Middletown transcript., 1907-08-24
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rapidly, feverishly.
So / thought if / warned you,
You could be prepared With your
proofs. It's not fair to take q
disadvantage, and simply on the
ground of a chance likeness!
But it will be all right now, won't
it
And she looked up. Their
eyes met just for moment, and
his softened.
Dear, brave women, he said
very low, if only had the right
II
He broke off abruptly, and
there was silence for minute.
Then he stood up.
Will you come into the music
room with me? he asked roughly.
III want to say something to
you. One can't talk here-one
might be overheard, and for
your sake that would never do.
She followed him in silence,
her heart beating till it nearly
suffocated her. In the music
room they were far away, and in
perfect solitude.
What I want to say to you, ne
said, turning to her swiftly, is
good bye. You're the best
woman I've ever met, and SO
that is the only thing I may say
to you. I'm not quite a black.
guard perhaps Goodbye.
He held out his hand with q
smile, but she did not take it.
She only stared at him for one
breathless moment.
Why? she whispered.
Because my name was once
clifford. You see it was all true.
/ don't believe it, she said
hoarsely.
I was convicted of cheating al
cards. I resigned my commiss.
ion.
Still I don't believe it! | believe
you were inocent all the time
Neither you nor any man shall
ever make me believe you guilty
she cried, her eyes afiame, and
at her words he whitened. Fol
one minute they stayed thus
staring at each other, then-she
was in his arms.
My sweet my sweet, he said
brokenly, it's no use fighting
against fate. They say mar
can live down anything, but il
ism always true true, Rachel; narld
sticks to one too fast for that
I'll go out Of your life now.
must, for / wouldn't bring a slul
on your fair name for all thai
the world holds; but, Rachel
some day III come back, ard
trust everything will be cleared
up, and then
She raised her face from his
shoulder, her eyes wet with tears
yet fearless.
shall be waiting, she said.
Latimer, in his stifiingly hot
tent, lay on his back and watched
the flies with only half.conscious
eyes. It was about the only
thing he had done for days, and
his faithful servant watched him
with despair; unless he would
rouse himself, make an effort, he
would certainly slip quietly out
of life, and that was perhaps
just what he wanted. The fever
which had laid hold Of him with
such fierce grip had sapped
his strength of both body and
mind; all he prayed for was to be
let alone. A few weeks ago be
was looking forward to getting
home in time for Christmas; holi-
days and, above all, New Year 4
Day, after all, to him but a time
Of bitter memoriesg Let it pass
unnoticed.
Before him fieated u vision Of
that last night at Hastleton. He
saw again Rachel Enderby's tear
wet eyes and lovely smile; the
brave words she had spoken
rang ever in his ears, but cui
bono? To the end he must re-
main an outcast among his fel-
lows; the mud stuck too firmly
fer the horrible thing to be com.
pletely forgotten He had seen
that irrevocably during tlie
last interview in the Hastletoil
library, when he lad accepted
his fate. He was Clifford; there
was no denying that fact. He
had been convicted of cheating
at cards the woman in the case
only made it worse A grim
smile twisted Ills lips as he
thought over the impossible sit
uation. How vera they To- know
that he was only !. scapegnat
after all 7 He had kept silence
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