Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-03

- farrcaching Significance;
u that 1t was but the bandit
work and resultant Of forces in hls
own past. He himself had set Hugh's
fee; on the red path that had pointed
him 70 the shameful terminus. He had
gamhlod TO- Hugh's future. forgetting
that his past remained. n thing that
must lie covered. tIe hGd won Hughs
counters. hut his own right to be him.
self he had s'nkcd and lost long before
that game on the communion table IN.
dor the painted cruciflxion.
The words no had once said to Hugh
REQUIRED to him with II kind OF awe:
Put myself in your placer I wish to
God couldr'
Faie-or was 1t Godi-had taken him
at Gis word. He had been hurled like
n stoue from IL catapult into HuGhs
rlace-to bear hs knnvcry. to suffer his
dlshonor and TO redeem the bnleful rep
utaton lie had made.
A step outside the cell. the turning
OF the key. The door opened, and
Joss!ca. pale and trembling. stood on
the threshold.
II cannot help It," she said as she
came toward him. though you told
me not TO come. have trusted nil the
while ana waited and--and prayed.
But today I was afraid. Surely, sure.
! ly, tho man you nre protecting has had
time enough. Hasn't her Won't you
toll them the truth nowr
He knew not how to meet the piteous
reprosch and terror Of that look. She
had not heard the street preachers
declaration. he knew. but even II she
had 1t would have been to her only
an echo OF the old mooted likeness. He
had given her comfort once. but this
wns no more to be. no matter what It
meant to him or to her
"Jcssica." he said steadily, when
you came to me hero that first day
not mean to deceive you thought
then that 1t would oil come right. Eut
something has happened since thPn-
something that makes a difference |
cannot tell who was the murderer of
Moreau. | cannot tell you or any one
else, either now or ut any time"
She gazed at him startled She had
a sudden conception OF some element
/ hitherto unguessed in his makeup
! something lnveterate md adamant.
Could It he that he did not intend to
tell Nt all? The very idea was mon.
strous. Yet that clearly was his mean.
ing. She looked ut him with flashing
eyes.
You mean you Will not" she ex.
claimed bitterly. "You are bent on
sacrificing yourself. them You nre 90
Ing to take this risk because you think
It brave and noble, bocalse somehow
1t fits your mans gospel. Can't you
SEQ how wicked and selfish II IS? You
are thinking only Of him ana OF your
SELF not Of me-"
"Jessica, Jesslca!" he protested. with
groan. But In the self torture OF her
Qucstionings she paid no hced.
Don't you think | suffer? Haven't !
borne enough in the months since !
married you for you TO want to save
me this? Do You owe me nothing. me
whom You so wronged. whose
She stopped suddenly Mt the look on
his face Of mortal pain. for she had
struck harder than she knew. 1t pierre
ed through the fierce resentment to her
deepest heart. and oil her love and pity
gushed back upon her In torrent,
She threw herself on her knees by the
bare cot. crying passionutoly;
"Oh, forgive me! Forget what snidl
l did not mean It. I have forgiven you
a thousand times over ] never ceased
to love you. lovc You now more than
all the world"
at is true" he said. hoarsc misery In
his tone II have wrongod you. II |
could coin my blood drop by drop to
pay for the past | could not set that
right. II giving my life over and over
again would save You pain | would
give II gladly. But what you ask now
Is ono thing | cannot do 1t would
make mo II pitiful coward. dld not
kill Morenu That II oil | can say to
you or to those who try me"
Your life" she said with dry lips.
"It will mean that That counts no
fearfully much TO me. more than my
own life hundred times Yet there ia
something that counts more than nl
that to you"
His face was that Of man who
holds his hand IN the fire. "Jessica."
no said. ut Is like this with mo. When
You found mo hec-the day ! saw you
on the bnlcony-I was a man whose
soul had lost its compass and its bcnr.
ings' My conscience was asleep. You
woke 1t. and 1t is nerceiy alive now.
And now with my memory has come
back debt Of my past that | never
paid. Whatever the outcome. for my
rouis sake | must settle II now and
wine II from the score forever"
She rose slowly to her feet. with q
despa!ring gesture.
ale saved others" she quoted In