The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-09-07
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
N~~~~N~>~N~~~l
CHAPTER XVII.

OH VI dUOuL Inc OIL Ol DeEeluDcrs
Mrs. Frere noticed a sudden and unac-
countable change in the manner of the
chaplain. He came to her one after
noon, and, after talking for some time,
In vague and unconnected manner,
about the miseries of the prison, and the
wretched condition of some of the pris-
oners, began to question her abruptly
concerning Rufus Dawes.
Il do not wish to think of him." said
she, with shudder. II have the stran-
gest, the most horrible dreams about
him. He is bad man. He tried to
murder me when child, and had it not
been for my husband, he would have
done SO. have only seen him once
since then-at Hobart Town, when he
was taken"
HE sometimes speaks to me of you"
said North, eying her. HE asked me
once TO give him a rose plucked in your
garden"
Sylvia turned pale. "And you gave
It him r.
Yes, gave it him. Why not? You
are not angryY
"Oh, no! Why should be angry 2
she laughed constrainedly. 1T was
strange fancy for the man to have, that's
all"
II suppose you would not give me an
other rose, if l asked your
why notT said she, turning away
uneasily. you? You are a gentleman"
mot You don't know me. 1t would
be better for you if you had never seen
me-"
"Mr Northp' Terrified at the wild
al In 10 oh ho6
"You are talking very strangely"
ooh, don't be alarmed, madam. ] had
better leave you. Indeed, l think the
less we see Of each other the better"
Deeply wounded and astonished at this
extraordinary outburst, Sylvia allowed
him to stride away without word. The
next day he met her, and, bowling, pass
cd swiftly. This panied her.
So week passed, and Mr.. North did
not return. Unluckily for the poor
wretch, the very self-sacrifce he had
made brought about the precise condi-
ton of things which he was DESTROYS
to avoid. But the very fact of the
sudden wrenching away of her compan-
ion showed her how barren was the soli-
tary life to which she had been fated.
Her husband. she had long ago admit
ted with bitter self-communings, was
utterly unsuited to her. She could find
In his society no enjoyment. and for
the sympathy which she needed was
compelled to turn elsewhere She I'M
derstood that his love for her had burn
ed itself out. In word she found that
the society of North had become so far
necessary to her, that to be deprived of
1t was Observation-Disclosures that her
husband remained to console her.
After a week of such reflections, the
barrenness of life grew insupportable
to her, and one day she came to Maui
rice and begged to be sent back to Ho-
bart Town. 81. cannot live in this hor-
rible Island" she said. Il am getting
Ill. Let me go to my father for few
months, Maurice" Maurice consent
ed His wife was looking ILL., and Major
Vickers was an old mana rich old man
who loved his only daughter. 1t was
not undesirable that Mrs. Frere should
visit her father; indeed, SO little sym
patty was there between the pair, that,
the first establishment over, Maurice felt
rather glad to get rid of her for a
while. you can go back in the Lady
Franklin, If you like, my dear" he said.
II expect her every day." At this de-
cision---much to his surprise-she kissed
him with more show of affection than
she had manifested for long time.
The news Of the approaching depart
ure became known, but still North did
not make his appearance. Had 1t not
been a step beneath the dignity of q
woman, Mrs. Frere would have gone
herself and asked him the meaning of
dis unaccountable rudeness; but there
was just SUFFICIENT morbidity In the sym
patty she had for him to restrain her
from an act which a young girl, though
not more innocent, would have dared
without hesitations
Between the commandant and the
chaplain now arose GOODNESS, and
Frere set himself. by various petty
tyrannies, to disgust North and compel
him to a resignation Of his ONCE. The
convict jailers speedily marked the diff
ference in the treatment Of the chaplain
and their demeanor changed. For re
spect was substituted insolence; foI
alacrity, sullenness; for prompt obedi
ence, impertinent intrusion. The mer
whom North favored were selected d.
special subjects for harshness, and fol
a prisoner to be seen talking to the cler
gyman was SumclenC TO insure TOT nlH
a series of tyrannies. There was but
one being who was not to be turned from
his allegiance-the convict murderer
Rufus Dawes. who awaited death. For
many days he had remained mute, brok
en- down beneath his weight of sorrow
or of sullenness.
Frere, unable to comprehend the rea
son Of the calmness with which tn,
doomed felon met his taunts and tor
ments, thought that he was shEnminl
piety to gain some indulgence of mea
and drink, and redoubled his severity
He ordered Dawes to be taken out t.
work just before the hour at which tn
chaplain was accustomed to visit him.
The method and manner of Frere'
revenge became a subject Of Whispers
conversation on the island. 1t was re
ported that North had been forbidden t
visit the convict, but that he had re
fused to accept the prohibition, and, b
a threat Of what he would do when tn
returning vessel had landed him in he
bart Town, had compelled the command
ant to withdraw his order. The CON
---I.~A L1ura-ar anaadtlv d;Soo-nuol