The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1913-12-05

were insuppOrtable, a broken hour |
glass. broken now so long ago to stop
the flight Of a single golden hour.
But Il louder Gathering broke upon
her dismay. Il tramping OF heavy
feet in the courtyard and n confusion
OF rough voices. then a silence. while
she trembled ut her door. SO still it
WAS that a voice whispered her name
before she heard ever q step.
"Clarissa. Clarissa. 1t is 1-Archie."
oh. my Archie. Why were you so
long. and | mourning YOU dead? Is
Glengarry taken: Are you hurt. Arch
ie"'
Taken: Yes. sweetheart. and every
miscreant with it. but only the Sin
Eater. He's Il devil. Such horses rs
he rides. I've chased him 100 miles
this night only to find him II to earth
here. He's hiding. not in his room.
but somewhere in the castle. Bolt
yourself fast within. my Clarice. until
I've run the fox to earth. for this night
| have sworn he shall not escape me-"
kissing her. he would have gone. but
she chung to him professionally.
in low tones he should not leave her.
II annot support it. Archie. Indeed
cannot DO no ask it. dear. If he
were to break in my door while YOU
sousnt him I should kill myself. my
Archie. Stay with me. Let the Others
search. Let the wretchcd man escape.
DO not soil your hands in his blood"
"Clarice. l have taken my oath. He
shall not escape me But there IS time
enough. Lock YOU door. double bolt it.
So shall | stay near YOU outside It. and
whenever you call YOU shall hear my
voice. At daybreak | will pluck his
bush and end the chase"
A different resting. then. to lie snus
on her pillow and dOZe while she listen
ed as if to catch the sound Of Arches
breath through the oaken door. 4
peaceful dreaming. then to wake with
a tremor. to suddenly remember Arch
a deep breath Of security and repoSe.
In the stiffness she heard the rum
bic of the coming storm. the peal
ing Of the thunder. the rising Of the
wind, the patter of the rain. Rain md
a-plenty there came many a time to
Hawley's Rest: wind and enough. But
never the wind that twisted the Haw-
ley oaks like that wind: never the light
ming that crashed into the Hawley
towers like that lightning. Men ran
hitler and yon in a panic. until there
came a bolt s. awful that it stunned
the household into quiet for an instant.
Then alarm deepened into tumult. A
running and Il calling. a quick. gentle
rap at ClariSSa's door.
"ClariSSa. Sweetheart! Wake. wake!
The Rest is on fire. Quick. my love-"
All the shock and the fear, drugged
by the certainty that he would bring
her safely through. the comfort OF Il
childish confidence deepened by the
delicious trust Of a wOman's love as
Archie, strong and quick. bundled her
into his arms and bore her swiftly
down the hall.
When he burst open the kitchen door
the roc glowed with a dazzling vel
low glare. Through the windows the
two could see the north wing, now Il
mass Of angry flames.
The courtyard thronged with hurry
ing men was bright as "oonday
Archie turning from Clarissa to shout
his orders. heard her scream.
"The lattice. the lattice, Archie:.' she
screamed. "Did YOU not see him.? The
Sin Eater"
where. where?'
at the iron lattice. 1t is gone.
saw his face"
Lighted for the last time by a circle
Of flame. the grim cross bars stared
hideously from the rough wall. and be
hind them again an awful demoniat
face. The visage Of dead Sir Richard
stamped on the features of Giles How
ard.
Above the cracking Of the flames
the hiss Of the rain. the roar Of the
wind, a cry. a horrid cry. They saw
him shake the red bars with A mani
ac's fury. Men felt the flesh part from
his bOny fingers. They saw the mp
railing face distorted in a %convulSiol
OF pain and terror. They saw the frotl
at his mouth and the gnashing of hi
teeth. \ puff OF black smoke hid, 70
an instant. the sickening sight. thcl
burst into a sea Of fame, but the fac
OF the Sin Enter was e e no more.
Only in the morning a handful o
charretl bones. And they buried then
under the hot ashes Of Hawley's Res,