Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-04-30

gram reached her she had already gone
by Twin Peaks. To proceed would be
to pass the coming train. At a farther
station, however. she was able TO take
a night train back. arriving again at
Twin Peaks in the gray dawn of the
next morning.
When the train for which she waited
came in. the curtained car at its end.
she did not wait for the bishop to find
her on the platform, but stepped aboard
and made her way slowly back. 1t
started again as she threaded the last
Pullman. TO find the bishop on its rear
platform peering out %anxiously at the
receding station.
He took both her hands and drew her
into the empty drawing He was
startled at her pallor. Il know" be
said pityingly. Il have heard
She WINGED. Does Aniston know
"Yes," he answered. Yesterday 5
newspapers told it."
She put her hand on his arm. Can
you guess why l was coming homer
she asked. 1T was to tell Harry San
dersonl l know of the fire." she went
on quickly, land of his injury. | can
guess you want to spare him strain or
excitement. but l must tell himl'
He reflected a moment. He thought
he guessed what was In her mind. Ii
there was any one who had ever had
an influence over Hugh for good II was
Harry Sanderson. He himself. he
thought. had none. Perhaps. remem-
har;nu thair old omrodaohip Sha u,o
longing now to have this influence ex-
erted to bring Hugh to a better mind.
thinking of his eternal welfare. of his
making his peace with his Maker.
Every WELL" he said. Come" and
led the way into the car.
Jessica followed, her hands clinched
tightly. She saw the couch. the profile
on its cushions turned toward the win
dow where forest and stream slipped
pasta face c~uriously like Hugh's,
Yet it was different. lacking the others
strength, even its refinement And
this man had nodded Hugh! These
vague thoughts lost themselves In
stantly In the momentous surmise that
filed her Imagination. The bishop put
out his hand and touched the relaxed
arm.
The trepidation that darted into the
bandaged face as it turned upon the
glrlish figure. the frosty fear that
blanched the haggard countenance.
spoke Hugh's surprise and dread. 1t
was she, and she knew the real Harry
Sanderson was in Smoky Mountain
Had she heard of the chapel fire.
guessed the imposture and come TO
aenounce him. the guilty husband she
had such reason to hate? The twitch.
ing limbs stiffened. '.JessicaF' he said
in a hoarse whisper.
Harry" said the bishop, ".Jessica is In
great trouble. She has come with sad
news. Hugh, her husband, your old
college mate. Is inSa terrible position.
He is accused of murder. | kept the
newspapers from you today because
they told of it"
She had caught the meaning Of the
pity in his tone-for her, not for Hugh.
"Ah.' she cried ~passionately. lifting
her head, but they did not tell 1t all!
Did they tell you that he is unjustly.
wickedly accused by an enemy? That,
though they may convict him. he is in
nocent-innocentY
The bishop looked at her in surprise.
In spite of all the past-the shameful,
conscienceless past and her own wrong
she loved and believed in her hus-
bandi
Hugh's hand lifted, wavered an In
slant before his brow. Did she say he
was innocent? 81 don't-understand,"
he said hoarsely.
Jessica's wide eyes fastened on his
as though to search his secret soul.
81 will tell it ALL" she said, then you
will understand" The bishop drew a
chair close. but her gaze did not
waver from the face on the cushions
the face which she must read!
As she told the broken tale the car
was still, save for the labored, irreg-
ular breathing of the PROSTATE man
and the muffied roar that penetrated
the walls, a multitudinous, elfn din.
"You see" she ended, "that is why l
know he is innocent. You cannot
her eyes held
Hugh's = "y IN
aoDDQ+ Jo,1hk ~ ~