The Washington times., 1913-05-26
CHAPTER XIV.
~A

-HofsINE ciasped her hands on
tie breast that kept still the
pressure Of Won Kerstenbroock's 9
rough cheek.
There In the dark she prayed for
years. for lifetime. It seemed. Of tor
tured listening. OF held breath, until at
last she heard the clock strike 3
"JoAng'
ICED g,ide us. child! Are you not
How should sleep this hour, or any
hour until know him safe? But surely
he n clear Of the house by now?"
''Bles6nss- on the girl! How long
shculd II take a brisk lad like you TO
run down two pairs o. stairs?
since. Do you not mind they would be
shooting on salvees"-Joan waxed imag-
lnative-''aye, and kindling of fires Of
icy. that Erisey, an he were fortuned
poor ztrinsaI. Aye. we should hear it
fast enow, an he were taken!'
Then dost thou hold him safe?'
''Beiike."
% Joan! Kiss Me. Joanr
Gray morning light was stealing into
the chamber when Joan set One case
ments open at last to the cleansing
Team Thomsne .hyly whispered.
Thou hast Of all the world the right
20 know. He will come again and when
he Genes he will take me to wife-he,
karichen. Won Kerstenbroock.
And how else?' quoth Joan, with
wintry smile Did you not see ehat in
the drot look that he was casting on
yef"
o Thomsine. Thomsine. .Mothering''
Durchziehter Won Kerstenbroock, of all
men, IN the innocence and goodness Of
Caught in the oldest trap was ever set
for woman, or learning. haply, truth
that Eve learned first in Edeni Etern-
ally the love Of woman. to endure, must
have In It one-haf of mother.
NY lad" she whispered, and knew
that. to the end, she SO should name
him.
well. At least" spoke Joan, in the
breaking dawn, with the frankness Of
Win sive ye sons. dare avow. Will be
Thomsine drew a breath that iuttered
her small bosom. So far she had not
suffered thought to range.
But now, in the stead OF the grisly
specter, from which she had held her
eyes averted, there in the dusk, beyond
the wedding day with Carisford, she
saw Q flaming angel at the open gate of
.one day." she told herself, "I shall
hold to my breast son, with eyes like
his
Suddenly she laughed out at herself
IN tne nOO0inS ddWu oI cue TediiZtu
that she had loved Won Kerstenbroock
for long. How long?
Since she began to dream? No, no.
Since she heard him warn her hold to
the left. there in the bog by Oxford?
She IBSh Believed that she had loved him
since the hour when sne mad lain and
studied him. so thin and taut. and ca
pable as he was. coatless. and in his
stockings. there in that mean chamber
1t the Red Lion.
She had loved him from the first, and
now, to happiness, she lound herself
beloved, and, in short time, she should
dnd herself his wife, for he. himself. |
had said that he would come again, and
she could trust him to make goo0 his
promises
Slowly the hours passed in the bolted
chamber.
II fain to rise" said Thomsine.
No. no. mistress, You must not seem |
cured 30 upon the sudden. Remember |
mat We believed We sickening fast WI
Yet let me rise and move about the
shambsr. 1 am SO light with JOY that
Try then. my mistressw
Inomsine rose and swayed and sank
aGaln upon the bed
% Joan: And am i truly III wi
Out on thee. baby that thou art,
Thou art faint with care and sleepleks-
aess.no more. Do thou but sleep and
She slept and woke in darkness.
loan! What 10 the hour?"
Til hard on Saturday midniight."
Four and twenty hours he hath been
So04. UufelY d0v fa ~ ~,>u ,,,<~, hfs 1