The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-26

~ 10 phtg s'ut WIN NAAhh "SN
your solemn word TO me that you are
innocent"
IF you don't believe in me. what's
the use OF giving you my solemn word?
can't prove il and never could. The
evidence was too strong"
ut would have been stronger still
The voice stopped short
"Well"
"If ] had told them all you said to
me that very night that very hour"
The voice was nc longer scOrnful
Even to Peggy 1t seemed to falter and
to tremble with the pent up agony Of
years But Toms tone did not change.
IT know that" he said bitterly. ~
have always known that you had more
reason than anybody in the world TO
think me guilty. Yet I would rather
you had thought me innocent and let
me die than saved my life to show me
what you still think after all these
months My cup has been pretty full.
but that's the bitterest drop"
"And still you won't deny It." per.
sisted the girl. II am ready 10 take
your word, yet you will not give II"
whats the use?" he asked. "what
difference could 1t make. even suppos-
ing you believed me?"
"All the difference to me-" was the
quick but low reply. ut would alter
everything-everything. Can't you see
that II mustT'
mo: 1t is too late to alter anything
NJ ALL"
Yet his voice shook In fits turn.
100 late? Too latei" cried the girl
wildly. Nothing Is too late II you are
innocent. Speak. Tom. Why don't
rou speak; oh. Tom. II would alter
MI our lives. yet you will not speak"
Because / cannot he cried out.
Because IL am not an innocent man.
am not-I am mott am not! And
now leave me-leaye me, say. for
Gods sake. Never you pity me again"
Almost from a shout his voice died
down TO a whisper. The last words
were hardly audible outside. But they
were followed by a silence so heavy
that Peggy o'Brien heard herself
breathing and thought she must be
heard within. And then came the
sound OF light. unsteady steps retreat
ing aud nothing more-nOt another
sound within.
The silence appalled, Peggy. At last,
wxvhan sim nnstiA ma fnnRnr hanE ~ aba
crept over the soft sand TO the mouth
OF the shed and peered round the cor.
ner. He was standing within as the
other woman had left him. He had
never stirred His open hands were
still extended In some unfinished ges.
ture. A gIimmer OF sunshine glanced
OF the waters and pointed the cruel
contrast between the lined face and
the yellow hair thrown proudly back
from 1.-THE one 80 aged. the other 80
boyish. And his eyes-they seemed
still to be pouring tenderness and
strength upon the other woman. They
never saw this one az all.
. She stole away. loving him more
than ever. But must not the other one
too? She had seen the same look
had won It-but his crime made a DIFF.
ference to her To Peggy II made
none. She neither knew nor cared
what IL was, and there lay her slight
advantage. Il was too slight She
loved him. but so much the other
Her love lay near 10 hate. She would
see If she could not push the other
w0man's nearer yet.
She reached the house. and nobody
was In the way. Lady StarkIe wa
writing letters In the breakfast room
Peggy wFs soon listening at the other
woman's notwithstanding TO her sobs
, She compressed her lips and nodded
90 herself with splendid confidence. Al
length there fell a silence, In which
. Peggy knocked and entered.
Il beg pardon. miss, but was Thomas
not In the boat shed? It's sorry I am
II ] sent ye on q FOOLS errand-savln'
, your presence. missg'
mo: he was there"
can did he refuse YER
"No-I-changed my mind"
: "GIory be 10 God. mIssi IT'S me
self would let IN know Z II he gave
any Of bis sauce to the mastber's Indy.
I'D have no more 10 do wild IN ut ALL"
Claire turned pale.
"You would have no more 90 do with
him. said she very slowly. Il don't
understand you"
Sure an how would your lie
wouldn't be afther tellIn' q lady like
you"
, Telling me what. my good giriT
Bhe was trembling now.
"IIe came 10 the factory last week
miss. Yen nIver guess why-to choose
q wife"
"a wifeg'
"An' It's me be chose-you ask The
mastber when he comes back"
The master came back IN time fof
lunch. tie found Claire on the veran,
da with a white face and an angry
eye, loudly declaring she felt another
being