Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-11-19
CHAPTER XIV.

of the stern, accusing eyes, and groan-
ed. Faradeane flung himself down on
one knee beside the PROSTATE form,
and raising her head, looked into her
face. AS he recognized her he gave
a start of surprise, but instantly
placed his hand over her heart. Then
he turned his eyes upon the covering
Bradstone.
You have killed her!" he said in
low, hoarse voice.
mo, MOI" groaned BARLEY Brad
stone. "She-she is not dead. For
Gods sake don't say that"
you have killed herr" repeated
Faradeane, grimly. why did you do
it? What was she to you
He stopped, for BARLEY Bradstone
had crawled to his knees.
''Faradeane, have mercy on me,
have pity he whined, almost speech
less with terror. "I-I didn't mean to
-to-kill her, only to stun her-to-
I'll tell you all, so help me Heaven, it
you'll let me go"
Faradeane. with Bella's head upon
his knee, held up one hand.
''They will hang you," he said, grim
". "You are mad! What have to
do with saving you? You are beyond
help, and you must know it." BARLEY
Bradstone uttered a whine.
ooh, my Heaven! What shall l do?
FaradeaneI Faradeane! save mel"
Faradeane scarcely needed him; his
brain was whirling as he loosened the
woman's collar, and tried to pour
some brandy past her paling lips.
Save me, save me, Faradeane!"
cried BARLEY Bradstone in kind of
suppressed shrek. 81 can explain
everything. I'll do anything Pll-I'll
oh, God! If you won't do it for me,
do it for her! Remember whom I
married this morning!"
A quick shudder ran through Farat
deane's veins, and the blood left his
face. In the horror and the excite
ment of the moment he had forgotten
forgotten that this blood-stained
wretch, who crawled at his feet and
begged like a cur for his life, was the
husband of Olivia vanley! The hus-
band!
He looked up speechless for mo-
ment.
Great God! I had forgotten!"
dropped from his white lips. You
you fiend!''
"Don't-don't!" whined BARLEY.
II know all you can say; but-but
If you'd seen how she drove me! She
had no mercy! She drove me till l
was mad! Yes, that's what | ami"
he gasped, hoarsely. I'm mad! Tell
them I'm mad! They can't hang me!
They can't! You said so yourself.
Oh, Faradeane, have pity on me!
Think how young l am! II am no
older than you! Have pity on mel"
"Silence!" said Faradeane, and his
voice rose like that of a stern, relent-
less judge 81 am thinking. But not
of you! am thinking of her of the
girl whose life you have wrecked and
ruined, whose heart you have broken!
Don't speak," He held up his hand.
Every word you utter tempts me TO
call for someone to drag you away.
You the husband of-for your own
sake. don't speak to me-"
BARLEY Bradstone crouched on the
ground his hands clutching at the
grass, his face hidden.
A minute or two passed, as Fara-
deane bent over the pallid face upon
his knees, his own almost as white
his heart racked by the awful torture
of the position. All his thought was
of the sweet, innocent, pure-hearted
girl, for whom he would have gladly
laid down his life. and whom this
blood-stained wretch had linked to his
own shameful name.
Then as he looked down upon the
woman, scarcely seeing her, he was
recalled to the fact of her presence By
a slight movement of her eyelids.
They opened For a moment there
was nothing but a dense shadow over
them; then she recognized him.
''You!" she breathed, with faint
flicker of surprise In her face.
He bent down.
1T is l." he said. "My poor Bella!"
The shadow of smile swept over
her face.
Poor Bella, eh?" she gasped, so low
taht he could just hear her and no
more. "You-you didn't speak like
that last night ely! No! But-but
why am lying here-what's this pain
in my side? Ah!" a shudder ran
through her; II remember! ely.
he-he shot met The coward! the
coward! He didn't give me time! If
he had" She tried to raise her
arm. ely" and spasm quivered on
her lips, "am lam going to die?
Tell me the-truth? You always did
that"
MY poor gir1!" dropped from his
Hips again
Gha nInc1S ~