Twice-a-week plain dealer., 1908-11-13

NJ ike Wh1rlW1nd, the
M chill damp smell Of the
dewy balsams In her nos
trtls. the dust rising ghostlike behind
the rapid hoofs. She found David
Stires anxious and peevish over her
late coming.
She felt 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 hood over her head and
stole out on to the wide porch
1t was only . o'clock, and along the
gravel paths that wound among the
shrubbery a few dim forms were stroll
ing. She caught the scent of a cigar
and the sound of woman's laugh.
The air was crisp and bracing, with
promise of frost and painted leaves.
She gazed down across the dark
gulches toward the town. 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
were glowing like tiny green gilt Goals.
and the yellow road lay plain and
clear. With sudden determination
she drew her light cloak closely about
her. stepped down. sped across the
grass to a 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 humbled
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 was 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 be
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
and helplessness Of his posture struck
through and through her Two sides
Of her were struggling In a chaotic
| combat for mastery.
81 hate you! hate you" she said
under her breath, clinching her cold
hand. II must hate you You stole
| my love and put it under your feet!
You have disgraced my present and
ruined my future! What if you have
forgotten the past-your crime? Does
that make you the less guilty or me
the less wretchedI"
But withal a silent voice within her
gave the lie to her vehemence. Some
element OF her character that had been
rigid and intact was crumbling down.
An old sweet something that dread
|
annihilated was rising whole and un-
dehled, superior to any petty distinc
ton, regardless of all that lifted COM
batiye in her Inheritance, not to be
sainsaid or denied.
| She leaned closer, listening to the in
coherent words and broken phrases
borne on the turbid channels of fever
But she could not link them together
into meaning. Only one name he spoke
clearly over and over again-the name
Hugh Stires-repeated with the dreary
monotony Of child coming lesson.
She noted the mark across his brow.
Before her marriage In her blindness,
she had used to wonder what it was
like. 1t was not in the least disfigur-
ing. 1t gave a touch of the extraor-
dinary 1t was SO small she did not
wonder that In that ecstatic moment of
her brides kiss she had not seen it.
Slowly. half fearfully, she stretched
out her hand and laid it on his. AS If
at the touch the mutterings ceased.