The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-01-26
CHAPTER X.

Coast had not taken two.score pace
along the path to the shore before tn
DAY was again darkened by a sudde
and heavy thickening of the miSts
mat frightening glow. which a littl
time back he had hailed with hope q
promise OF early clearing. was in al
instant wiped away. So deep hecam,
the gloom Ito his fancy. as If the tot
had been sprayed to saturation witt
q myriad infinitestimal atoms of ink.
that though 1t was now high morning
he found 1t hard to see the ground be
meath his feet.
Then came the deluge The heavens
opened and drenched the earth with q
hush OF rain literally torrential In
tWinkling soaked to the skin, Coast
gasped for breath and bent his head
TO a downpour which whipped him
with million cruel singing lashes.
Perforce at pause for fear of losing
his way. almost beaten thoughtless,
lacking any shelter to fly to, be de-
rived forlorn comfort of a sort from
the very violence of the squat. which
supplied its own assurance that It
could not endure long. And briefly
this proved itself: heralded by gradu.
al tightening. the heavier clouds
passed on; the initial fury exhausted
itself.
For some distance the path led him
wandering way; but this he did not
resent, any more than he really re-
sented his soaking, which seemed but
an inconstderable annoyance to mind
preoccupied. His being was altogether
obsessed and the process of bis
thoughts clouded by intense solicituds
and pity for Katherine-coupled with
doubts as to the wisdom of his course.
Was he justified in leaving her,
though she begged and commanded
him? He felt his understanding bar
ried by the pro and con of the cues.
ton like ball in volley between two
rackets. How could he leave her so?
What else could he do? She rejected
discredited. dismissed him definitely,
without appeal. She needed him-or
somebody to whom she might turn for
comfort and protection. Blackstock
was not to be trusted: yet she loved
MIN. IL. as she protested, she were
happy In some strange fashion pass.
Ing Coasts comprehension. had be
any right to step between her and her
happiness. whatever the circum.
stances? II, as was the case, Black.
stock had murdered man in a mo-
ment of uncomfortable rage, had
Coast any right to leave the woman at
The mercy OF temper which might
1t any moment resume the complex.
on OF hom!cidal r.ania? Yet would
not his presence there. upon the is.
and. work her more harm than good. |
we're he to be discovered!
He was. In the summing up, con. |
'cious OF no choice Of action: he could
out go bis ways. She desired It. and |
hough his duty (he saw clearly was |
o denounce Blackstock to the nearest
secure his arrest and I'm.
'risonment he could not
Thus in wretched communion with
lis heart. he came almost unawares q
econd time to the deserted fishing
'illage. was abruptly conscious OF
hapes of buildings looming through
he mists and driving rain on either
'and And with this recognition re.
urred the memory OF the blind dog
nd the murdered man.
II was scant consolation that be
70 longer heard the bowling of the
og, Perhaps 1t had abandoned ,ts
cad. perhaps be need no longer fear
0 meet the blank misery OF those .un.
amy. stghtless eyea. perhaps
Even as he warmed that hope, with.
u warning something more. cold and
iotst than his own flesh touched a,s
and he ;ersed away with On uncon.
reliable shudder and smothered az.
iamstion OF horror. only to realize
nat she animal had stolen up behind
I'm 600 thrust its muzzIe into OTIS