Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-01-12

- the bishop, with the
&S- man she suspected. was
sn' speeding toward her-to
pass the very town wherein Hugh |
stood for his life-seemed prearrange
ment Of eternal justice. When the tele-
gram reached her she had already gone
by Twin Peaks. To proceed would be
to pass the coming train. At 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 ut the
receding station.
He took both her hands and drew her
into the empty drawing room. He was
startled at her pallor. II KNOW" he
said pityingly. II have heard
She WINGED. docs Aniston know?
YES" he answered. Yesterdays
newspapers told it."
| She put her hand on his arm. Can
you guess why l was coming home?'
she asked. 1T was to tell Harry San
derson! | 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 him!'
He reflected moment. He thought
he guessed what was in her mind If
| there was any one who had ever had
an influence over Hugh for good it was
Harry Sanderson. He himself, he
thought, had none. Perhaps, remem-
bering their old comradeship, she was
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.
VERY WE'LL" 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 curiously 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
girlish 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
denounce him. the guilty husband she
had such reason to hate? The witch
ing limbs stiffened. "Jessica" 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 in a 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 it all
Did they tell you that he is unjustly
wickedly accused by an enemy? That
though they may convict him. he is in
nocent-innocentW
, The bishop looked at her in surprise
In spite Of all the past-the shameful
constituencies past and her own wrong
she loved and believed in her bus
band!
Hugh's hand lifted, wavered an in
stant before his brow. Did she say he
he said hoarsely.
, Jessica's wide eyes fastened on his
as though to search his secret soul
Il will tell it ALL" she said, then yor
/. will understand" The bishop drew {
chair close. but her gaze did no
waver from the face on the cushions
the face which she must read!
AS she told the broken tale the ca
. was still, save for the labored. irreg
u ulur UFeutuluS u lue pFOSlidte ulu!
= and the mutfled roar that penetrate,
+ the walls. multitudinous, eltin din.
e you see" she ended, that is why
s know he is innocent. You cannot
> her eyes held
Hugh's you IN
! : !: !: !:
cannot doubt it.
can you"
y Hugh's tongue
% wet his parched S15MN ~
= lips. tremor &sNR
ran through him. 49, Nh N
y He did not an I>A "
swer. "a" IN
- Jessica started
u to her feet. Self n
possession was '-.''.-/ N
falling from her. T
!; +: Il; +. 4: :' IT,; f.;
q evaded her. She Jo"1
10 held out her hand.
al In the palm lay
%. a small emblem oo" o'o'' ''''"''
of gold.