Putnam patriot., 1911-11-24

MuF or Voices were an iost 10 TOW. iand Tn the know ledge that at tho last moment they had let her come to him. that De held her in his arms and that she was crushing her face to his breast ana sobhing things to him which he could not understand Once or twice ID ms life he had wondered if realities mlSht not he dreams, and the thought came to him now when he felt inc warmth of her hands. her face her hair and then the passionate pressure or her lips on his own He lifted his eyes. and in the doorway he saw Jean Croisset and behind him a wild beard ed tace-the face that had been over him when life was almost choked from him on the great north trail. And be- yond these two be saw still others. shining gh0sIly and indistinct in the deeper gloom of the outer darkness. He strained Meleese to him. and when he looked down into her face be saw her beautiful eyes flooded with tears and yet shining with great joy. Her lips trembled as she struggled 10 speak. Then suddenly she broke from his arms and ran to the door, and Jean CroisSet came between them. with the wild. bearded man still staring over his shoulder
 "M'seur will you come with usY said Jean.
 The bearded man dropped back into the thick gloom. and without speak Ing Rowland followed Croisset. his eyes on the shadowy form of Me leese. The ghostiy faces turned from the light, and the tread of their re treating feet marked the passage through the blackness. Jean fell back beside Rowland. the huge bulk of the bearded man three paces ahead. A dozen steps more and they came to a stair. down which light shone. The Frenchman's hand fell detainingiy on Howlands arm. and when moment later they reached the top of the stairs all had disappeared hut Jean and the bearded man. Dawn was breaking. and a pale light fell through the two windows of the room they had enter ed. On table burned a lamp. and near the table were several chairs. To one of these Croisset motioned the engineer. and as Rowland sat down the bearded man turned slowly and passed through door. Jean shrug- .ged his shoulders as the other disap- peared
 "Mon Dieu. that means that he leaves 1t all to me" he exclaimed. "I don't wonder that it is hard for him to talk. mseur Perhaps you have begun to understand,'
 "Yes. a frtlp." replied Howand. His heart was throhbing as 1T he had just finished climbing a long hill. That was the man wAo tried to kill me. But Meleese-the"- He coul6 go no fur tber. Scarce breathing. he waited for Jean to speak.
 "It is Pierre Thoreau." he said. "eld est brother To MejeeSe. It k he who should say what am aheut to tell rou. m 'seEr. But he is too full of grief to sneak. You wonder at thatt Ana vet l tell you that man with better soul than Pierre Tboreau never ilved. though three times he has tried To XIII yoa Do you remember what you aSt4.d me a short time ago, III seur- 1T
 thought that you were the Jonh Rowland who murdered the father or Meleese sixteen years ago! Nrod \ saints. and 1 did until hardly more than half an hour ago, when some one came fnom ,he south and exploded a mine under our feet IL was the young est of the three brothers NJ Senr' we have mace great mistake, and we ask your forgiveness.
 In the silence the eyes of the two mon met across tbe table. To How laad if was hot the thought that hls life was saved that came |lth me qreatest force, but The though or Me loose tbe know ledge that in that hour ,rbap ail seemed to be lost sh% WAS nearer to him than ever. He ieaIleu saIf aver the table. his hands clincbed. hts erss blazing. Jean did Dol under etand for he went on quickly.
 .I knoa, II iS bard. m seuT. ferhaps if wiu be impossible for you 10 Ter gi,s a fhing like this. We have tired fn tiil vou-kill you by slow torture n, we thought yon deserved bul ,bine for a moment. m'senr. Of Wba' happened up here sixteen years aE9 tbis winter. bave told you now obated life from the man hfhd. ~ .,l.,,f5 have eboked life from you II II ,ad mol been for Meleese. l. too ali 1-,,fltv Onlv six years ago We EheN that he right John Rowland dune son ,f tbe man 1 slcw-was III Montreal ,na ,ve sen, to seek hia this youn&esi ,.-e.har far he had been a long Iime at .aha,5 wifb Meleese and khe" lHF ways of the south better than the o'h srs Bgt ne failed to find hIHl al iul' emo and if was oEly short "i4ae aE" mat this brother ioeaied you
 "A que Blessed Lady is my VII
 ,n.sesr il is not strange thai ne shonld have taken you for the man Nt sangnt for il ls singular that y"" 'Fi, ,,n' a,,t ike a brother in looks. as -an,an,,ar -', me boy. It is true thai rraneois made great error when NF san, word to his brothers sugseSi'i'- -, if either tiregson or Iharnf was ... ,a. ,,n+ of The way you would proDa- hIv he sent into the north. sven ., Sr @ ,bs Virgin that Neleese knew nom. ne'h - ' ,nis m'>eur. She knew noihiht ,l7 ,ba he schemes by which her bFo'i'e's drove Gregsen and ih"rn' pa's ' ','' l,It ,hs south They did moi WISE 'o "t., ,.