Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-01-26
c.py,lsh. 1901 By
T. Fitzgerald kalley

overlook the servant as she opened
the drawing room door then he stood
quite still and almost breathless, gaz-
ing before him. The apartment, which
was family lighted By a single lamp.
showed him the figure OF the woman he
sought. seated at Il table on which she
mad thrust out her arms. between
which her head was buried; There
was something so pitiful and despair
i'm the abandonment of her attitude,
that all the misery he had felt that day
became suddenly accentuated, and he
recognized that here lay the cause.
With intuitive delicacy he stepped
back until the servants entry having
disturbed her mistress, the latter rose
and turning her back to the light, pre-
pared to receive him. Dimly seen as
it was, her pallid face, drawn and bag
gard, with Its eyes dull and swollen;
it's mouth quiverng and above all Its
expression of utter misery, startled
him.
The hand he held in his trembled and
felt cold as death.
What has happened" he asked
while dreading to hear her reply.
You have not heard?" she said. in
low broken voice.
Il have heard nothing new. Tell me
what 1T is?'
"All hope of saving me is lost"
NO, no, not that" he cried out fierce
Is, as if in defiance of the statement.
"Al. That mantle Italian
Has escapedo'
Has been traced to his grave.
"Well?"
Tile died in u hospital few hours
before my husband was killed. she
said striving to steady her voice.
In a second he realized what the con-
sequences of this discovery might
prove TO the woman before him. The
hope that she had entertained of being
quickly freed from a horrible charge
the only hope which had been held out
TO her, had been destroyed and she
was once more face to face with the
accusation of murder, and with the dire
consequences that must ensue.
All the great love and pity he felt
for her swelled within him. but all
words We're for the moment frozen on
his lips She sank back into her chair,
and for some seconds the silence was
unbroken between them. Meanwhile he
was searching his mind to find some
consolation which he might hold out
to her even while he felt there was
none he could reasonably or truthfully
offer.
When did you hear this news" he
asked presently.
This morning: the inspector came
to tell me"
And you have been alone ever since
With your trouble?" he said looking at
i her
Il sent for my cousin. but suppose
he was not in his rooms when my mes
sage reached him." she replied.
For your cousin?" he repeated in a
tone of reproach, regretting the mo-
ment they We're spoken. not only the
words, but the tone in which uninten
tionally he had uttered them.
Il felt sure you would come later
!
said said quickly, conscious that she
had panied him and anxious to make
amends.
But tell me about Mackworth; has
he no other clew?"
Not that l know of, at least" she
\ answered YEARLY.
4 He may have, though he withholds
1t from you," he remarked.
why do you think he would keep
1t back from me?"
He might not wish to speak until
he was able to prove his case
Il see she answered. grateful look
In her eyes, you are striving to give
| me hope. but I cannot blind myself
/ to the fact that circumstances seem
dead against me-"
Though her voice was calm there was
an undertone of pitifulness in it that
| appealed to her nearer more directly,
1 more keenly than she would have be-
/ lieved possible.
mo matter; it's my belief one of two
things must happen" he said, his man
ner growing more serious if possible.
And that?" she said eagerly.
Either the man who killed youl
husband will be found"
orr"
''Or he will confess"
She shook her head sadly. saving. 81
fear the murderer will never be dis
covered. you see all these weeks gone
by and no definite clew has b. en- OBJ
tanned; as for confession-that l dare
not hope for"
why not" he asked.
II cannot imagine a man who would
be guilty of murder sacrificing himself
to save the innocent"
4 but | can conceive circumstances,
| replied Bostock, speaking slowly ant
| With emphasis, under which a confes.
sion was not only possible, but prob
/ able"
what are they?" she asked.
He withdrew his chair beyond TIL,
focus of the lamplight before replying
i'm d clear decisive voice, that indicated
his words had been we'll considered
"A man may commit murder through
Il feeling of hatred or revenge, ant
yet shrink from INJECTING II terrible
blow on one who had never wronget
him. he said.
You think so?"
rs it not a reasonable surmise? Ill
may through moral cowardice. and il
the hope that YOU may be acquitted q
this charge without ths necessity o
his intervention, wait till the last mo
ment and Then if there are no othe
means of freeing you. he may speak
She shook her head saying. II can
not agree With YOU; Il man who com
mits murder Is not one TO make suc
a sacrifice"
who can tell? The passion tina
bindly hurried him to take n man
life having been satisfied he Nigh
come to regard his deed in the sam
light as other men,.
In speaking he leaned forward, an
as his face came within the circle q
light cast by the shaded lamp sh
could see the pallor which had sprea
from his hollow cheeks to his bar
polished temples.
"You think that possible?" she asked
impressed by his words.
Certainly"
Then you judge others by yourself
my friend"
He gave no answer. he made n
movement She could no longer Sc
his face. for he had withdrawn int
the shadow. but she could hear HI
breath coming hard and fast in I'll
silence.
After a pause she continued, ut
SO easy to imagine what we might d
were we situated as others are or wer
and yet SO difficult for US really to pl
ourselves in their places. The ma
who took one life to crafty his hatre
or revenge, would not, think, hesitat
to see another life sacrificed to say
himself from the consequences Of h
action"