The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-09-07
tor he Term of His Natural Life
By MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER XVII

countable change in the manner of the
chaplain. He came to her one after
noon, and, after talking for some time,
In a 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.
II do not wish to think of him." said
she. with a shudder. Il have the stran-
gest, the most horrible dreams about
him. He is a bad man. He tried to
murder me when a 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?'
Yes. I gave it him. Why not? You
are not angry?'
ooh, no! Why should l be angry z
she laughed constrainedly. ut was
strange fancy for the man to have, that's
ALL"
Il suppose you would not give me an
other rose, if l asked you"
"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. North Terrified at the wild
CLEAN in his eyes, she had risen hastily.
"You are talking very strangely.
''Oh. don't be alarmed, madam. l 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 a word. The
next day he met her. and. bowling, pass
ed swiftly. This panied her.
So a week passed. and Mr.. North did
not return. Unluckily for the poor
wretch. the very self-sacrifce he had
made brought about the precise condl-
ton of things which he was deslrous
to avoid. But the very fact of the
sudden wrenching away of her compan-
ion showed her how barren was the soil
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 un'
derstood that his love for her had burn
ed itself out. In a word. she found that
the society of North had become so far
necessary to her, that to be deprived OF
1t was a grief-notwithstand 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 Mau
rice and begged to be sent back to Ho
bart Town. II cannot live in this hor
rible island" she said. 81 am getting
i'll. Let me go to my father for a few
months, Maurice" Maurice consent
ed. His wife was looking ill, and Major
Vickers was an old mana rich old maj
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 fel
rather glad to get rid of her for I
while. You can go back in the Lad!
Franklin, if you like, my DEAR" he said
II expect her every day." At this de
cision-much to his surprise-she kisset
him with more show of affection thai
she had manifested for a long time.
The news Of the approaching depart
ure became known, but still North di'
not make his appearance. Had 1t no
been a step beneath the dignity of
woman, Mrs. Frere would have gon
herself and asked him the meaning o
his unaccountable rudeness; but ther
was just sufficient morbidity in the sym
pathy she had for him to restrain he
from an act which a young girl, thoug
not more innocent, would have dare
without hesitation.
Between the commandant and tn
chaplain now arose GOODNESS. an
Frere set himself. by various petit
tyrannies. to disgust North and compe
him to a resignation of his office. TIL
convict jailers speedily marked the dill
ference in the treatment of the chaplain
and their demeanor changed. For re
spect was substituted insolence; 70
alacrity, sullenness; for prompt obed
ence, impertinent intrusion. The me
whom North favored were selected a
special subjects for harshness, and fo
a prisoner to be seen talking to the clel
gyman was sufficient to insure for hi1
q series of tyrannies. There was bu
one being who was not to be turned fror
his allegiance-the convict murderer
Rufus Dawes. who awaited death Fo
many days he had remained mute, brol
en- down beneath his weight of sorro,
or of sullenness.
Frere, unable to comprehend the res
son of the calmness with which tn
doomed felon met his taunts and to-
ments, thought that he was shEnmin
piety to gain some indulgence of mea
and drink, and redoubled his severit,
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 whispere
conversation on the island. 1t was r.
ported that North had been forbidden ,
visit the convict. but that he had r
fused to accept the prohibition, and, b
a threat of what he would do when til
returning vessel had landed him in II
bart Town, had compelled the command
ant to withdraw his order. The con
mandant however. speedily discovered
Rufus Dawes signs of insubordinatio