The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-04-27
Nathaniel sal up, Ners strong arx

Natnaniel say up, NetTG strong Arm
at his back There was light In IN,
room now and he could zee hIs com
panion's face, smiling Mt him caernr
agingly. The sight OF II was like ar
elixir to him. lie drank again anc
new life coursed through him
"Yes-hell Of hole" he repeated
drowsily Sorry for you-Ncil--'
and he seemed to sleep again.
Neil laughed as he wiped his com
panion's face with wet cloth.
I'm used to II. Nat. Been here be
fore" he said Can you get up!
There's a bench over here-not long
enough to stretch you out on o. |
would have made you a bed OF II. but
It's better than this mud TO sit on"
He put his arms about Nathaniel
and helped him to his feet. For a few
moments the wounded man stood with
out moving
I'm not very bad. guess" he said,
taking a slow step. Where IL the
seat. Neil? I'm going to walk to IL
What sort Of bump have got on the
head?"
Nothing much" assured Nell.
Suspicious. though" he grlnned
cheerfully. Looks as though you
were running ana somebody came ur
and tapped you from behinsf"
Nathanlers strength rerecued to
him quickly. The pain had gone from
his head and his eyes no longer hurt
him. In the dim candle light he could
distinguish the four walls OF the dun
geon. glistenlng with the water and
mold that reeked from between their
rotting logs. The floor was Of wet
sticky earth which chung to his boots
and the air that he breathed filed his
nostrils and throat with the uncom
Portable thickness of night fog al
sea. Through It the candle burned In
a misty halo. Near the candle. which
stood on a shelf-like table against one
of the walls, was bis dish which
caught NGthaniers eyes.
What's that" he asked. pointing
toward IT,
Grub replied Neil "Hungry?'
He went TO the table and got the
plate of food There were chunks OF
boiled meat, unbuttered bread and
cold potatoes. For several minutes
they ate in silence. Now that Ma.
thaniel was himself again Neil could
no longer keep up his forced s,trits.
Both realized that they had played
their game and that it had ended 10
An hnl No a.
his individual power to alleviate to
some extent the others misery To
Neil what was ahead OF them held no
mystery A few hours more and then
death. II was only the form in
which II would come that troubled
the victims OF this dungeon cell were
shot Sometimes they were hanged
But why tell Nathaniel So he ate
his meat and Tread without words.
waiting for the other to speak. as the
other waited for him. And Nathaniel.
on his part. kept to himself the secret
of Marion's fate After they had done
with the meat and tine bread and the
cold potatoes he pulled out his be
loved pipe and filed il with the las,
scraps of his tobacco. and as the
fumes OF 1t clouded round his head.
soothing him in it's old friendship. he
told of his fight with Strang ard his
killing OF Arbor Croche.
I'm glad for Winnsome's sake
said Neil. after moment. oh. II
you'd only killed Strang!"
Nathaniel thought of what Marion
had said to him in the forest.
Neil" he said quietly. do you
know that Winnsome loves you--not
as the little girl whom you totcu
about on your shoulders-but as
Do you know that" In the
others silence he added: when last
saw Marion she sent this message to
Neil that he must so. for
sake. Tell him that her
fate Is shortly to be as cruel as mine
tell him that Winnsome loves him
and that she will escape and come &c
him on the mainland Like words
Of fire they had burned themselves In
his brain and as Nathaniel repeated
them he thought OF that other broker
heart that had sobLed out its anguish
to him in the castle chamber. Nell
a man can die easier when he knows
that woman loves him!"
He had risen to his feet and was
back and forth through the
thick gloom.
I'm glad" Neil's ,oice came &c
him softly. as though be scarcely
dared to speak the words aloud After
a moment he added: Have you got
a pencil. Nat? would like to leave
a little note for Winnsome"
Nathaniel found both pencil and
paper in one of his pockets and Nei
dropped upon his knees In the mud
beside the table. Ten minutes later
he turned to Nathaniel and great
change had come into his face.
ITO BE CONTINUED