Putnam patriot., 1911-11-03

rsbe. On the table. but beyond his vision. was ihe lamp. He drew him | self a few inches more through the snow. leaning still further ahead, until | he saw the foot of white bed X lit. tie more and he stopped. his white | face close ie the window pane
 On the bed. facing him. sat MeleeSe | Her chin was buried in the cup of her | hands. and be noticed that she was in a dressing gown and that her beauti- 1 ful hair was loosed and flowing in | elistening waves about her. as though she had just brushed it for the night A movement. slight shifting of her eyes. and she would have seen him. He was filled with an almost master 1 ing imprlse to press bis face closer. to tap on the window. to draw her | eyes 10 him. but even as his hand rose | to do the bidding of that impulse something restrained him Slowly the | girl lifted her head. and he was thrill cd to find that another impulse drew him back until his ghostiy face was a part cf the elusive snow gloom. He wntched her as she turned from him and threw back the glory of her hair until 1t half hid her in mass Of cop per and gold From his distance be still gazed at her. choking and unde- I cided. while she gathered it in three heavy strands and piaited 1t into a shining braid.
 For au instant his eyes wandered. Beyond her presence the room was i n ..I that if opened into another room. which in turn could be entered through the platform door behind him. With his old exaetness for detail he ieaped to definite conclusion. These were Meleeses apartments at the post, separated from all others. and Meleese was preparing to retire fer the night If the outer door was not locked and he entered. what danger could there be of interruption? Ii was late. The post was asleep He had seen no light but that in the window through which he was staring.
 The thought was scarcely born be fore he was at the platform door The latch clicked gently under his fingers | Cautiously he pushed the door inward and thrust in his head and shoulders He was in a narrow corridor. Ahead of him there shone thin ray of light from under the door thal opened into i MeleeSe's room Nerviug himself for the last move. he went boldly to the door. knocked lightly to give some warming of his presence and entered. Meleese was gone Then at the far end of the room he saw a curtain. un- dulating slightly as if from the move ment of a person on the other side of it.
 'Meleeser' he called softly.
 White and dripping with snow. his face bloodess in the tense excitement pf the moment, he stood with his arms half reaching out when the curtain was thrust aside and the girl stood be. fore him. At first she did not recog- nize him in his gbostly storm covered disguise. But before the startled cry that was on her lips found utteranee the fear that had blaDched her face gave place to a swift sweeping flood of color. For a space there was no word between fbeIn as they stood sep arated by the breadth of the room. Rowland with his arms held out to her In pleading silence. Meleese with her hands clutched to her bosom. her throat a-trembie with strange sobbinf notes that made no more sound than the fiuttering of birds wing.
 And Rowland as he came across the room to her found no words 10 say, none of the things that he had meant to whisper to her. but drew her to him and crushed her close 10 bis breast. knowing that in this moment nothing could tell her more eloquently than the throbbing of his own heart the passionate pressure of his face tc her face. of his great love. whicf seemed to stir into life the very si lence that encompa ssed them.
 Lawyers on a Strike.
 Over BOO years ago one of the most unusual strikes ever recorded took place in Paris. when all the lawyers walked out. so to speak. law o' performance was issued and promul gated by the French king Henry III ordering all lawyers to sign theii pleadings and to state the amount they were charging their clients fol their services. This was done so thai the lawyers could be properly ano sufficiently taxed on their income The lawyers objected. and the strike causing an entire stay of judicial pro ceedines. followed Peace was restor ed by the nonenforcement of fhe or donnance. thnugh it was not repealed