The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-08-30
BY ANNA
KATHARINE
GREEN
CHAPTER XVI.
Copyright 1910.
~ Anns ksthsrine Rohifs

sisters throat. then this world is all a
tumble and II makes very little differ
ence to me whether I'm alive or dead"
When these words of Arthur Cum
berland were repeated to me echoed
them in my inmost soul. !, too. cared
very little whether lived or died.
The grand jury reeled off it's cases
and finally took up ours. To the last |
hoped-sincerely. think-that should
be the man to suffer Indictment. But
hoped in vain. A true bill was
brought against Arthur, and his trial
was set for Jan. IS.
The first use made of my liberty
was to visit Adelaide's grave. In that
sacred place | could best review my
past and gather strength for the fu-
ture The future. Was it under my
control? Did Arthur's fate hang upon
my word? believed so. But had
strength TO speak that word? | had
expected to: had seen my duty clear
ly enough before the sitting of the
grand jury. But now that Arthur was
indicted now that it was an accepted
instead Of myself. I was conscious of
such a recoil from my contemplated ac-
ton that lost all confidence in myself
and my stolcal adherence TO what I
considered the claims of justice.
trusted Arthur: I distrusted Car
mel. But she had claims to consdera-
ton which he lacked She was a
Co s,,G
nitely more to her than any disgrace to
him. Even he had seemed to recognize
this. Miserable and half hearted as
his life had been. he had shown him
self man enough not TO implicate his
young sister in the crime laid to his
charge. What. then. was I that
should presume to disregard his lead
In the difficult maze in which we were
both lost? Yet because of the self re-
straint he manifested he had my SYM
patty. and I resolved to stand his
friend If | saw the case really going
against him. TIL then I would con
slider the helpless girl. tongue tied by
her condition and injured enough al
ready by my misplaced love and its
direful consequences.
The only change I now allowed my
self was an occasional midnight stroll
up Huested street. This was as near
as I dared approach CarmeIS'windows
feared some watchfu police spy
Perhaps | feared my own hardly to be
restrained lon%inCs.
This was before Carmel left with
her nurse for Lakewood After that
event | turned my head no more In
taking my midnight stroll. | was not
told the day or hour of her departure,
happily, perhaps. for us both, Cor |
could never have kept away from the
station. | heard later that she was
deliberately driven past the Whisper
ing Pines, though the other road was
more direct and less free, If anything.
from possible spectators. They thought,
no doubt, that u sight of the place
might reawaken whatever memories
remained of the last desperate scene
preceding her brother and sisters de-
parture for this out of the way spot.
They little knew how cruel was the
test or what storm Of realization
might have overwhelmed her mind as
her eye fell on those accursed walls,
peerinG from their bower of snow
laden pines. But | did, and never
rested till learned how she had borne
herself i'm her slow drive by the two
guarded gateways-merrily it seems.
and with no sign of the remembrances
! feared
One sentence, and one only, reached
my ears of all she said before she dis
appeared from town.
"If Adelaide were only going too.
But suppose shall meet her and Mr..
Ranelagh somewhere before my re-
turn. She must be very happy. but
not so peaceful as am. She will see
that when we meet. | can hardly wait
for the day"
One incident more before enter
upon the serious business Of the trial
started one night for my walk at
10 o'clock instead Of -. | went the
old way, and, the old longing recur-
ring at the one charmed spot on the
road. | east quick look at the desc
lated house which. short as it was.
reused feelings which kept my head
lowered for the remainder of my walk
north and TO the very moment when,
on my return. the same chimneys and
overhanging roofs came again into
view through the wintry branches.
Then habit lifted my head and paus-
ed 10 look again. when the low sound
OF human voice, suppressed into a
moan or sob. caused me to glance
about for the woman or child who had
uttered this note of sorrow. No one
was In sight but as | started to move
on | heard my name uttered in choked
tones from behind the hedge separat-
ing the Fulton grounds from the city
sidewalk.
Had the voice issued from this iso.
lated point OF darkness? | went back
TO see, A pltiful figure was crouching
there. frail. agitated little being.