Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23
grew tired and was wheeled to his
bedroom.

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 swain
beyond her comprehension. At length
ehe drew hood over her head and
stole out OH to the wide porch.
It was only o o'clock. and along the
gravel paths that wourd among the
shrubbery few dim forms were stroll
Ing. She caught the scent of n cigar
and the sound of womans laugh.
The DIR was crisp and braclng. with
promise of frost and painted leaves.
She gazcd down across the dark
gulches toward the town. n struggling
design pricked in binding yellow
points. Halfway between. folded in
the cabin to which her thought re-
Cured with kind Of compulsion.
There was no moon. but the stars
were glowing like tiny grcen 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 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 shamcd and humbed
hcr-going. she knew not why, with
| burning check ard hammering heart.
She slipped through the side trail to
/ the cabin with n choking sensation.
| She stole to the window and peercd
in. In the freight she could sec 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 II he
were In serious case, Prendergast
would he with him. She threw back
her hood. drew one of the chairs to
the side Of the tunk and sat down. her
eyes fixed on his face. The weakness
and helplessncss OF his posture strncl;
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 wretched?"
But withal a silent voice within her
gave the lie to her vehcmence. Some
element of her character that had been
rigid and intact was crumbling down
An old sweet something that dread
full mill had ground and crushed and
annihilated was rising whole and I'M
def1led, superior to any petty distinc
ton. regardless OF all that lifted com
bative in her Inheritance not to be
eainsaid 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 Stlres-repeated with the dreary
monotony Of child coming a 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 dlsiigur
ing. 1t gave a touch of the eGtraur
binary 1t was so small she did no
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 Il
at the touch the mutterngs ceased