The Glenwood post., 1912-12-28
CHAPTER xxxV.
A Confession Of lovA

Coulo sCsiICeig DtueNe my eyes db
the mantei swung slowly outward. ~
veaiing the black hole beyond. ]
glanced about helplessly, and sprang
to the door to call back Farrell. He
was not in the upper hall, but as my
eyes swept its length ! remembered q
half-burned candle in the chamber op.
posite. BY the time ! returned with II
lighted, the mantel had turned on its
pivot, leaving the way clear. The mar
row stair was vacant, stretching down
into the black depths. l listened, my
heart throbbins, bat no sound came
from below. Gould she be there? :?
was there anv other secret passage
by which she could have disappeared
l shuddered at memory of what it
meant to be shut up in that dismal
hole, without the companionship Of
light Fearful of some accident
paused long enough to wedge Q heavy
piece Of furniture in the opening. and
then. shading the bit of candle, began
cropping my way down. I had reached
the lower 1oor before the fickeriAg
yellow rays revealed any evidsnos of
her presence. Then I saw . gin lying
head down upon The table. Ny hand
touched her arm before she noved,
but then she faced me. Wild-eyed. The
pistol cleaning in the candle-uxht.
'Chirei Clairsi" exclained.
startled at her ssddea novensst.
Surely yos know me-"
Fur ths instant she did not, her
eyes full of terror.
No! no!" she cried hystsricaIly
''Oh, II cannot BE! 1t u Q dream! You
-you-ten Ne who yoa are!"
oasgAt her haaA. ths pastsl nax.
iag - ths Aeor, aaA Dlacsl tAs oa.ljs.
stick upoa the tab1s.
TT b No dream, dear. I an Aha
LAwNace. and I have como ~ yoa,
know lsok disrsputabls eaossA, ut
there has beea Aghting-surely yes
know NE now" &
She caught her breath quickiy.
clingins to ne with both hanls- -hse
eyes softening ~ she studied NJ faoe.
"AlIen-Allen LAwrsacs!" she -
peateA softly. 'Oh. I can scarcely ~
lieve 1t tToe. Let me feel Of you. T.
l believe I was going insasS-tAs
dark. the awful dark, and, and NO way
out-no way out"
Yes. yes. I understand" whis-
pered, driving her to ns. II was hid.
aen here oace, reme0ber. But Il n
over With nov."
"B0t-Aow did yoa anA q vay to
-? II never thought until II was
an over that I had shut myseR IN here
- de. I was % frigAteAeA. I lust
ran asd hiA- Oh. yoa cannot coaosivs
what I had gone througA."
She drew away iron me, and aSain
Aid her 1aos - tie tshaa
-OA. but can, Clairs," anA I heat
over her. ny hand foalling her hair.
Il was there In The hall below, ready
even thea to act IN your deGeass,
heard all that was said, saw all that
WIS done"
"Yos-you were there ?" sobbinE out
the words. you saw me kill him!"
Yes. and had you delayed another
instant should have done it,
"Then-then." she glanced up. tears
dimming her eyes. you, do not blame
me! You do not think me a wicked
wretch?"
Il think you brave. noble woman. I"
l burst forth. How could I feel 9th.
erwise! Look up. little girl: I want
to see your face. No, don't shrink
back from me. There 10 NO cause. I
know the whole story without your
speaking q word. You asked ne to
come back to help you. and cane"
Yes" she whispered. Il know.
You have bsen 20 sood."
"Coodi IoVe1 you. dear. Frou ths
moment MssA ypa out a tAe way Of
that no6 h rAilaAsap&ia, have loved
yos. ~ not understand nucA that
occnneA. 6at hAvo na0or AoaAtsA
yoa- Nov ls611ss sAe casss a yosr
masquesa6e ana fnow ype were x iusti.
So ! saA briag ~ - novs-DFss
= - Q. tsaltaf. ~ Vas Q Desesose
n0eass1 " yE1A. - ~ 4 uspne6
.ruiae .sgasane ~ 49, - 49, -
tb6k Igsa19 - Si6ose; = - -
DgoAeAo4 ~ honoas .-t
cA11 - = ~ 6ovF
-: - - Gs1t u - -, -
= ee1o unesaoe1stA ~ ~ nVAs
|. - Ba0otaA1an-
sl1A WalnAianea N61eeVes -
bsoauAe - ~ Hsuo e C1nAsar
sees = 0aseA. - N ossse hsw
0eARW1DA
|. = egose - - ~. oeaa1ng
ee1aa1o1 - d1en0e SG1uoo ~ -
1shnAg ~ . - ean1no = ~
ta1l;1l1ssidfI. !
- - - AR - - -