The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-02-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
Coward"

Coward"
heard r clock in the village strike
the hour. IL was six. The chateau
walls cast long shadow on the oppo
site bank OF the river. The mountains
in the far distance we're purple and
red In the evening light. The long
day was coming swiftly to an end;
and the night was mysterious with Its
promise Of despair
This tower OF the three rooms, Two
of these rooms held their tragedies.
What II the third room had its ira
gedy likewlsol
room In which Madame de WARMER
had said that Captain Forbes was i'm
prisoned. I listened: there was nc
answer. called the name OF the
kings messenger aloud: still there
was no answer. Soon the moon would
rise. and its cold rays might fall on
the llfeless body OF Forbes; for II all
we're well. why should there be this
OMNIBUS quiet?
The suspense was uncomfortable.
listened at the door of the room that
concealed the two women. I heard
the murmer of voices. That treasured
me so far as Helena's safety was con.
cerned; but II made me absolutely
certain that Captain Forbes must have
heard my voice II he we're living. and
in that room.
And when the two women came out?
shrank from that coming with
dread. had told Helena to be brave.
20 ignore the evidence OF her own
sight But / had been shaken in my
own belief as TO Sir Mortimor's limo
cencc. Surely her faith would be
greater than mine; but the evidence
seemed so overwhelmingly against Sir
Mortimer. II Sir Mortimer's letters
and notes were genuine. At any rate
the woman loved must hold hitter
cup TO her blanched lips; Il mast be
emptied to the very dregs. Her suffer.
ing was inevitable. whether she be-
lieved her brother innocent or guilty.
could not doubt that she would
refuse to purchase the silence Of
Madame de WARMER at the cost Of fur.
Their dishonor, even though were
chiefly TO bear that myself. But ~
she demanded that: Was I strong
enough TO resist her tears I must be
My reason told me Of the folly Of
| Madame de WARMERS plan. But II l
yielded weakly presently. and the rusc
actually succeeded, ] knew that the
hypocrisy OF The act would becoms
more and more dreadful TO Helena
with the coming years. No; II in that
supreme ecstacy of her agony she
should entreat me. must still refuse.
l must decide for her. even though
she thought my own cowardice 70
sponslble for that refusal
Coward How that word beat
DEVILS tattoo on my excited brain. 10
had been the keynote TO all my suffer
ing, and TO all my Joy. Willoughby
had died uttering Il; Helena had
echoed II In thought; and Madame De
WARMER had spoken II again and again
In her fierce contempt during the past
hour. Yes. II was the keynote Of my
suffering and my Joy. II was the
motif that obtruded again and again In
the stormy music OF these past hours
II was a baneful talisman. a watch
word. Its letters seemed TO have ~
most a magic potency. II was conn,
tersign that opened for me the gatss
of paradise and hell.
A talisman, A watchword! A coun
tersign, Suddenly saw the word
COWARD written In flaming let
tiers. They revolved furiousiy. They
danced before my vision.
This was sheer madness--this i'm
possible conjecture. I reasoned the un
reasoning impulse to hone agains
hope. But the forlorn, desperate pos
sibility fought obstinately for recog
milton. II held me with all the damn
ing power OF hallucinatlos.
And then suddenly II became con
viction. II was no longer an impossi
Bile hope, not even an intuition. II be
came an absolute belief, certainty
And this was the reason for my BE-
lief:
Whenever Madame de WARMER had
mentioned the safe she had called me
coward.
| COWARD
That was the combination of thu
safe.
At last door opened. Helena made
her way toward ME with 'uncertair
steps, her hands held out before her
as one cropping In the dark. Her spleen
| did fearlessness was gone. She looA
ed at me with the wiid eyes OF
wounded animal vainly seeking a wa.
Of escape. AS she reached my sid,
her hands were still held out as II foa
protection. grasped them firmly
| but | did not speak.
Cro BE coNrINUED.)
4
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