The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-05-07

could shake that conviction in her
mind. where tn ethought had grown
Hks a poisonous weed.
And yet through all the troubled
nightmare that her coming had
brought, the memory of the old Olive
he had loved, his own broken love
story that he looked back on, lived In
Stephen Ruthen's mind. Perhaps In
his own feelings towards her he might
have found the key TO the enigma
that sometimes amazed him: that she
should still cling so passionately to
that love for the dead man. The key
TO the enigma! She had treated him
badly. as Philip Hume had treated
her badly: but love was a thing apart
from such considerations-yes. he
loved her still. He had known, with
her return after the nnbrokcn silence
of the three years, that his love was
unaitered-hut love no happiness
could ever crown. They could never
come together again. he would not
even have wished 1t. Only the old
love had been deep enough for him to
feel he must shield this woman at
any cost. to sin for her. even to let
another suffer that she might be
saved.
"Olive!'
She had started at the cry, spring
ing to her feet. She shook herself
free OF his touch as he put plying
hand on her shoulder.
aC-v,u Artr,a nlfra van uhnstlAn.f
come here at such an hour. far from
strong as you yet are" Sc said, gen.
tly.
"why not?'' she demanded. There
Is all that | love-" And she pointed
down at the grave. where the new
turf had scarcely taken root, with
swift, passionate gesture that made
the scene seem so strange to Anthony
Strangways as he watched from the
road. This Is the grave OF my love
and happiness-the man who never
would have left me, only that your
sister lured him away from me-"
THAT Is neither just nor true" he.
said. quietly.
"Of course. you defend your sis
ter she famed out vehemently, "and
because ne is your sisters lover you
helped Philips murderer to escape.
oh, know. Lathom was In the rec
tory that night. l heard his voice; 4
heard you talking in the hall. You
thought I didn't Eear-and l dragged
myself out OF bed whilst the nurse
was DOING, and | heard the voices
of the police as You got him out by
some trick or other. And would
have shouted out TO them that Philips
murderer was escaping, II could!"
she cried. with sudden tiger-like
fierceness. II suppose the nurse told
you had crep. out Of bed and tainted
I'm my weakness and the excitement.
with my fingers on the handle OF the
door-but she didn't know why I
would have opened that door! II only
my strength had not failed!" she said
passionately.
He gave weary. halfimpatient
sigh. Stephen Ruthcn knew II was
futile to argue with her. He some
times wondered II the shock OF hear
ing that Philip Hume had been muir
dered had unbalanced her mind. Way
ward. wilful. caprieions as she had al.
ways been. It had been an utterly
changed Olive since her recovery from
delirium. But he spoke gently.
Wont you come home, Olivei
This excitement Is not good for YOU"
Home! oh. I'm sick of parsonage.
OF the dreary, humorum round Of du.
ties" she cried Il"
Whatever she was going to say, she
checked herself. She turned suddenly
and left him and went swiftly away.
He made no attempt to follow her.
A despairing groan broke from the
man. How little she dreamed Of the
burden-the burden growing intolera-
ble-that her coming had placed on
his shoulders. Stephen Ruthen glanced
across at the church. with the ivory.
covered tower almost hidden In its
thousands Of leaves. frosted silver now
In the moonlight. What q hypocrite
he felt himself he who called himself
minister OF God!
There was a look of hopeless weari
ness and despair In Stephen Ruthen's
eyes. He was only young man still.
but of late his parishioners, seeing
without understanding the lines OF sui.
fering and remorse In his face, had
remarked how much the rector had
aged lately. On the night when he
had told himself that the nurses lie
had established an alibi for Olive. he
had not dreamed then where that nrst
step OF deception was to lead him.
He had never dreamed OF anyone else
being accused--had told himself no
was tnjnring no one by silence that
was 70 screen Olive. Then, before
Philip Hume's fate was known. Olive
had come TO her senses. with that
memory blotied out. had whispered
to him Of her dream Of winning Philip
back to her. because In spite OF all
she loved him still-a man he had
known to be dead By her hand! And
hnn t,al faIs sxlz