Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-02-03
movement or gesture. gazing ut her.
He stood perfcctlu still.

and of deep hclplessncss. The instant |
agitation and surprise blotted the puZ-
zle of his presence there. She forgot |
that it was the dead OF night; that
she was in her nightgown. 1t flashed |
across her mind that some near and
desperate trouble had befallen him.
All the protective and maternal in her
love welled up. She went quickly to-
ward him.
He did not move or stir, and then
she realized that, though his eyes |
seemed to look at her, 1t was with n |
passive, tranced liXity. They saw moth
ing. He was asleep.
She halted, Il deep compassion and a
painful wonderment holding her, feel
ing with n thrill the power she pos.
sessed over him. Then, like a cold
wave, surged over her numbing sense
of his position. How had he entered?
Had he broken locks like II burglar?
The situation was anomalous. What
should she do? Walked abruptly, the
result might be disastrous. Discov-
cred, his presence there when all slum-
bered, suspected as he had been, would
be ruinous. She must get him away,
out of the house, and quickly.
A breath OF cool air swept past her,
putting out the lamp-an outer door
was open. At the same instant she
heard steps beyond the curve of the
hall, DR.. Brents voice peremptory and
inquiring. Her. nerves chilled. He
| blocked the sole avenue of retreat.
| No, there was one other, and only one
IA single way to shield him. Quiet
and resourceful now, though her
cheeks We're hot, she took the hand of
the unconscious man, drew him silent
and unresisting into the friendly shad-
ow of her room, closed the door noise
lessly and bolted it.
For moment she stood motionless,
her heart beating violently. Had he
been seen? Or had the open door Gre
ated an alarm? Releasing his hand
gently, she found her way softly to
stand lighted tiny night taper and
| threw Il shawl about her A sudden
confusion tingled through her veins,
sense of maidenly shame. opposing the
sweet reminder of their real relation
ship-was he not in fact her husband?
that lay ever beneath her thought to
Justify and explain.
Suddenly, in the tense silence of the
room, the mantcl clock struck In deep
chime, like the vibration of faroff
church bell. The tone was not loud
indeed, the low roll OF the thunder had
been we'll nigh as loud-but there was
in the intrusive metallic cadence n
peculiar suggestion to the dormant
mind. 1t penetrated the crust of
sleep. 1t touched the inner ear of the
conscious Intelligence. Harry started,
Uhudder ran through his frame, he
swaycd dizzily, his hand went to his
forehead.
In the instant of shocked awakening
Jessica was at his side in an agony of
apprehension, her arm thrown about
him, her hand pressed across his lips,
her lips at his ear in an agonized
warning:
'.Hush! Do not speak! 1t is l. Jes-
sica! Make no noise!'
She felt her wrist caught in a grasp
that made her vince. His whole body
was trembling violently. "Jessic;i."
he said in a painfully articnlated whis-
per. You? Where am l 2"
"This is my ROOM" she breathed
"You have been walking In your sleep
Make no sound. We shall be heard"
A low exclamation broke from his
lips lie locked bewilderedly about
him, his eyes returning to her face
with Mortified realization. "I-came
hereto your room:' The voice was
scarcely audible.
''It was who brought you here
You We're in the hall. You would have
been found. The house is roused."
He turned abruptly to the door. bul
she caught his arm. What are you
going to do? You will be seen!'
$50 much the better. 1t will be at
my proper measure-as a prowler. a
housebreaker. disturber of honest
sleep!"
mo. nor she protested in panic
You shall not. will not have you
taken for what you tire not. know
But they would not know. No one
must see you leave this room Do 70,
not think of me?'
He caught his breath hard. "'Thinl
of you!" he repeated huskily. II:
there even an hour when l do mo-
think of you? Is there day when
would not die to serve you? Yet ir
my very sleep
lie paused. gazing at her where she
stood in the half light misty, uncer
fni fu,,rn Clio v.oe, ly bop,,v
The delicious and pangless sense OF
guilt. howcvcr-the guilt of the hidden
not the bameworthy thing-tliat was
tingling through her was for him {
shrinking and acute self reproach.
She was silent. "Forgive me-" liz
said, 'if you can. IL can never for
give myself. How can best go?"
For answer she moved to the win
dow, slender and wraithlilse. He fol
tain, second of bright lightning re
vealed the landscape, the dark hedge:
; and clustered trees. lt-blackened, ant
she drew him back. with hushet
word, pointing whefa.sh lantern wa.
flashing -throhgh.the shrubbery.
at IS IA -1rasS,fman," she said. "Ht
will be9sops presently"
"God1help me-" he whispered, thu
pent passion of his dreams rushing t.
J. 1tterance. "NNhy did | ever see you
,, face? was reckless and careless then
had damned the decent side of N,
that now is quivering alive. | have
tried to blot your face from my mem
DRY, but it is useless. shall Away!
see it."
On the lawn just outside the window
!. low voices We're heard through the in
creasing rain. They passed, and afte
n moment he softly unattached the win
j dow.
"Goodby," he said.
i She stretched out her hand. III
, touched T., then drew the window
wide. AS he stepped noiselessly down
] on TO the Snyinpv tilrf tho l1htnin.