The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-02

IHSS DIS IIOS0 OIL d II1dH WIO, DIT inc
very foot of the scaffold, unexpected
ly receives his reprieve. He saw
nothing of the ludicrous side Of the
closing scene Of this compact with
Ferman Elwood. To him the whole
thing had become an unspeakable
horror which had driven him we'll
nigh beside himself. Though there
is generally a smile to be found in
the most desperate phases of human
life, his was not the nature to dis
cover anything off the kind; his only
sensation was one of intense relief.
Thus he left husband and wife alone.
And these had not changed their
positions They watched his going
from just where they stood. silent.
waiting. They were separated by
several PAGES. Before them yawncd
the dread WonderSat; on either side
and behind them was the dense shell
ter Of thornbush.
The moments passed and the 81
lence grew burdensome. Every fall
ing leaf, every rustic of the bush,
stood out sharply. almost painfully.
such was the tension Of the moment.
Mary. was waiting for her husband to
speak. F'erman had no thought ut
speech. He was gazing straight be-
fore him and his face was turned in
the direction which the other had ia
ken. The expression of his eyes told
nothing of his thoughts.
Mary stirred at last, and her move
ments was one of impotence. She
had saved the mans life, but now
she knew not how to proceed. She
had known no fear where another
had been concerned, but now she was
nervous, dreading, and longed to De
away. At last she was literally driy-
en- to speech, and her words came at
random.
I'VE had better go-home, or we
shall be late for tiffin," she said.
Then she laughed without knowing
why.
Eyes"
Ferman did not laugh; he did not
even move.
Mary's eyes shot a sidelong glance
in his direction Her apprehension
was growing with every passing Sec
ond.
zone moment" she cried desper-
ately, as though he were actually
preparing to get the horses.
"Yes?" Ferman had turned from
his contemplation Of the bush. His
steady eyes were on her now.
It was some seconds before the wa
man could proceed. She had all she
could do to gather her faculties to-
gether.
''Ferman," she said hesitatingly, 81
suppose a man should always keep
his word, shouldn't he?''
''That seems to me an unnecessary
question:" he replied, with a momen-
tary raising Of the eyebrows.
Eyes, know. You always keep
yours
ST try to. If you mean in the
matter of Guy"
Eyes, know. But that's differ.
emit. I wasn't thinking of that" She
paused, then added more easily, "You
see, 1 interfered."
Eyes" The mans lips had relax.
ed into grim smile.
Suddenly Mary took her courage n
both hands. She had no womanly
weakness now. There was too much
at stake She dr-w a breath, abou,
to speak, but let it go again. He,
eyes were fixed on the black walls
Of the wondergat, which rose up from
the depths on the far side of the
hole.
She drew another breath. It wa.
very hard. She felt the blood SURG
up to her head, and the next momen
she felt cold in the blazing heat. Hell
hands were clasped before her, ans
her fingers were twitching in uncon.
trolled fashion. She took another
deep breath and spoke.
81 was thinking of something else
she laboured halting1y. 81 was think.
ing Of what you promised when yol
asked me to marry you. You prom
ised-you-you-sai that I was al
ways to be free. was to bear YOU
name. that was all. You have KEEP
that promise exactly
ST have tried to do so.''
The woman nodded. She swallow
ed with difficulty, for her throat wa.
dry, and her tongue had no moisture
YES" she said, and was silent fol
moment. Then she went on stun
bling and hurried. well, I wa.
wondering-you see-oh, it's hard 4
explain, and you don't help me. VIVA
wanted to say waists Well
you see, I know you don't consider
the-the religious side of marriay,
like most people. I do. Vows ar,
sacred things. I made vows which
I haven't kept mean when we wer,
married. Are you listening? 1 dom
believe you are. I wonder if you re
member the vows I made. To love
to honour, to obey you. The las
two I found is possible to fulfil Thi
other was different. want to fulfil