sorrow
had found her.
1t was near ten o'clock when Joris
his clothing disarranged and blood
stained; and Lysbet never remember
ed to have seen him SO completely ex-
hausted. Bran is with Neil" he
said, "he will not be home"
"And thou?"
81 helped them carry-the other. To
the Kings Arms we took him."
Live will he?"
His left lung is pierced through.
then, youth he has, and great spirit.
and hope. l wish not for his death,
my God knows"
Neil what of him?"
Unconscious he was when l left
him at his home. Does Katherine
know"
She knows"
"How, them"
20 Joris. If in her room thou could
have heard her crying. My heart
for her aches. the sorrowful one!"
''See, then, that this lesson she miss
rot. 1t is hard one, but learn 1t she
must. If thy love would pass it by.
think this, for her good it is
The next morning was the sabbath.
and many painful questions suggested
themselves to Joris and Lysbet Van
Heemskirk. Joris felt that he must
not take his seat among the deacons
all blame of blood-guiltiness by the
dominic and his elders and deacons in
full kirk session. Madam could hard
ly endure the thought of the glances
that would be thrown at her daughter,
and the probable sights she would
receive. SO Katherine's piteous en-
treaty was listened to, and she was
allowed. to remain at home.
The kirk that morning would have
been the pillory to her. She was un-
speakably grateful for the solitude OF
the house, for space and silence. In
which she could have the relief of
unrestrained weeping. About the
middle of the morning. she heard
Bram's footsteps. Bran had not
thought Of Katherine's staying from
kirk, and when she confronted him.
so tear-stained and woe-begone. his
heart was full Of pity for her. With
In the last twenty-fcur hours he had
begun to understand the temptation
in which Katherine had been; begun
to understand that love never asks.
What is thy name? or what country
art thou? Who is IL, father?' He