Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-12-08

tain figure. She was curlously happy.
The delicious and pangless sense of
guilt, however-the guilt of the hidden,
not the blameworthy thing-that was
tingling through her was for him a
shrinking and acute self reproach.
She was silent. "Forgive me-" he
said. ''if you can. IL can never for.
give myself. How can l best go?'
For answer she moved to the win.
dow. slender and wraithlike. He fol-
lowed silently. AS she parted the cur
tain a second of bright lightning re-
vealed the landscape, the dark hedges
and clustered trees. 1t blackened, and
she drew him back. with hushed
word. pointing where a lantern was
flashing through the shrubbery.
ut is watchman," she said 'He
will be gone presently
God help me-" he whispered, the
pent passion of his dreams rushing to
utterance. why did l ever see your
face? l was reckless and careless then
had damned the decent side of me
that now is quivering alive. l have
tried to blot your face from my men,
DRY, but it is useless. shall always
see It,"
On the lawn just outside the window
low voices were heard through the In
creasing rain. They passed, and after
moment he softly unattached the win
dow.
"Goodby," he said.
She stretched out her hand. He
touched t.. then drew the window
wide. AS he stepped noiselessly down
on to the sprngy turf the lightning
flashed again, a pale green glow that
seemed almost before her face She
drew back. and the same instant
through the thunder, the electric bell
on the wall rang sharply. She threw
on her dressing gown, thrust her feet
into slippers and fastened from the
room.
sica lighted brightly the physician and
the Waterman, who stood at the cor
ner Of the building, having finished
their tour of inspection. 1t was the
latter who had found the open door
and who had aroused the doctor, insist
Ing that he had seen man in the hall
The other had poohpoohed this, but
now by the lightning both saw the
figure emerge from the French window
and disappear in the darkness
They ran back, the physician ahead
The window was not locked, and they
stepped through it into an empty room
ITO be sure" said the doctor disgust
edly He was here all the time, heard
US searching the halls and took the
4 first unlocked door he found. Miss
Holme, no doubt, is sitting up with
Mr.. Stires. Not word of this" he
added as they walked along the hall
He barred the outer door behind the
Waterman and went on. AS he reached
David Stires' room the door opened
and Jessica came out. She spoke to
him in low, anxious voice. 81 was
coming for you," she said. II am
afraid he is not so we'll cannot rouse
him. Will you come in and see what
| you can do?"
The doctor entered, and glance at
his patient alarmed him. Until dawn
he sat with Jessica watching. When
the early sunlight was flooding the
room, however, David Stires opened
his eyes and looked upon her quite
naturally.
"Where is Harry Sanderson?" he
asked II thought he was here"
She looked at him with forced
smile. You have been dreaming" she
answered.
Il suppose So he said, with sigh,
"but it was very real. thought he
came in and spoke your name"
She stroked his hand. ut was fancy,
dear"
| He lay silent moment Then he
said, IF 1t could only have been Har-
ry you married instead of Hugh, for
he loved you, Jessica."
She flushed as she said. "Ah. that
was fancy too"
1t was the first time since the day of
her marriage that he had spoken
Hugh's name.