The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-01-31
CHAPTER XII.
Continued

WILL "hlpS, DeCduSe "t DIE
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. :
'Katharinew. she stopped and lifted
her head-'Katharine. are you dead
yet? Are you so happy as to be dead:"
*'No! I wish we We're dead. Oh! Lily
-Lily-how long-how long? VIII
Dittmer never come? The seat is cold;
he is so good. He took off his coat and
laid it over me- 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.
f-"Shetis faint with hunger" said Lily.
She instinctiyely felt her pocket There
was in it a rough crust, the last of the
threepennywer of bread. She gave
it to Katharine, who devoured it
greedily.
""Are you better, dear? Do you think
that you could stand? Do you think
that you could walk a little?'
t'Where?
''It is not far-I should think about
half a mile. This time I know that I
can find my way. 1 see it in my head,
every inch, clear as if there were no
fog, though it is as black as night"
''Where' Lilly q. Do you mean she,
rembled, she rose and stood beside
her friend-''do you mean-'
s'It is 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 can 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 am afraid. It will be so
cold" = p
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-
coura ging her. sometimes reproving
her.
l know not how she found her way
or by what strange, trick of brain. she
was enabled to go straight to the En-
bahkment at the point where it begins
at Westminster Bridge. She took the
shortest way through the park, and
along. George street. never halting or
hesitating for 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 railipgs to the
Buckingham Palace road.
''Only few minutes now. dear. Oh.
Katharine dears we. shall dieefogether;
we will not Hlet go of leach others
hands, Remember that The water
will roll over. us, -and in a moment.
we shall be .aedd and all will be over.
You will not die. alone. We shall go
iIrto the next world together. No more
trouble, dear. Perhaps you will join
Tom and Sc Shapf5ss 8 think he must
be <Avaiting. f6r, you Fsemewhere 1t is
the shortest way, to reach him. And
rs for ne-why-they say that eye
hath not seen nor can tongue tell the
happiness that Ne shall find there; and
it seems to me that all 1 want is rest
and to be sure that l 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;
fhGsik of to-day; think of the night be-
fsEf.I9= YIiy.5 said katharine. stopping.
"they are having service, in the church
by the Abbey. Oh! it must be the
cyening service. They are praising
God and singing hymns, and we are
out in the fog and the cold and going
to kill ourselves.
',mfs Ieentld not.sing any hymns just
Lily let US have one prayer before
go: leap hfst and pray afterward;
tlttre' viii he 'h1erty 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-stl,ifgllt down 10 the sEmEank-
mont."zs FLUSH. Tatharine:. Don
speak, lleV- This is the very place
She. stopped at one OF the landing
places. where the steps 20 down into
the water.
The iidG is running up said Lily;
how did she know, because they could
see. nothing? ...It.will carry US up the
river; it will roll Us over and over.
D5a,t5Iet.s ees*is highland. Katharine; it,
wifFKHl us lin ii 4n6nan and then it
will drive and beat us, and bang us
against the piers aSOf' Westminster
Bridge. 50 that, 10 one Will be able to
recognize us when they do find US
And 50 it will never be known what
became Of hS. ) Dnar katharine, dear
Katharine E@%ilrl-poGr r Queen with
Ont 1cnry-@iyc me one kiss. Hold
MY i::,nd. Now YOU. shah be with
your lover ia 4 Rroiacnt. and all yonr
sorrow shall be over. Hold my hand
and run down the steps with me.
Quick. Quick. Hold my hand hard
harder Quick
She drew ~ atl.aFtT:e to the steps, cry
ing out--f65 :htsf 10 1IastoIf and . hold
fast, and dra@sin@ her down TO the
riFe1g Kaflhrine: Esas too Weaksto re
sik fmeA..fly aIld bodily. Md all
around her lay the thick black 70"
like wall Of darkness.
Did you ever think what it would
be to be shut up in such an inferno as