Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-03
% Chapter s6

< lie mad been sitting and
took Il step forward.
"Jessica!' he exclaimed.
She came toward him, her breath
hurried, her cheek pale. Tom Felders
face was at her shoulder. Il have a
little matter to attend to in the Office"
he said, nodding 10 Harry. 81 shall
wait for you there, Miss Holme."
She thanked him with a grateful
look, and as he vanished, Harry took
her hand and kissed It. He longed to
take her i'll his arms.
81 heard of it only at noon" she be-
gan, her voice uncertain. 81 was
afraid they would not let me see you,
so went to Mr.. Fielder. They were
saying on the street that he had Of
fered 10 defend you"
81 had not been here an hour when
he came" lie said.
II know Won have no money!" she
went on. 81 know what YOU did with
the gold you found. And have beg
ged him to let me pay for any other
counsel he will name. / have not told
hiin-what am to you, but have told
him that / am far from poor and that
nothing counts beside your life. He
says you have forbidden him to do this
forbidden him to allow any help from
any one. Hugh, Hugh! Why do you
do this? The money should be yours,
not mine, for it was your fathers! 1t
is yours, for am Your wife!'
lie kissed her hand again without an
swering
Haven't l u right now to be ut your
side? Mayn't ! tell them:'
lie shook his head Not yet, .Ies-
sica."
II must obey you," she said, with a
wan smile. yet would share your
shame as proudly as your glory. You
are thinking me weak and lespicablc.
perhaps, because l wanted you to so
away. But women are not men, and
Il love you SO, Hugh."
Il think you are all. that is brave and
good" he protested.
II want You to believe" she went on,
that knew you had done 10 murder.
IL an angel from heaven had come to
declare it l would not have believed it,
only want now to undelstand."
What do you not understand:" he
asked gently.
She half turned toward the door as
she said, in a lower key: "After you
had gone many things came back to
me that seemed strange something Gu
rious in your manner. You had not
seemed wholly surprised when / told
you you We're accused. Why Gid you
SHIT the cabin door and speak so low?
Was there any one else there when ]
canle?"
He averted his face, but be did not
answer. She was treading on near
ground
My horse came back this after
noon," she continued. "He had been
ridden hard in the night, and his TANKS
We're cut cruelty with whip. You did
not Use him, but some one did,
She waited moment. Still he made
no reply.
81 want to ask: you" she said abrupt
~. do you know who killed DR.. Mo
reau:'
Ills blood chilled ut the question. He
looked Down at her speecilless. You
must Lot me speak," she said. "Yon
won't answer tint. Then you do know
who really did it. On, Lave thought
so much silce last night For some
reason you a.e shielding him. Was 1t
the man who was III the cabin-who
rode my horse? If he is guilty, why
do you help him eft AMI 81 make your
self partly guilty? The whole town
believes you axe gCi!ty-I see ii in all
their faces. They are sorry. many of
them, for they don't hate you MS they
did, but they think you did it--eyen
Mr.. Fielder. Though haze tod him
what l suspect and though he is work
ing nor TO Gefei1 YOU"
"Jessica." lie urged. won must trust
me and have faith i'll me. know it Is
hard. but can't explain 10 you. !
can't tell -yet-why do as ! am
doing. but you must belle @ that am
right"
You speak as If you We're sorry for
me- she said, and not for yourself.
Is II because you know you are not i'll
real danger-tha. yeu know the truth
must come OFT. only you can't fell 1t
!oufseif OF ten iae eishef! Is That li:E
III as hot ihat' 'lessiea' he said
2 grhfeiE. Soi, iaist not tear i-of me
Tor my iiie' efF 70 hesieve me when
say inst SONG lAle you WEI Under
s'al-i 'tHu h'Y'" tiiat alu ON! What
NUS.
WIN 'ha' ne soon sAe asked.
th!lih II iAsN De soeh' lie an
sMetea'
her inee l'E.5tea' me Pa2zie ana
s.e,, t,,an sh,G - ~ ..r.t.I on-,
nofsl,sra 80 .,,.,,t.,,,... nma ,.o.,r 60
: crot .,rd ! s,,,., ,si'a, a. t,,s+ ynr
,,,st,,,t f,.,.,,o 80 ,..a,,,ll,,.4 ~ =
wonSsn If / ala notlbnt 1 ! love y van :,
more tl,an MI tha vor,d anfl snail bn.
lieve that Won know host IIua,, !. she
added softly do Won know tlat-vou
haven't Kissed meqv
Before her uDtrrned pleod,n. eves
and trembling lips the iron of his mr..