Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-09-26


with vision turned curiously back
ward-a vision that seemed to see
Hugh standing at carpeted dais in a
flower hung room, while his own voice
said out of a lurid shadow, "wilt thou
have this man to be thy welded hus-
band
"Stay, Sanderson," said the old man;
then turning to Hugh. who advanced
you money on this and promised to
hold itT"
cdr. Moreau."
''He proflted by itT
Gle got his margin" said Hugh sui
Ienly.
"How much margin did he getY'
"a thousand"
"Where is the restY David Stires'
voice was like a whip of steel.
Hugh hesitated a moment. He had
still a few hundreds in pocket, but he
did not mention them.
Il used most of it. had a few
debts"
Debts OF honor, presume?"
Hugh's sensibility quivered at the
fierce, grating irony of the inquiry
IF you'd been more decent with
spending money" he said with a fare
Of the old effrontery, I'D have been
all right! Ever since l came home
you've kept me strapped. was
ashamed to stick up any more Of my
friends. And Of course l couldn't Dor
row from Jessica?"
"Ashamedw exclaimed the old man
with harsh sternness. "You are with
out the decency of shame! If you were
capable Of feeling it you would not
mention her name now!'
Hugh thought he saw a glimmer
through the storm cloud. Jessica was
his anchor to windward. What hurt
him would hurt her. He would pull
through!
"Well," he said, Its done. and
there's no good making such a row.
abolSt it. She's my wife and she'll
stand by me, If nobody else does!"
No one had ever seen such a look on
David Stires' face as came to it now
sudden blaze of fury and righteous
scorn that burned it like a brand.
You impudent blackguardl You
drag my name in the gutter and then
try to trade on my self respect and
Jessica's affection. You thought you
would take it up yourself and would
be none the wiser! And If l did find
1t out you counted on my love for the
poor, deluded girl you have married
to make me condone your criminality,
to perjure myself, to admit the sig
nature and shield you from the conse-
quences. You imagine because you
are my son that you can do this thing
and all still go on as before. Do you
suppose don't consider Jessica? Do
you think because you have fooled and
cheated her and me and married her
that will give her now to a caught
thief, a common jailbrdY'
In the thoughts that were darling
through Hugh's mind there was none
now of regret or Of pity for Jessica.
His fear was the fear of the trapped
spoiler who discerns capture and its
consequent penalties In the patrolllng
bullseye flashed upon him, He studied
his father with hunted, calculating
eyes as the old man turned to Harry
"Sanderson," said David Stires once
more in his even, deadly voice, "Jessi-
ca is waiting In the room above this.
She will not understand the delay.
VIII you go to her? Make some ex-
cuse-any you can think Of-tll l
come"
Harry nodded and left the room,
shutting the door carefully behind
him, carrying with him the covering,
helpless look with which Hugh saw
himself left alone with his implacable
judge. What to say to her? How to
say 1t. He mounted the stair as If
pack swung from his shoulders. He
paused moment at the door, then
knocked, turned the knob and entered
There in the middle of the blue hung
room In her wedding dress, with her
oandaged eyes, and her bridal bouquet
on the table, stood Jessica. Twilight
was near, but even so all the shutters
we're drawn save one, through which
asst glow of refracted sunlight sifted
10 fall upon his face. Her hands were
,lasped before her. He could hear her
full, hurried respiration
If expectancy.
Then, while his hand closed the door
behind him, a thing unexpected, anom-
llous, happened-a thing that took him
Is utterly by surprise as if the solid
ioor had yawned before him. Slim
ingers tore away the broad encircling
She started forward. Her
arms were flung about his neck.
"Hugh, Hughw she cried. "My hus-
Dandw
me paieness was stricken suddenly
rom Harry's face. An odd. dazed
'olor, a flush of modification, Of self
flooded 1t from chin to brow.
Despite himself he had felt his lips