Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-12-18

l have guessed who 1t Is that lies there.
know sinned against him and
against myself and left him to die un
forgiving. That is what the statue
said to me, as he must have said, i
am no more worthy to be called thy
SON."
"Ah," she cried, "he knew and he
forgave you. Hugh! His last thought
was of your coming. That Is why
carved the figure there
"You carved it?" he exclaimed. She
bent her forehead to his hands as they
clasped her own.
1.-THE prodigal Is yourself" she said.
Il modelled it once before when you
came back to him, In the time you have
forgotten. But l destroyed 1.-THE
words were very low now-'on my
wedding day
His hands released hers. and, looking
up, she saw, even In the moonlight.
that with the last word his face had
gone CHASTITY white. At the sight timid-
ity. maidenly reserve. fell, and all the
woman in her rushed uppermost She
lifted her arms and clasped his face.
Hugh" she cried, cant you remem-
Der? Don't you understand? Think!
l was blind, dear, blind. A white
bandage was across my eyes, and you
came to me in shaded room. Why
did you come to me?"
A spark seemed to dart through his
brain like the prickling discharge from
a Leyden jar. He saw himself stand
Ing, facing figure with bandaged
eyes, He saw the bandage torn of,
felt that yielding body in his arms,
heard voice = her voice = crying:
Hugh Hugh My husband" and felt
those lips pressed to his own In the
tense air Of a darkened room.
A cry broke from his lips: Yes, yes,
remember! Jessica, my wife, His
arms went round her, and, with little
sob, she nestled close to him on the
doorstep.
That hour on the mountain side un-
der the stars had left Harry possessed
Of melee of perplexing emotions
Dreaming and waking Jessica's face
hung before his eyes, her voice sound
ed IN his ear. The future held no long
er any doubt; it held only her. Where
was that future to be? Back in the
city to which his painful curiosity had
so lately driven him? This lay nc
longer in his own choice. 1t was fol
her to decide now-Jessica. his wife.
He looked up transfixed, for shs
stood there before him ankle deep in 6
brown whirlwind of leaves from {
frost stung oak, her hand to her cheel
. in an adorable gesture that he knew
. her lips parted and eager.
. 81 wanted SO to find you" she said
81 have so many, many things to say
, at is all wonderfully strange ant
, new" he said. at is as though l hat
) rubbed Aladdin's lamp and suddenl.
) had my hearts desire. How could
: have thrown my pearl away?"
"We are not to think of that" sh
protested, "never. never any more"
J you are right" he rejoined cheer
e fully. st is what is to come that w
a must think Of" He paused an instant
. then he said:
, Last night when you told me Of tn
. white house in the aspens did not tel
you that had just come from there
; from Aniston."
> She made an exclamation of wonder
2 Tell me-" she said
a Sitting with her hand in his, he toll
h Of that nights experiences, the fea
- that had held him as he gazed at he
l. portrait in the library, the secret {
It the Korean desk that had solaced b.
d misery and sent him back to the Fl
IS Their he was not to see.
c At mention of the will she threw OF
a. her hand with passionate gestul
THE money is not mine" she erie
he ct is yours! He intended to chang
II it, He told me SO the day he die
: Oh, If you think r.
II "No, no." he said gently. There
th no resentment. no false pride, in n
or love. Jessica. l am thinking of "