The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-03-19

cent rene II was token OF tlle plu
buried misery that. its final purpose
accomplished should be forgotten for
ever How to convey the truth with
as little pain as might he, this was the
problem. and she had found the solu-
ton. She would leave the draft secret
ly in the cabin. where he must see it.
It bore his own name. and the deadly
word David Stires' cramped fist had
written across it told its significant
story How it got there Hugh would
not question. 1t would he to him only
81 detail of his forgotten life there
She was glad when late the next aft
ernoOn Or Brent came for his ;'rat
with David Stires. and the ratter sent
her out for walk
All was quiet No wisp of smoke
curled from the cabin chimney. no
work was forward for Harry had
climbed far up the mountain. alone
with his thoughts. 1t was favorable
opportunity
Jessica had the Hateful draft in her
hand as she ran quickly dOv-' the
trail and across the cleared s,asc to
the cabin door. It was wide u..rn
Peering warily. she saw that to,h
ICONS were empty. and. with a guilty
last glance about her she entered a
nail in the wall held an old violin. and
beneath it was shelf of books. She
took one from the meager row and
opened it curiously. 1t was David
Copperfield' and she saw with kin
ding interest that heavy lines were
drawn along certain of the pages She
looked about her. Where should she
put the draft? He had left marker
In the book. He would open it again
no doubt. She laid the draft between
the printed leaves, beyond the marker.
Then, replacing the volume on the
shelf, she ran from the door and has
tened back up the steep trad to the
Knob.
Leaning back against the warm rock.
tapped in the serene peacefulness Of
the spot. Jessica fell into rcyere
Never since her wedding day had
she said to herself boldly Il love him"
never till yesterday. Now all was
louS assurance: Il shall stay here near
him day after day. Watching Some
day his memory will come back. and
then my love will comfort him The
town will forget it has hated and Will
como to honor him. Some time. seeing
how he Is changed. his father win for
give him and take him back. and we
II al al l., "a "a
house in the aspcns. Ii not. then my
place will still he with Hugh. Perhaps
We shall live here. Perhaps cabin
like that will be home. and | shall live
with him aud work with him and care
for him"
Thus she dreamed a now day dream.
unravaged by the sordid tests OF YER
itY.
So absorbed was she that she did not
hear a step approaching over the
springy moss. Il sharply broken breath
as the intruder sti1led an exclamation.
She had drawn her handkerchief
across her eyes against the dancing
glimmer Of sunlight Suddenly it drop
ped To her lap. and she half turned.
In Gu instant of surprise. aS Harry
look flashed into hers. Il name sprang
unhidden to her lips-a name that
struck his strained face to sudden
Wilderness, ringing in his ears like the
note of a sunkcn bell. All that was
clamoring in him for speech rushed
into words
You call my name he cried. You
know me, Have | ever been Hugh to
you? Your face. that white band
across your eyes your voice. they came
to me like something far away that I
have known. | was mistaken. | was
crazy To think that you
He stopped. y wave of sympathy
passed over her. She felt a mad wish
to throw all aside, t. cry to him: "YoN
did know me, You loved me- once, |
am .1essica-I am your wife" So in
tense was her emotion that it seemed
to her as if she had spoken his name
again audihly. but her lips had not
moved. aud the tap of a wocdpecker
on nearby trunk sounded with harsh
diStin"tun>S
II have wanted to speak to YOU" she
said after an instant in which she
struggled for self control "You did
brave thing yesterday "A splendid
thing II saved me from sorrow al
my life"
He put aside her thanks with q Ees-
ture. You saved me also. You found
me III and suffering. and your horse
carried ne to my cabin"