The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-20

the brain with the swiftness Of Hash OF light. 1t
was so with Honor, it seemed to her. The riot
of images that crossed her mind confused
her. She waited blow, for the touch Of those
horrible coarse begrimed hands about her throat
She pulled away him with all her might, but
her strength like chiid's in his strength She
saw the ugly CLEAN red in his eyes, as he dragged
uer toward him. She screamed agan-it in de-
spair, for she there one to hear her
With grumbled oath he tried TO clap his other hand
across her mouth. Somehow that gave her power for
struggle All the terror all the horror, curl
Ously enough, seemed to merge in an intensity OF
physical repulsion, she his quick motion That
loathsome hand upon her lips! Never never! she
snatched it with free hand, and tried TO dash
it away
1t was futile effort. What was her strength
against his bury power? He again. hide
oath that she could understand the meaning
Of caught her hand in his she struck at him,
twisting it till the pain made her sick. As he bent
II back his fingers brushed the ring she wore ana no
involuntary glance down. even in the haste
his brutality, to what prey in his grip.
At sight of the rings he turned her hand sharply
that he might their value He in the very
act Of still wrenching ii in his clasp when he dropped
IL if it had bitten him He fell away from her by
yard-stumbling with his feet against the grass and
weeds that made the roads border He stared at her
with eyes that were round and scared and incredu-
Ious, and then he his knees in the
Pardon, pardon, most gracious sgnorina" he
spluttered out his words stumbling each other
if he had had shock that dazed him. Ten mil
lion million prayers for your forgiveness! Fool that
I did not know; I could not guess! Never
could l have dared to Law finger the exalted;
never would I have been buried in folly.
cursed. If I had that she who she
diavoo! What I nearly led into? I pray that
the sgnorina will forgive wretched sinner-the
devil, it was-not myself"
He shaking in abject fear and eagerness In
one second he had changed from desperate ready
for violence into slave. The suddenness
Of her release left Honor stunned and unbeieving.
She swayed helplessy when his grasp upon her
dropped and stood staring back him. Overhead
the blue sky burned like indigo heated a furnace,
and the grasses beside them waved light heads in the
silence It was the sudden change from death to life.
What was it? Why had he let her go. and
covering in the dust before her? Honor stammered
in her when she tried to speak Don't kill me
don't hurt me! have harmed you; could
harm anybody! Take the purse if you lke-there is
little enough in it-only let 60"
The little shabby purse Of green leather was
grasp still-her fingers clenching il with the
scious strain with which she had resisted him. She
held il out now with pale look and would have
dropped it the grass before him. but stopped
her with an alarmed gesture of both hands.
No. no; for the love of the Holy Mother! DO not
deliver me over TO my death, signorna! Full well
know what it would if I were to touch a soIdo
The saints forbid 1 should laid a finger the
most gracious the most exalted signorina! What
they been about to let me into the jaws Of such
danger? St. Anthony shall have candle from me;
St AgOstilo shall not receive knife The villainsl
they keep me from what would have sent me
swinging TO the gallows? Signorina beautiful beloved
signorina. forgive and let go pardoned my
is worth he purchase OF centisimme. 1
that we'll enough"
Il don't know what you mean" He must be a
madmani he raving She still held out the purse
with trembling hands He made low a reverence.
crouching on knees the road be-
fore her. that his forehead almost brushed
scattered the roads surface.
The signorna has the will to jest" he said humby.
"She knows had not time to the ring till !:
all but too late. Holy ST. Giuseppe! My blood runs
chill when think of my miserable mistake
The ring!" she turned her hand that the light
flashed down the broad emerald that she with
her simple snake ring for its guard. The ring"
But surely that would have only made him more
rob her and injure her. if it really were of
price.
AYE. the ring. How poor miserable
guess the rank and glory of the signorina. But
let IL please her to swine of II il
permitted he would her safely to the end OF
the lane where the streets began; 1t not good
place. this lane for exalted and gracious slgnorlnas
wslk alone There might be other poor starving
who had their living get;
TO fall into his aceursed mistake"
But Honor. her lips still white moving un-