Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-08-02

will guard you as though you were her
own daughter. She is a bit rough,
maybe. but a big-hearted woman. and
despises Hawley. She nursed me
once through touch of typhoid-yes,
by Jove." glancing about in sudden
recognition. land in this very room.
! too"
The girls glance wandered over the
plain, neat furnishings. and the rather
pathetic attempts at decoration, yet
with apparently no thought for them.
"You-you have not told me where
you were going"
He laughed. a little uneasily, as
the whole matter.
Really, have hardly decided, the
world is so wide, and | had no reason
to suppose you interested"
But | am interested" resenting his
tone of assumed indifference. II
would not want to feel that our ac-
quaintance was to wholly end now"
do you really mean that?"
why should not? You have been
real friend to me; shall remember
you always with a gratitude beyond
words. | want you to know this. and
that-that | shall ever wish to retain
that friendship"
Keith struggled with himself, doubt
full of what he had best say, swayed
! by unfamiliar emotions.
you may be sure | shall never for
get" he blurted forth. desperately.
and, II you really wish it, I'll certain
ly see you again"
Il do" earnestly.
Then, I'll surely find a way. don't
know now which direction we will
ride, but I'm not going very far until
| clear up that murder out yonder on
the trail; that is my particular job
just now"
Before she could answer, Mrs. Muir
ply re-entered and forced her to drink
the connection prepared, the girl &C.
cepting with smiling protest The land
lady. empty glass in hand. swept her
eyes about the room
"Bedad, but the place looks betther
than liver Ord behaved, wild the gyurl
Orve got tindin' to 1t. She's that
lazy she goes ter Shape swapin' the
fure. Jack, would ye moind hilpin'
me move the bid; shure. it's rale ma
hogany, an so heavy it breaks me
back intoirely to push it round"
He took hold willingly enough, and
the two together ran the heavy con-
trivance across the room to the posi-
ton selected. Once a leg caught in
the rag carpet. and Keith lifted it out
bending low to get firmer grip. Then
he held out his hand to the girl.
at is not going to be goodbye then,
Miss Hope: I'll find you"
She smiled up into his eyes. much
of the WEAKNESS gone from her face.
II am going to believe that" she an
swered. gladly, because want to-"
Mrs. Murphy fingered until his steps
sounded on the stairs, as he slowly
felt his way down through the dark
ness.
He do be moighty foine bye, Jack
Keith" she said, apparently address
ing the side wall. "Oi wish Ord a
knowed him whin OF was gyurl;
shure, it's not Murphy me noime'd be
now, Dim tinkin"
Left alone, the girl bowed her head
on her hands, hot tear stealing down
through her fingers. AS she glanced
up again, something that glittered on
the floor beside the bed caught her
eyes. She stopped and picked it up,
holding the trinket to the light, star
ing at it as though fascinated. 1t was
the locket Keith had taken from the
neck of the dead man at Cimmaron
Crossing. Her nerveless fingers press,
ed the spring, and the painted face
within looked up into her own, and
still clasping it within her hand, she
sank upon her knees. burying her face
on the bed.
Where did he get that?" her lips
kept repeating. Where did he ever
thato"