Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-28

MIN that am far from poor and that
nothing counts beside your life. lie
says you have forbidden him 10 do this
forbidden him to allow any help from
any one. Hugh, Hugh. Why do you
do this? The money should he yours,
not mine, for it was Your fathers! II
is yours. for | am yOrr Wife,"
He kissed her hand again without an
swering.
Haven't right now to be at your
side? Mayn't / tell them?"
He shook his head Not yet, Jes
sica''
Il 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 deSpicable.
perhaps. because | wanted You to so
away. But women are not men. and !
i love you so. Hugh."
II think you are all that is brave and
good" he protested.
Il want you to believe" she went on,
that | knew YOU had done no murder.
If an angel from heaven had come to
L
only want now to understand"
What do You rot understands" he
asked gently.
She half turned toward the door as
she said, in Il lower key: After you
had gone many things came back to
me that seemed strange something Gu
rious III your manner. You had not
seemed wholly surprised when l told
you you were accused. Why did you
shut the cabin door and speak so low:
Was there any one else there when /
came:"
He averted his face, but he 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
were cut cruelty with a whip. You did
not use him, but some one did"
She waited Il moment, Still he made
| no reply.
81 want to ask you" she said abrupt
| II. do you know who killed DR.. Mo
| reau?'
His blood chilled a. the question. He
| looked down at her speechless. You
must let me speak" she said. You
won't answer that. Then you do know
who really did it. Oh. l have thought
so much since last night, For some
| reason you are shielding him. Was it
the man who was in the cabin-who
rode my horse? If he is guilty, why
do you help him off and so make your
self partly guilty? The whole town
believes you are guilty. see it in all
their faces. They are sorry, many of
them, for they don't hate you as they
did, but they think you did it--even
Mr.. Fielder. though l have told him
what l suspect and though he is work
ing now 20 defend you
"Jessica," he urged, you must trust
me and have faith in me. know it is
hard, but | can't explain to you.
can't tell you-yet-why / do as / am
doing. but you must believe that I am
right"
You speak as if you were sorry fol
! me- she said, land not for yourself
is it because you know You are not Il
real danger-t that you know the trutl
must come out. only you can't tell il
/, yourself or tell me either? Is that it?'
l at is not that. Jessica," he SAID
5 grayely. yet you must not fear for mt
. for my life. Try to believe me wher
say that some time you viii under
stand and know that did only what
must"
"Vill that he soon?" she asked
81 think it may be SOON he an
: swered.
!, Her face lighted. The puzzle ant
; dread lifted. "Oh. then" she said
''oh, then, / shall not be afraid. | can
o not share your thoughts nor your Sc
n cret. and l must rebel at that. Yol
mustn't blame mel wouldn't be +;
' woman if | did not-but | love yol
e more than all the world. and shall be
: lieve that, you know best. Hugh" sht
5 added softly, "do you know that-yol
haven't kissed me?''
Before her upturned, pleading eye!
and trembling lips the iron of his pur
pose bent to the man in him, and b,
took her into his arms.
o A frosty gloom was over the city o
h Aniston, moon and stars hidden by
o cloudy sky. from which a light snow
V the first of the season. was sitting down
n The streets were asleep. Only Occasional
Il belated pedestrians were to be seen IL
the chilly air. These saw a man, hi
face muffied from the snowflakes. pas
h hurriedly toward the fountained square
s from whose steeple . o'clock was jus
a striking. The wayfarer skirted th
+" square, keeping in cover of the build
II ings as though avoiding chance obse
walton, till he stood on the pavemer