The San Francisco call., 1906-07-08
CHAPTER xxxyII.
Prometheus Bound.

Prometheus Bound.
In the great, gray structure. mas
sive as a fortress, where Eureka con-
fined her criminals, Clement Vaughan
was drinking deep of the bitterest Of
all bitter cups. the anguish he had
caused his friends. He felt at first that
he could not endure 1t. could not bear
door of his cell the sobbing of poor
Minnie Dover, he said to the guard,
Let her come in"
Minnie rushed into the room and
flung herself on her knees. seizing his
hand and pressing 1t to her. Will fol-
lowed. winking hard to keep back the
tears.
'Tll never believe It," sobbed Minnie.
And If you did do 1t. you did perfectly
right!' She was like a frantic child.
He laid his free hand upon her head.
She quieted under his touch. "Oh. Mr..
Vaughan" she murmured. looking up
at him with streaming eyes. You
won't let them-youll run awayI
Promise me that you WILL Oh. can't
bear itr
VIII drew near and tried to exercise
what feeble authority he possessed.
Come, come. Min." he pleaded. you
mustn't! MINI
Clement lifted her to her feet and
gently put her into Wits arms. Take
her home" he said. "And-comfort
her"
They met the Hen1eys at the door
This was harder yet. In their
blanched faces Clement read the Sleep
less nights, the lack of food. the con-
stant strain, how their hearts had bled-
For their sakes he made a mighty eff
fort at self-control. You see-the
work was too big for me, Mary" he
said, taking, her hand.
Both men thought she was going to
fall. But she recovered herself. "It
was not too big for you. Clement" she
said heroically. ITO face what you
have faced. as you have faced 1t. is
greater than any work you ever did
1t is your work. 1t will preserve your
words. unforgotten." There was the
ring of prophecy in her voice. the gaze
of the seer was in her eyes.
Clement responded TO them as he had
always responded. His spirit answered
the challenge of hers.
God bless you. Mary" he said fer
vently
Frank glanced from one to the other
in amazement. He had feared. dreaded,
this interview, and here they were,
these two, one to be hanged on the
morrow. the other, an adopted sister. a
companion ycdIS-DOl1 lHdn
Frank himself
Clement turned to him. There are
some things 1 want you to attend to-"
he said Let Mary go through my
books and select what she would like to
have. Send the rest back home; no
one would care for them here. An old
friend of mine there will prize them.
This is his address" He wrote a name
on a card and handed IL TO Frank.
rxvIIl ko daak
chair, he pursued. And there is a box
of music which 1 wish to go to Mrs.
Katharine Chisholm, on Richmond
Hill"
Mary colored family. She heard
some OF the talk.
That is ALL" said Clement. II am a
poor man, as you know
He gave a hand to each They stood
together, the three.
For the last time" each was saying
silently, for the last time; and the
hours they had spent together. the joys
they had shared, the troubles they had
divided, came back upon them in a
flood.
Mary was the first to break away.
She put her arms around Clements
neck and drew him down to her, kissed
him on brow and lips and eyes, the
sign of the cross. II shall be with
you" she whispered. "all the way"
She went out quickly. Frank lin
gered behind "The boys haven't given
up" he said In low voice. They'll be
here some time tonight" Before Glenn
ent could reply he was gone
Judge Weaver came. then, and Lou
Pugh, Jerry Flynn and Mike, with
Mary, weeping loudly.
Shed Wellman came as far as the
door, but retreated. "blubberin' like a
great calf" he told Sarah when she
reproached him for not seeing the pris-
oner.
Barker did not appear, and no one
had seen Jack since the trial. But DR..
Addison was there, and Kicker, the
Cornish preacher. Nearly every one
suggested some way of escape.
Long after they had gone the air
seemed full of their offers of help, their
cries of sympathy.
Poor mourning Spirits Of the Air and
of the Wavei
Vaughan flung himself on his cot and
tried in vain to shut out the sound Of
their voices. Another Prometheus. he
lay there, chained to the rock OF his
punishment. preyed on by the vulture
of his remorse.