The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

| don't wanter. You were ready to take
the other, the black dose, now take
this"
Vaughan obeyed. The fiery liquor
natural sleep.
Jack gently laid him down, hung
over him. gloated over him.
There came a short, sharp, decisive
tap at the door.
He'll" cried Jack Indignantly.
Please let me speak with you. Mr.
Perryfi called woman's voice.
In high dudgeon Jack tiptoed to the
door, opened 1t, stepped out and closed
1t behind him.
Katharine Chisholm stood in the hall.
The MONDAY light from the narrow
window fell full on her. She had
thrown back her hood. Her heavy cloak
dropped from her shoulders, displaying
the black gown she wore beneath.
Black. Well, she had nerver'
thought Jack. He frowned down upon
her from his great height. She looked
back at him timidly. Her beauty had
never had such an appeal in 1T; and for
this he distrusted her the more.
She put out her hand. He pretended
not to see 1t. Her eyes swan with
sudden tears
This amt no place for you. ma'am."
he said roughly.
More for me than for you." she re-
turned bravely. Men for life. women
for-death" She whispered the word.
Jacks keen glance pierced her.
So that was 1t: she thought the man
was dead. He would let her think so.
II should calc'late the Parson'd had
about nough-of-wimmin!' he said
brutally.
"Ah!" she breathed. 1t was cruel
stab. But she persisted.
Dear, good, kind Jack" she pleaded.
give me-his precious body!-All my
days IN bless you-on my knees!-It
Is so much to me!-And yet 1T is so
little! No woman ever claimed so lit
tle!"
It's all most of em WANT he NUT
tered under his breath. She did not
hear him.
"Just to care for it-as his mother
might" she went on, ito prepare it for
hands with an indescribably pathetic
gesture.
''Whatll folks say?" he asked slowly.
She blazed at him. We've been in
fuenced by that long enough! 1t was
for that you dragged him to prison.
and his soul so white 1t made yours
pitchy black
What folks say. That was why
you sent him to the gallows-him to
And he gave you his hearts blood,
the untiring service of his hands, his
brain, his thought, his prayers"
The tears rained down her face. Still
he would not spare her. He would be
sure of her. and for this he thrust her
through and through.
They say twas because he wanted
to please you that he done 1T. I've
thought so myself sometimes"
ITO please me?" she cried out bit
terly He never so much as touched
my hand, except as the courtesies of
the occasion demanded it, And L
adored himl And he-knew it'll
don't care who knows 1t now I'll walk
bareheaded behind his bier that all the
world may know, I'll mourn as the
poor women of the street mourn, who
have the luxury we lack, the luxury of
sriefw
Slowly. steadily, faith in her showed
in his eyes. She saw 1t.
you will give me the body now?"
she said wistfully.
A strange look came over his face
What If 1 tell you-there's life in
it?" he asked
"Life?" she cried. with parted lips
Yes, ma'am, he's alive, and sleepin'
like child. Do you wanter look?"
"Oh, no, no." she drew back.
"Oh, no, no." he mimicked. Now
you draw back, now you let go. You
don't. want him alive
one pulled her cloak about her. flush
ing rosy red. She was like a startled
doe he thought