Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-02-03

moments the ingrained hatred of
Hugh's act, the resentment that had
been the result of that year of pain,
had risen to battle for the inherent
Justice of things At such times she
was restless and sat much alone. puz-
zling David Stires by meaningless re-
sponseS. i
She could not tell him that the son
whose name he never took upon his
lips was so near: that he whose crime
his fathers pride OF name had hidden
through all the months since then had
gone down With The current, Stunned
by honest folk, adding to his one dis
NAL act the weight of persistent repe-
tition. She could not tell him this.
even though that son now lived with
out memory OF the evil he had done,
though he struggled under cloud of
hatred. reaching ont to clean deed and
high resolve.
Now, however, all distrust and trepi-
dation had vanished. Strangely and
suddenly the complex warfare in her
mind had stiiled. Standing with Mrs.
Halloran, she had listened to the com.
ment with shining eyes. Not that She
distinguished any sudden change of
opinion to turn persecution TO populari-
ty and make the rcprobatc of today
the favorite of tomorrow. but iii its
very reserve she instinctively felt
new tension of respect Suspicion and
dislike aside, there was none there
who would again hinder he man who
had made that race with death
For her own part. she only knew That
She had no longer fear of soul or sense
of irrevocable loss or suffering The
Hugh she now loved was not the Hugh
who had sinDe;i
He must some time learn the facts
of his past. Was II not better, to know
the very worst 1t contained now. to
put all behind him and face future
that held 10 hidden menace: She
alone could tell him what had clouded
his career. the thing whose sign and
symbol was the forged draft. She car
ried the slip of paper in the bosom of
her dress. and every day she took it,
out and looked al it us at some malefl-
cent relic. 1t was a token of the old
buried misery that. its final purpose
accomplished, should be forgotten for
ever. How to convey the truth with
us little pain as might be, this was the
ton. She would leave the draft secret
ly in the cabin, where lie must see it.
1t bore his own name. and the deadly
word David Stires cramped fist had
written across it told its significant
story. How 1T got there Hugh would
not question. 1t would be to him only
detail of his forgotten life there.
She was glad when late the next aft
ernoou DR.. Brent came for his chat
with David Sti.es. and the latter sent
her out for Il 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 fateful draft in her
hand as she ran quickly down the
trail and across the cleared space to
the cabin door. 1t was wide open.
Peering warily. she saw that both
TWINS WCic empty, .tuu, VAN q t3tAAty
( last glance about her, she entered. A
nail in the wall held an old violin, and
beneath 1t was shelf of books She
took one from the meager row and
opened it curiously. 1T was David
Copperfeld." ard she saw with kin
ding interest that heavy lines We're
drawn along certain OF the pages. She
looked about her. Where should she
put the draft? He had left Il 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 tho
shelf, she ran from the door and has
tened back up the steep trail to the
Knob
Leaning back against the warm rock
Tapped in the serene peacefulness OF
the spot, Jessica fell into reverie
Never since her wedding day had
she said 10 herself boldly Il love him.
never I'LL yesterday. Now all was
changed. Her thought was Il tremu
lous assurance: Il shall stay here neal
him day utter day, watching. Some
day his memory will come back, anC
then my love will comfort him. The
town will forget it has hated and vii
come TO honor him. Some time, seeing
how he is changed. his father will for
give him and take him back. and We
shall all three go home TO the whiti
housefin The aspens. If not, then my
place will still lie with Hugh. Perhaps
we shall like here. Perhaps Il cabii
like that will lie home. and l shall lis,
with him and work with him and care
for him.
Thus she dreamcd--a new day dream
unravaged by the sordid tests of yer
ity
So absorbed was she that she did no
hear Il step approaching over N
springy moss, IL sharply broken breat!
rs the intruder stifled an exclamation
She had drawn her handke.chie
across her eyes against the tlanciD.
glimmer Of sunlight. Suddenly it drop
ped TO her lap. and she half turi!ed.
In an instant Of surprise, us Harry
look flashed into hers. u hare spran;
unbidden TO her lii5-;i name tina
struck his strained face to su,!de,
Wilderness, ringing II his cars Ike th'
note of n sunlien bell, All Tat go
clamcringsxn him for speech rnsle'
into words
you call my name" lie cried. "Yo,
.-Enow me! Fave ever been Hugh il
: you? Your face. that white BANK
across your eyes. your Voice, tAey ca!a,
to me like something far away that
have known. VIA; mistaken. wa:
crazy TO think that yon,'r
He stopped. a wave Of SYMPATHY
passed OYER her. She felt ii@fl Hiii
10 throw all aside, to cry to ,.in1: "Yot
did know me! You loved re caee.
am Jessica-I am. your Wife" So IN
.tensc was her emotion that it seemed
to her rs If she had. spoken his name
again andibly. but her lips had moi