Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-12

fought my love for you. | have giDried
in its growth. I'd rather go to prison
with you than to ID palace with any
other man."
The road was very shady; large trees
grew on each side of it and their foliage
was interlaced overhead. He had n
strong inclination to clasp her in his
arms, but he did not give in to it; he told
himself that his bloodstained hands
should not pollute her being. Already
he was taking advantage of her in al
lowing her to drive with him when to
be seen with him at such time would
excite widespread comment. He made
10 answer to what she had just said and
in looking in her face he saw that her
eyes were full of tears
what is the matter?" he asked.
Her breast heaved convulsively.
at has occurred TO me that am driv-
ing you to prison." she said, simply,
the last word ending in sob.
He would have comforted her n he
could, but there was nothing in his
mind to say. The awful realization was
stealing back upon him that in killing
sgd Hart he had bighted his whole flu
ture, covered the sun of his hopes with
human blood. They drove out into an
open space where cotton-felds
stretched out on one side. Behind them
now doomed the white facade Of earn
leigh. score Of negroes were picking
cotton beyond the rail fence, but they
did not look up. Ronald was congratu-
| n oil | 1at
the sheriff lived only little further on.
but his citation on this score was short
| Of life. for just then n horseman APP
pcared in front of them. 1t was Capt.
Wrinkle, riding like an Englishmau, ris-
ing and falling in his stirrups. As his
trotting horse brought him swiftly
nearer he lifted his hat and bowed to
Evelyn. Evidently he had recognized
Ronald and he showed much SURPRISE
Looking back our hero saw that he had
refined his horse in and was staring
after them in a b"widered fashion.
Evelyn gave her companion d com
| prehensive glance. Never mind" she
said, hell tell everybody he knows
| that he has seen us together. but YOU
/ md | have other things TO think about.
Will my love console you at all?"
More than anything in the world"
''Well, remember" they are now in
sight of the sheriffs house. n Ave
rooned erection with porch over
which clambered a wealth of vines.
remember that shall be thinking of
you every minute"
'Than> you for that" he said, ard
/ added: 81 might a. well get out here
and walk up to the house.
Her only answer was to whip up The
pony; her face was pnched by pain AS
she drew up at the gate in front of the
house. He got out.
"Good-by," he said.
She he'd out her hand.
"Good-by," she echoed. and as he took
her hand he felt her quveriug fir gers
tighten round his own. II am going TO
pray for YOU night and day. she said.
And hen she turned her pony ard drove
slowly homeWard. As he was entering
the gate. he saw ner stop and look
back; then she signalcd him to come to
her. Obeying, he found her face wet
with tears.
as there nothing can do for YOU ?"
she questioned.
lie reelected, and then:
"lf you should happen to meet David
on your way back, please .ell him what
have done, and that l came to the
sheriff
Il wish it were something harder"
she said, pressing her handkerchief to
her twitching lips. "Oh, it is so awful
there is SO little to hope for-you see
you are so despordert."
He could not deny this last charge:
her very words seemed TO add wei Int
to his gloom. Lifting his hat, he
turned away.
There was IN open passage hotween
the two front rooms Of the sheriii's
house. and at Washtub. on little
back porch, battling stick in hard, he
saw Mrs. Ratcliif. She was about 80
years OF age, but might easily have
proved that she was third older. if
Der appearance had been taken as testi-
mony.
Ronald raped on the Goorfacirc 10
attract her attention, and Wnen She
looked up be asked her if her husband
was at home.
'IIe was jest this minute" She said,
coming forward and vipiug her hands
on her apron. "lie took his gun Jest
cow and went into the strip Of woods
down thar al the foot O the field. Is it
anything importantly
Il came TO turn myself over TO him,
Mrs. RatclitY; if you could send for
him. perhaps he would like for you to
do it,
Il could blow the dinner horn" she
betrayed no surprise, if she felt any,
over his announcement. 1T might
wake the baby, but | reckon could
quiet it down ag'in."
She gave him seat in the passage
and took his hat and laid it, according
to rules of hospitality, on her bed in
the room on the left. Then she reached
up for the COWS horn, which hung on a
nail on the porch.
Have you got yorcself in trouble,
Mr.. Fanshaw ," She asked, as she raised
the horn to her lips.
"rve killed Sydney Hart, Mrs. Rat
cliff" lie gave this explanation after
slight hesitation, for he feared that
being a woman and alone with him it
might upset her nerves,
"You don't say she calculated;