, 1905-03-15

wire, ana LdIe was aS muSh liz ~
hers.
For hours the tortured woman sat,
lost to the world in the contemplation
of her act in the cold light of after
thought. She was Analysing the case
with an intelligence she had never be
fore possessed. Some power had I'M
planted in her for this trial a reason
ing power far superior to her real men,
tai capacity and changed her from a
plodding creature of toll to a woman
of brain and thought.
The sun sank toward the horizon and.
showing for a moment a reddish vel
low disk behind the trees, buried itself
on the other side of the hills. Robins
came flying to their home tree and
with soft twitterings huddled their lit
tie bodies down on some leaf d
twig. An almost imperceptible haze
began to dim the clearness of the air.
and the first darkness crept under the
evergreens and into the overgrown
fence rne The greenness of the
western hills was shading into am
ethyst and violet, and the waters of the
river were like some dark FURNISHED
metal, throwing back here and there
reflection of the lingering light. Frogs
and crickets were uniting their voices
in a hoarse welcome to the coming
darkness. inc the things which have
life in the nighttime began to hum in
the air.
With set teeth and fast beating heart
Lod sat and thought. h could see
Sans home coming and the great
wonderment in his face when he found
no one there. He would wait awhile
for her, and then he would get his
w supper. When bedtime came she
would not be there, and he would go
out to hunt for her, or perhaps he
would be very tired and go to bed at
once and not know until morning that
she had not returned. 1t seemed
dreadful to think of his coming home
tired and hungry and finding the house
empty and cherries, and she could
see him hunting about for something
to eat.
She was wavering, and the balance
was poised by a hair. Only a trihe
was needed to make her renounce her
act. 1t came. Up from the yard floated
a young voice, MA, let's go home"
With a great sob she sprang from
her chair and al to the dresser. Pull
ing out the sheet, she spread it on the
floor and began piling her clothes upon
it. Tears were streaming dow her
cheeks, and she cried, ooh, Sam, I'm
coming; I'm coming"
She did not stop to fold the clothes
now, but piled them in a tumbled heap
on the sheet. Tying the corners to-
gether, she slipped her arm under the
knot and ran toward the door. Her
thin hair was flying in stray locks, and
her limbs were weak with the emotion
that was upon her. Down the stairs
she stumbled, and in an instant she
was out the door.
"Lafe, Lafe." she cried. The boy
came running from the other side of
the house, answering with his strong
young voice. 1--WE must go home" she
said. Your pa won't get any supper"
She could not restrain her emotion,
and her voice trembled with sobs.
Lafe looked up ct her. whats the
matter, map
"Oh, nothin', only | don't feel we'll.
We must hurry" Grasping the boys
nand, she hurried out of the yard and
down the street toward their home.
Through the deepening twilight they
went, Lod almost running and LATE
t%rotting by her side in astonished 81
lence. AS they came within sight of
the low, implanted house, Lod looked
eagerly toward it. The windows were
dark. "Thank God, he's not there yet"
she sobbed half aloud. They reached
the back door, and she dropped the bun
die as she reached into her pocket for
the key. She turned the bolt and threw
Dpen h door, which yawned like the
mouth of some gloomy cavern. She
lighted the cheap oil lamp and then
ran with her bundle to the closet,
where she threw it into the darkest
corner; back to the kitchen, and with
GREATNESS haste made a fire in the
stove and put on the kettle. Her Sob
bling had ceased now, tn h she knew
it would take but little to start the
tears afresh. She laid the table and
went to the broken mirror to arrange
her hair.
The teakettle was singing merrily,
when, with a start, she heard the gate
click and a heavy foot crunch the gray
ell in the path. With a rattle the door
swung open to admit her husband.
well, LODI" he said, I'm glad
you've got supper most ready, for I'm
Mighty h%ungrVv