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

forced her into the drawing room and
made her sit down. She was tense
and quivering The cross fell from her
hand, and he stopped and picked it up.
TRY to calm yourself" he said. Ito
think of other things for few mo
ments. This little cross-I wonder how
you come to have it? gave 1t to
Sanderson last May to commemorate
his ordination" He twisted it open.
See, here is the date. May %. That
was the day gave it to him"
She gave quick gasp. and the last
vestige of color faded from her cheek
Last May" she said family Harry |
Sanderson had been in Aniston. then. |
on the day DR.. Moreau had been MUIR
dered Her house of cards fell She
bad been mistaken. She leaned her
head back against the cushion and
closed her eyes
Presently she felt cold glass touch
her lips, Here is some water" the
bishops voice said. you are better,
are you not? Poor child! You have
been through terrible strain.
would give the world to help you If l
could
He left her. and she sat DULY trying
to think The regular jar of the trucks
had set itself to a Rhythmic hope no
hope, no hope! She knew now that
there was none. When the bishop re-
entered she did not turn her head. He
sat beside her awhile, and she was
aware again of his voice, speaking
soothingly. At moments thereafter he
| was there, at others she knew that she
| was alone, but was unconscious of the
flight of time. She knew only that the
day was fading. On the chilly whirl-
ing landscape she saw only crowded
room. jury box, a judges bench and
Hugh before it. listening to the sen
tence that would take him from her
forever. The bright sunlight was mer-
cilessly, satanically cruel and God
sneering monster turning crank
Into her conscious view grew distant
snowy ranges. hills unrolling at their
feet, struggling town, staring white
courthouse and a grim low building
beside it, She rose stumblingly, the
train quivering to the. brakes, as the
bishop entered.
This is Smoky Mountain" she said
with numb lips. THAT Is the building
where he is being tried am going
there now
The bishop opened the door and gave
her his hand to the platform. The
train was to stop but ten minutes. He
stood moment watching her as she
crossed to the street; then, with the
sadness deep i'll his heart, entered the
station to send telegram.
4
Hugh's haggard face peered after
them through a rift in window cur
tain What could she have suspected?
Not the truth! And only that could be-
tray him Presently the bishop would
return, the train would start again, and
this spot of terror would be behind
him What had he to do with Harry
Sanderson?
He bethought himself suddenly of
the door. If some one should come in
upon him! With qualm of fear he
stood up, staggered to it and turned the
key In the lock- There was not the
wonted buzz about the station. The
place was silent save for the throb of
the halted engine, and the shadow of
the train on the frosty platform quiv-
cred like a criminal block away
he saw the courthouse. Knots of peo-
pie We're standing about it's door wait
ing for what? A fit of trembling seiz-
ed him.
All his years Hugh had been a moral
; coward. Life to him had been sweet
; for the grosser, material pleasures ii
held. He had cared for nobody, had
held nothing sacred. He had now only
to keep silence, let Harry Sandersor
, pay the penalty, and he need dread nc
more. Hugh Stires. to the persuasion
Of the law, would be dead. AS soon as
might be he could disappear, as the
rector Of st. James had disappeared be
; fore. He might change his name and
live at ease In some quarter of the
world. his alarm laid forever.
5 But worse thing would haunt him
10 scare his sleep-he would be doubly
blood guilty!
l In the awful moment while he chung
t to the iron bars of the collapsing rose
: window, with the flames clutching al
him, Hugh had looked into hell anG
I shivered before the judgment. "Th'
: wages Of sin is DEATH" In that fiery
i ordeal the cheapness and swagger, thu
d ostentation and self esteem, had burn
ed away, and his soul had stoot
l naked as winter wood Dying hat
not then been the austere terror. VIVA
came after? That had appalled, him
Yet Harry Sanderson was not afrai(
of the hereafter. He chose death calm
ly, knowing that he, Hugh. was unf
to die.
Suppose he told the truth now an,
saved Harry. He had never done :
brave deed for the sake Of truth o.
righteousness or for the love of an,
human being, but he could do one now
For the one red counter that had beer
a symbol of day of evil living h
could render deed that would max
\ requital for those unpaid days. II
? would not have played the coward
part. 1t would repair the wrong h
had done Jessica He would hay
made expiation. Forgiveness and pity
not reproaches and shame. would TO
y, low him, and it would balance perhap
the one dreadful count that stoo
against him. He thought of the sea-
:" fold and shivered, vet there was