The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-06
CHAPTER Mi.
Continued

going to die. Shall we be killed by the
black fog and starvation? Or shall we
die a quicker way? Think of another
night in such a fog and without Dit
mer beside us. Katharine,' she re-
peated, "think of another night out
in this cruel place"
Still there was no answer.
"Kathariner' she stopped and lifted
her Observation-Disclosures! are you dead
yet? Are you so happy as to be dead?"
mo! 1 wish we were dead. Oh! Lily
-Lily-how long-how long? Will
Dittmer never come? The seat is cold;
he is so good. He look off his coat and
laid it over ..e. Dittmer is very good
to u.s."
She was light-headed; exhaustion and
cold made her forget where she was.
She thought she was still on the bench
in the park waiting for Dittmer to
come back.
"She is faint with hunger" said Lily.
She instinctively felt her pocket. There
was ii it a rough crust. the last of the
threepenny-worth of bread. She gave
it to Katharine, who devoured 1t
greedily.
care you better. dear? Do you think
that you could stand? Do you think
that you could walk a little?"
"WhereT"
"It is not far-I should think about
half a mile. This time 1 know that l
can find my way. l see it in my head,
every inch. clear as if there were no
fog. though it is as black as night"
Where, Lily? Dc you mean" she
trembled. she rose and stood beside
her f%riend-"do You mean
at !; the Embankment, dear. That
is the place where women go to end
their sufferings. The poor woman who
has lost her virtue; the poor shirt
maker who has lost her place; the poor
lady who car get no work; that is the
place for all of us. One plunge and
it is all overall the sorrow and all
the disappointment"
But after death"
AFTER death 1 shall ask why we
were forced to the Embankment."
Lilly, 1 arr afraid. 1t will be so
cold"
1--WE shall not feel the cold one bit.
Think of another night! Think of the
rest of the day! Think Of day after
day like this! Katharine, you shall
hold my hand. Come"
She dragged Katharine away, walk
ing with the strength of madness, as
fast as her trembling friend could go,
sometimes hurrying her, sometimes en-
couraging her, sometimes reproving
her.
I know not how she found her way
or by what strange trick of brain she
was enabled to go straight to the EN-
bankment at the point where it begins
at Westminster Bridge. She took the
shortest way through the park, and
along George street, never ha!ting or
heSitating for a moment. any more
than if it had been a day Of clear
brilliant sunshine. Yet she had be-
fore lost her way simply in crossing
from the corner of the ratings to the
Buckingham Palace road.
"Only q few minutes now, dear. On,
Katharine dear, we shall die together;
we will not let go of each others
hands. Remember that. The water
will roll over us. and in a moment
we shall be dead and all will be over.
You will not die alone. We shall so
into the next world together. No more
trouble, dear. Perhaps you will join
Tom and be happy. I think he must
be waiting for you somewhere. 1t is
the shortest way to reach him. And
as for me-why-they say that eye
hath not seen nor can tongue tell the
happiness that we shall find there; and
1t seems to me that all I want is rest
and to be sure that I shall have food
tomorrow. You must not think Of the
plunge, dear-the river is not a bit
colder than the air; think Of last night;
think Of to-day; think of the night be-
fore us"
Lily" said Katharine, stopping,
"they are having service in the church
by the Abbey. Oh! it must be the
evening service. They are praising
God and singing hymns, and we are
out in the fog and the cold and going
to kill ourselves.
Eyes; l could not ling any hymns just
now"
Lilly. let us have one prayer before
we 60"
"No; leap first and pray afterward;
there will be plenty of time to pray
when We are sure that We shall not
have to come back to this miserable
world any more.' She dragged the
other girl along with her-past the
Abbey-straight down to the Embank-
ment. Hush! Katharine. Don't
speak now. This is the very place"
She stopped at me of the landing
places, where the steps go down into
the water.
1.-The tide is running up" said Lily:
bow did she know, because they could
see nothing? 1T will carry us up the
river: it will roll us over and over.
Don't let go my hand, Katharine; it
will kill us in 4 moment. and then it
will drive and beat us and bang us
against the piers Of Westminster
Bridge. so that nc one will be able to
recognize us when they do find us.
And so it will never be known what
became OF u.s.. Dear Katharine, dear
Katharine Resina-poor Queen with
out a ~penny-give me one kiss. Hold
nv hand. Now YOU shall he with
your lover in a moment. and all your
sorrow shall be over. Hold my hand
and run down the steps with me.