Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-09

T want you to believe" she went on, "that knew you had done no murder. If an angel from heaven had come to declare 1t would not have believed 1t. l only want now to understand"
 "What do you not unoerstand" he asked gently.
 She half turned toward the door as she said, in lower key, After you had gone many tNngs came back to me that seemed strange something cu- rious in your manner you had not seemed wholly surprised when I told you you were accused. Why did you shut the cabin door and speak so low? Was there any one else there when I camey"
 He averted his face, but he did not answer. She was treading on near ground.
 My horse came back this after noon," she continued. He had been ridden hard in the night, and his Hanks were cut cruelty with whip. You did not use him, but some one did"
 She waited moment. Still he made no reply.
 T want to ask you," she said abrupt ly, do you know who killed Dr. Mo- reau"
 His blood chilled at the question. He looked down at her speeches.. You must let me speak," she said. You won't answer that. Then you do know who really did 1t. Oh, have thought so much since last night! For some reason you are shielding him. Was 1t the man who was in the cabin-who rode my horse? If he is guilty, why do you help him off and so make your. self partly guilty? The whole town believes you arc guilty-I see 1t in all their faces. They are sorry, many of them, for they don't hate you as they did. but they think you did it-even Mfr. Fielder. though I have told him what suspect and though he Is work ing now to defend you..s
 "Jessica," he urged, you must trust me and have faith in me. know it is hard, but can't explain to you! l can't tell you-yet-why I do as I am doing, but you must believe that I am right"
 You speak as if you were sorry for me-" she said, "and not for yourself Is it because you know you are not in real danger-that you know the truth must come out. only you can't tell it yourself or tell me either? Is that it?'
 "It is not that Jessica," he said gravely, yet you must not fear for me flor my life. Try to believe me when I say that some time you will under stand and know that I did only what I must"
 twill that be soon?' she asked.
 T think it may be soon," he an- swered.
 Her face lighted The puzzle and dread lifted. "Oh, then" she said "oh, then, shall not be afraid l can not share your thoughts nor your se- cret, and I must rebel at that. You mustn't blame mel wouldn't be if did not-but I love you more than all the world, and I shall be- lieve that you know best Hugh," she added softly. do you know that-you haven't kissed me"
 Before her upturned, pleading eyes and trembling lips the iron of his pur- pose bent to the man in him. and he l took her into his arms.
 
 A frosty gloom was over the city of | Aniston, moon and stars hidden by a cloudy sky, from which a light snow, he first of the season. was sitting down. The streets were asleep. Only occasional oelated pedestrians were to be seen in he chilly air. These saw man, his lace muffled from the snowfakes. pass toward the fountained square, rom whose steeple ? o'clock was just striking. The wayfarer skirted the square, keeping in cover of the build ngs as though avoiding chance obser- 'ation, till he stood on the pavement 'f a Gothic chapel fronting the open pace.
 On the night of his flight from Smoky Mountain, Hugh had ridden lard till dawn, abandoning the horse 0 find its way back as best it might. 1e had slept through the next day. For wo days after his arrival he had hung bout outside the town in a fever of mpauence, for, though he had readily scertained that the premises were un- coupled, the first night he had been frightened away by the too jealous crutiny of policeman, and on the ext he had been unable to force the GOT. That morning he had secured a keleton key, and now the weather was ropitious for his purpose. ..-- After moments reconnoitering he caled the frost fretted iron palings Id gained the shelter of the porch. ie tried the key anxiously. To his re- ef, it fitted. Another minute and he tood in the study, the door locked be- ind him, his veins beating with ex- itement.
 Crouching down before the safe, he ook from his pocket the paper upon Thich was written the combination. The match seorched his fingers, and Q Iiuhtad apofhor ond bo,,. l