Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-12-24
this visit; but was it wise? Your

father
He does not know that I have
come But I should not care if he
did" She spoke calmly and reso-
lutely Il am not ashamed of stand
irg by a friend when all the world is
against him.
He shook his head as he looked
down at her tenderly, reyerentially.
1T is like you; yes, l might have
known!" he said, almost TO himself.
But you have not counted the cost
ALREADY the story f Miss VanIay's
visit to Harold Faradeane, the muir
! he stopped in time, warned by her
sudden pallor-'the prisoner. is on its
round. Why should you make your
self & victim 20 scandalous tongues
Tell me why you came and-forgive
me once nore-but you must not stay
here another minute Why have you
Gomez"
L have come because l want YOU to
tell me who did tn thin2i"
He turned away from her, and look
ed thu ough the barred window again,
wistful, anxious expression in mis-
eyes
Il cannot do that he said. You
you ask too much You have heard
1.-THE Evidence
She uttered an exclamation of I'M
patience.
YES; oh, yes! But what is all that
| 70 h. hot
cent?"
He sighed, and glanced at her sadly.
You cannot know that" he said,
gravely.
but I do know it!' she said do
you think if l had doubted your limo
cence-''
THAT you would have come to see
me-" he finished
Her face flushed, and her eyes
glowed
mo, that was not what l was go
ing to say she retorted at once. IF
had thought you were guilty l
should still have come; yes, if they
had had to carry me here!"
He uttered low cry, and held OFT
his arms to her, then restrained him
self and sank upon his pallet.
;'Ah, yes!" he murmured. Il might
have known! I might have known!"
Yes she assented you might
have known. You should have judged
me by yourself. Would you not have
come to me if I had been accused of a
crime-yes, even if you had thought
me guilty?'
He looked at her; it was sufficient
answer.
The look seemed to sink into her
heart, and for the first time her eyes
faltered in their steady gaze.
And now you will tell me who did
this, will you not?"
He remained silent, shading his face
, with his thin and already wasted
hand
You will tell me" she persisted,
and her voice floated across to him
like the sweetest, softest music SIC
saw his hand tremble. "You will
tell me alone, if you like. Have I not
proved that l can be staunch? I can
be secret Tell me, and I will pror2-
Use that will never repeat it until
you give me permission!"
BY leaning forward she could al
most touch him, and he felt rather
than saw her white hand near him.
He dropped his hand from his eyes
with a cry that was like smothered
groan.
Il cannot" he said, simply.
She fell back little. She was still
weak, and the excitement was telling
upon her.
''Ah, how hard you are with me!
How distrustful!" and she gave a pit
eous, little sigh 81 thought that I
had only to come to you, only to ask
you, and that you would have told
lme-mei"
He leaned his head upon his hands,
and sat like one tried almost beyond
endurance.
If she went on in low, soft
voice, every note of which rang in
his heart-"if l had been in your
place, and you had come to me and
asked me to confide in you, as now
ask you, do you think l would have re-
fused? No! / could not have done so!
See,' she pleaded, touching him tim
| idly, tenderly, tsee how little it is l
ask! | do not want you to tell me
why you have refused any eplanation
to the world at large; no, don't do
that! 1 only ask you to tell me the
name of the man for whom you are
enduring all this, whose burden Of
crime you are bearing-Will you not
do that? Can you refuse me?" She
had glided nearer to bin impercepti-
bly,. Before he knew it she was on
her knees at his side, her hand, soft
and quiyering as bird, upon his arm.
"Ah, tell me! Tell mel" she mur
INJURED.
He took her hand and held it in
both his, his white face working like
mans in a mortal agony his eyes
gazing into hers with intense entreaty.
ooh. don't ask met don't don'ti'