Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
The Gates of Silence
By Meta Stmmfns, Author of "Hushed Up

Should pretend 10 you! nave taken
house near-near Bilmouth. I want to be
near Jack. 1t has come to me that it is
my duty"
You are going down to Bilmouth to
be near JACKIE" Betty I.umsden repeated
in startled voice. 'Oh, Mrs Remington
how grand, how noble of you!"
There was a hushed note in her voice.
and she looked at the woman before her
with eyes full of reverence. as child
might look at some suddenly vouchsafed
vision of an angel
Don't speak like that; detest effusive-
ness and emotion the widow said harsh
ly. There is nothing in the least splen-
did in doing what is your obvious duty
believe my nephew to be a wrongfully
accused man, and as such his imprison-
ment is not a punishment but martyr
dom. can do nothing to help him; !
have no money to spend in trying to es-
tablish his innocence and l am certain
that it would be money uselessly spent if
l had. But l have my life that l can
give to his service-the hours of the long
days to spend in prayer for him. 1t will
save him from losing all hope to know
that somewhere, very near, within sight
and sound fhis prison-there is one
faithful heart that believes and watches"
ment of her hands
But it is splendid" she said. Most
splendid, Mrs. Rimington. l would give
all that 1 have to do what you are doing
for the joy of such service
Deborah Rimington laughed.
For the joy of living in a three-roomed
cottage on desolate moor, my dear
Betty?" she said. "Of living on practical
ly prison fare, Of rising and seeking rest
at prison hours? l doubt greatly doubt
that even your love for Jack would
stand that test"
TRY mel" cried Betty. She moved for
ward, her hands clasped in entreaty.
Give me the chance. If you have any
pity for one who is desoate and op-
pressed and full of fears, give me the
chance. Let me come with you-as your
servant. l ask for nothing better. l ask
for no charity, for no wages; let me come
just as your servant-for house room and
food"
Deborah Rimingtons eyes glowed sud
denly beneath the veil, drawn low on her
brow, that all but shrouded them.
I'll give you the trial." she said, grimly.
But don't cry out if you are hurt You've
lived as princess, Betty Lumsden; you
will have to learn to live as a herdsmans
daughter at my cottage on the moor"
The girl gave a short laugh that was
threaded with tears.
'Ah, you don't know me-" she cried
1T IS much for a woman to do for the
man she loves? 1t has been done before
by brave women-by mothers-by
wives
But never as I will do it," said De-
borah Rimington.
There was a gale raging out at sea
the noise Of its great guns came echo.
ing over the desolate stretches Of open
moorland; the sparse growing trees bent
before its violence as 1t rushed inland;
the barren fruit trees and stunted shrubs
in the garden surrounding the matched
single-storied cottage were bowed al
most fiat as it whirled and eddied about
the building, snarling and bowling.
Like an EVIL Spirit
1T is like an evil spirit. bowling and
threatening, demanding admittance," Bet
| ty Lumsden whispered to herself. She
put her hands to her ears to try and
shut QUIT he sound. She was weary of
| 1t. For the two weeks she had been at
| the cottage on the moor she had heard
no other sound but this-save the far
off clang of the prison bell. But 1t was
not to be shut QUIT seemed to have
found an entrance to her very brain.
To her lifes end Betty Lumsden dreaded
and hated the complaining, clustering
voice of he wind.
Only two weeks now since Mrs. Riming-
ton and she had reached this isolated
cottage which Mrs. Rimington had bought
within sight and sound Of Bilmouth jail
weeks that seemed like years to the
girl The slow, dragging length of the
days bit into her consciousness all the
more clearly the realization of what those
! days that are like a year" must be to
| the man she loved. Betty Lumsden was
not a coward; she had counted the cost
| before she threw in her lot with Deborah
Rimington. Yet already she was begin
ming to realize that it would take all
her fortitude to keep up and not to faint
with heart WEAKNESS. Mrs. Rimington
had taken her offer absolutely by the let
! ter; her position in the cottage was one
of subOrdination. She had her own tiny
| bed room and the kitchen as her king
| dom; Mrs. Rimington used the remain
! ing room as her own, coming out only for
the meals shared in the kitchen, and
speaking little. She had always been
silent woman, and Betty had neevr found
her silence oppressive until now
To Be Continued in Next Issue.