Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-15

I@ 1OR many minutes Rowland
IF stood waiting as II life had
@ES1 left him. The note futtered
&O from his fingers. and he
drew his watch from bis pocket and
placed 1t on the table. 1t was quar-
ter after 5. There still remained for
ty-fve minutes.
Three-quarters OF an hour and then
death! There was no doubt in his
mind this time. Through one Of the
black holes in the wall he was to be
shot down, with no chance to defend
himself. to prove himself innocent.
And Meleese-did she. too. believe him
guilty of that crime?
He groaned aloud and picked up the
note again. Softly he repeated her Ian
words to him, IF God falls to answer
my prayers | will still do as | have
promised and follow you" Those words
seemed to cry aloud bis doom. Even
Meleese had given up hope. And yet
was there not deeper significance In
her words? he started as If some one
! had struck him. his eyes agleam.
"I will follow you"
He almost sobbed the words this
time. His hands trembled. and he
dropped the paper again on the table
and turned his eyes in staring horror
toward the door. What did she meanf
Would Meleese kill herself II he was
murdered by her brothers? He could
see no other meaning in her last mes
sage to him. and for time after the
chilling significance Of her words
struck his heart he scarce restrained
himself from calling aloud for Jean.
| II he could but send word back to
her, tell her once more Of his great
love-that the winning Of that love
was ample reward for all that he hnd
lost and was about to lose. and that 1t
gave him such happiness as he had
never known even In this last hour of
bis torture!
Twice he shouted for Croisset. but
there came no response save the Dol
low echoings of his own voice In the
subterranean chambers After that he
began to think more sanely. lf Me-
leese was a prisoner in her room 1t
was probable that Croisset. who was
now fully recognized as q traitor al
the post. could no. longer gain access
to her. In some secret way Meleese
had contrived to give him the note.
In Howland's breast there grew
slowly a feeling Of sympathy for the
Frenchman Much that he had not
understood was clear to him now. He
understood why Meleese had not re-
vealed the names of his assailants at
Prince Albert and Wekusko. He un-
derstood why she had fed from him
after his abduction and why Jean had
so faithfully kept secrecy for her sake.
She had fought to save him from
her own flesh and blood. and Jean
had fought to save him. And be-
cause he had fought for him and Me-
leese the Frenchman's fate was to be
almost as terrible as his own. 1t was
he who would fire the fatal shot at g
o'clock. Not the brothers. but Jean
Crolsset, would be his executioner and
murderer.
The minutes passed swiftly. and as
they went Rowland was astonished to
fnd how coolly he awaited the end. He
even began to debate with himself as
to through which hole the fatal shot
would be fred. No matter where he
stood. he was In the light Of the big
hanging lamp. There was no obscure
or shadowy corner In which for few
moments he might elude his execu
doner. He even smiled when the
thought occurred to him that II war
possible to e1tinguish the light ano
crawl under the table. thus gaining a
momentary delay. But what would
that delay avail him? he was anxious
for the fatal minute to arrive ana De
over.
There were moments Of happiness
when in the damp horror OF bis death
chamber there came before him visions
of Meleese. grown even sweeter and
more lovable now that he knew how
abe had sacrificed herself between two
great loves-the love of her own peo
Die and the love of himself. And at
last she had surrendered to him. Was
It possible that she could have made
that surrender II she. like her broth
ers, believed him to be the murderer
Of her father-the son Of the man fiend
who had robbed her of mother? II
was impossible. he told himself She
did not believe him guilty. And yet
why had she not given him some such
word In her last message to him?
His eyes Travelled to the note on the
table, and he began searching In his
coat pockets. In one Of them he found
the worn stub Of pencil. and for
many minutes after that he was oblivi'
GUS to the passing Of time as be wrote
his last words to Meleese. When' be
had finished he folded the paper and
placed It under his watch. At the 'nai
moment, before the shot was fred. he
would ask Jean to take It, His eyes
fell on bis watch dial. and cry bursi
from his lips.
II lacked but ten minutes OF the nnal
hour.
Above him he heard family the sharp
barking of dogs. the hollow sound OF
mems voices. A moment later there
came to him an echo as OF swiftly
tramping feet and, after that. silence.
"Jean," he called tensely. "Ho. Jean.
Jean Croisset"-
He caught up the paper and ran
from one black opening to another.
calling the Frenchman's name.
As you love your God. Jean, - you