Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-11-26

M chill damp smell of the
dewy balsams in her nos
trils, the dust rising ghostlike behind
the rapid hoofs. She found David
Stires anxious and peevish over her
late coming.
She felt a relief when the old man
grew tired and was wheeled to his
bedroom.
Left alone, her reflections returned.
She began to be tortured. She tried
to read. The printed characters swan
beyond her comprehension. At length
she drew a hood over her head and
stole out on to the wide porch.
1T was only 8 o'clock, and along the
gravel paths that wound among the
shrubbery a few dim forms We're stroll
ing. She caught the scent of a cigar
and the sound of a woman's laugh.
The air was crisp and bracing, with
a promise of frost and painted leaves.
She gaZed down across the dark
gulches toward the town. a struggling
design pricked in binding yellow
points. Halfway between, folded in
the darkness. lay the green shelf and
the cabin to which her thought re-
Cured with a kind of compulsion.
There was no moon, but the stars
We're glowing like tiny green gilt Goals,
and the yellow road lay plain and
clear. With a sudden determination
she drew her light cloak closely about
her. stepped down, sped across the
grass to q footpath and so to the road.
AS she ran on down the curving stretch
under the trees the cracking slip of
bank paper that lay in her bosom
seemed to burn her flesh. She was
stealing away to gaze upon the out
cast who had shamed and hulnbled
her-going. she knew not why, with
burning cheek and hammering heart.
She slipped through the side trail to
the cabin with a choking sensation.
She stole to the window and peered
in. In the freight she could see the
form on the bunk, tossing and mutter-
ing. Otherwise the place vas empty.
She lifted the latch softly and en-
tered.
The strained anxiety of Jessica's
look relaxed as she gaZed about her
She saw the vial on the table. The
doctor had been there. then. If he
were In serious case. Prendergast
would be with him. She threw back
her hood. drew one Of the chairs to
the side of the bunk and sat down, her
eyes fixed on his face. The weakness
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through and through her. Two sides
of her were struggling in a chaotic
combat for mastery.
81 hate youl I hate you" she said
under her breath, clinching her cold
hand. 81 must hate you. You stole
my love and put it under your feet.
You have disgraced my present and
my future. What if you have
forgotten the past-your crime? Does
make you the less guilty or M
the less wretched:"
But withal Il silent voice within her
gave the lie to her vehenence. some
clement of her character that had been
rigid and intact was crumbling down
An old sweet something that a dread.
full mill had ground and crushed and
lnnihiiated was rising Wauir and un-
superior to any p"tty distinc-
ion, regardless of all rhai lifted com
in her inheritance. not to be
or denied.
She leaned closer. listening to the in
words and broken phrases
1orne on the turbid channels Of fever.
But she could not link them together
nto meaning. Only one name be spoke
over and over again-the name
Hugh Stires-repeated with the dreary
nonotony of a child coming a lesson
She noted the mark across his brow.
Before her marriage. in her blindness,
he had used to wonder what it was
Ike. 1t was not in the least disfigur-
1t gave a touch of the extraor-
linary. 1t was so small she did not
that in that e~cstatic moment of
Ter brides kiss she had not seer 1t.
Slowly. half fearfully. she stretched
ut her hand and laid ii on his. AS If
t the touch the mutterings ceased.
The eyes opened, and a confused, trou-
lied look crept TO them Then they
losed again. and the look faded out .
nto a peace that remained.
A thrill ran through her. the sense .