Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-06-11

you more.''
Why did you not :"
Il told you why. / lacked courage
to spoil the last few hours | was to
spend with you. Remember, l thought
they would have been over by this time,
and they would have been but for the
fog" He made movement as though
he would have touched her, but drew
back. "You don't know what these three
days have been to me. And, fool that
ami have lost the right of ever telling
you"
Verona did not answer; indeed his
voice had sunk so low over the last sem
tenee that her ears had hardly caught it.
She felt stupid, as though some violent
blow had half stunned her He spoke
again presently.
Don't judge me more hardly than you
can help" he said Its a poor plea to
declare that l was, in a measure. the
victim of circumstances and yet it is
true, swear
you were-to blame - Her tongue
could not form the word guilty"
ITO blame! OF course [ was to
blame! Did ever man get himself into
such a hobble without the assistance of
his own idiocy, do you suppose? 1
might plead that | was tempted, and
drifted-that the thing was done almost
before l knew it was. The more fool l."
He stopped and laughed again. 'You
may be sure of this-that it had not
been done day when / would have given
pretty we'll all l possessed to recall it.
Guess what | would give now?''
i will say nothing" she remarked;
nothing now or ever to any creature,
you may be sure of that-feel quite safe
from me. But l want you, please, to
go away as soon as you can"
Il wish with all my heart had never
come here" he answered. 81 wish that
l had never darkened your door"
wait until it is dark" she said faint
| ly. 81 would much-much rather you
did not go until then"
1t she had looked at him she would
have seen sort of puzzled wonder in
his eyes, but she did not. He drew
back quietly.
| Whatever you WISH" he said 81 will
wait until the evening" He laughed,
with a sudden mocking bitterness. "After
all, it is pretty much as we planned
was not to go for an hour or two vet,
two as you promised, that's all the diff
ference"
Verona did not answer; she turned
away and went up to her room.
| 1t was almost dark when she descend
ed the little cottage staircase again. She
had sat at her window watching the twi-
light creep over the moor. He came to
the sitting room door to meet her wear
ing the great Disgusting coat His cap
was in his hand The face of each was
a pale blot in the gloom.
ut is dark now" she said. care you
ready?"
quite. I've only waited for you to
come down.
She turned silently towards the door.
Her hand was upon it, when he checked
her abruptly.
"Do me a last favor" he said Light
your lamp"
Eyes. Do you remember that l told
you it seemed like a signal to me that
nightH"
eyes, l remember"
81 should never have come here but
for it. Let me see it as 60, for as long
as I can. viii your"
Saying nothing, she went into the sit
ting room and lighted the lamp.
after ALL you're rather hard upon
me-" he said bitterly. you might al
most pity me. Verona, if you under
stood. 1t would do you no HARM"
81 do pity you" The words came
whether she would or no.
do you? It's more than l deserve"
He gazed at her gloomily. 81 did not
attempt to thank you" he said. "Where
is the use? Will you say Good bye"
Good -bye!" With a sudden impulse
she put out her hand. '"Oh, wish you
well in the future, indeed! As you say,
if l understood l might think different
| ~, might not blame you so much. |
have no means of knowing how it was
you were tempted have no business to
Judge. If ever l have news of you |
hope it will be to hear that you are well
and prospecting. i"
She broke off with a stifed shrek.
Neither had heard what a moment be-
fore had made Marcus erect his bristles
with a deep meaning growl-the click of
the gate and tramp upon the pathway
the tramp of heavy feet. Now, in an
instant, lights flashed through the gloom
outside, the air was filed with shouts
and counter shouts, and a blow was
struck upon the door.
''What's THAR" Stuart cried
He dropped Verona's hand, swinging
round to the door. She clutched his arm,
dragging him back
NO. mol" she gasped. "Are you mad
1t is the warders!"
"The warders 2"
From Princetown"
"Princetown, the prison? Is one of
their fellows loose, then? There must
be- Did you know it,"
know it Z" Verona gasped again. She
fell back staring at him, her clutch still
upon his arm The tumult outside re-
doubled; it was a wild confusion of oaths
and cries, struggling. a voice cried
hoarsely--
''In the Kings name, there!" and the
door was struck again.
His face flushed, eager, excited, Stuart
freed his arm.
let me go; we must open the door.
They've caught the convict, suppose.
1vbora'e ,,o%b;pfr tn ba III o+