Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-06

ably give satisfactory reason-surely all this is condemnation enough? One other love affair, more or less-what does it matter? And you-it would distress your sister to know you were mixed up in this murder" Gerald winced at the ugly word. And you would much prefer not to be known in it. D
 But MT. Winslow-he will explain some day?"
 Some day, perhaps" Gonzaga re- piled. For the present." There was artful suggestion in the unfinished sen- tence. in the insinuating smile, the lift ed brows which, even in the darkness, was not lost upon Gerald. He hesi- tated, then, without reply, walked slow ly toward the inn.
 The Spaniard followed in satisfied si- lence; the leaven of temptation was set that it would work he had little doubt.
 Lavender greeted her brother. with hands outstretched. Gerald! Let us go, and quickly"
 The Spaniard assisted him with the boat, then waved farewells as he watched them skim the water. the man rowing with long, impetuous strokes, his sister dropping in the stern, crushed beyond her usual endurance.
 For some time they went on in si- lence, the silence of the river at night broken only by the dip of oars, the cry of qua-bird or the startled retreat of deer that had come down to the water to drink.
 What ails you. Lavender" Gerald said, suddenly, the thongs of his self disgust descending upon her innocent head.
 Weekly she answered.: I'm tired, and it is late.' ..#
 Tired he echoed, petulantly. You're tender-hearted creature, a grateful girl, indeed! Your friend is wounded, dying, maybe, and you have no com ments, give no aid. are merely in the doldrums, tired forsooth!"
 The injustice reused her. You are mistaken, Gerald, as we'll as unkind. did inquire of the woman at the tav- ern if there were anything we could do. But Mir. Winslow is out of danger, she thinks, and does not peed our help. l am most distressed at the accident, but l can say nothing more-I will say noth- ing more. do not forget what we owe to Mir. Winslow. It is because am not ungrateful that I am silent now"
 Silent about what?" he demanded, irritated by her unsatisfactory atti- tude If he intended shielding himself, her silence was his best protection; by it he was called upon neither to ex- cuse nor condemn. But his purpose wavered between two plans. Lacking courage to confess his own connection with the affair, he lacked. too, boldness in the dishonest course. Thus, while cow ardice held him back. native honesty spurred him into a negative champion ship. He talked fast in time to violent rowing. "Senor Gonzaga told me of the scandal, so-called, and intimated that you were upset over it.
 A faint, sarcastic smile was her only response to this remark. .--
 What, in Heavens name. has the man done?" Gerald burst out at last. Can't one have love-affair without gossip? Cant he meet a girl without consulting his neighbors as to how, and when, and where?"
 Gerald spoke with the unconscious eloquence of one pleading his own cause. His eyes flashed. his voice rang defiance to unseen sccusers. For the first time Lavender sat bolt upright, her spirit on fire with all the pent-up feelings of the night.
 Tt is. perhaps. true, that Mfr. Wins lows morals are not our affair. but. if so. then MT. Winslows lines in life are not cast with us. The man into whose morals We may not look may be our creditor. may load us with benefits; in return he wins our gratitude. our pity ing silence. but our friendship, our es- teem, never"
 You are talking nonsense" Gerald retorted. T have always been proud of you. Lavvy. because your look on life is less restricted than custom dic- tates for women. You are usually less narrow. less"
 She interrupted him scornfully: {" Narrow You call 1t narrow 10 lose reverence for a man who kills his fel- bowman? Who lies 10 us about his ar rest in St Louis. that he may be the better rid of us. and live his own life un- trsmmeled? Let him live it," She flung herself back in the stern. and gazed at the sky. her face white and fearless.
 Gerald tugged al the oars in des- perste. wondering silence. Of the nights occurrences he had a confused recollection. At the party. and later at the tavern. he had drunk freely. and his brain vas not clear He knew only tha, he had gone to keep the tryst with Susan. He had found. instead. the dead body of her father. and the wounded winslov. How the latter came there vas a mystery. He was only sure that the stab which had laid wiBsiou lou sas intended for himself Itwss. there fore. a salve to his conscience to think the worst: to give a bad motive. how ever vague. for the strangers pres enoe there Besides. had he not killed Sues fzfhsrz The recollection Of his suesthszrt-seTfsfq quite fort the moment ovsrbzlsoced whatever of personal gain there might be to h:m in the tskfus-os of this old hunchhaek. whose murder ---. s-..-s n~s -.z~r~ -o~@ i. MF. -ra