The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-05-08
CHAPTER XIX.
The vu,n.rsble Heel.

| II was cleaI morning.. the
sun shining brilliantly The
peace Of the Sabbath lay over all.
Along Main street moved. with sedate
stride. the weekly procession Of church.
goers Not even the news which they
would receive IL church. that Warren
Blake bad dropped dead Of heart fail
ure grim ;est!- would disturb theil
gravity. For the news would he &C
companied by assurances from Senator
Aurcheli and Stephen Hampden tina,
the bank would I've in nowise affected
John rose from his seat by the win
dow and. Obedent to the command OF
habit. made IFS morning toilet When
be was dressed he returned to the win
dow. He w;s very tired His WILL as
though Worn out by the scene and
struggle Of the night. could not shake
Cd the heavy mental and physical lassi
tude that oppressed him. Once he tried
to recall the horror he had seen. but
his inert mind baked ~
With sluggish curiosity he watched
the figure Of a woman waIkinGs dOSr
the street Not until she turned In al
the gate did he recognize her. There
was 10 glad start: On the contrary, a
muttered. queruloUs protest ESCAPED
him. He did not wish to zee her lust
then.
Reluctantly he rose and went down t
the library. She was standing at d
southern window through which the
sun poured a golden food She heard
him enter and turned He halted Jus,
within the door. For moment. sifenf
they looked at each other across the
sunlit room
1t was she who. with the brave al
RICHNESS that had always been hers
6rst broke the silence.
II have heard what-what happened
last night. And have come to ask
you to do nothing that will harm my
father"
Unc0nsciously his face darkened, /,
was not because Of her request. but
because Of the picture she recalled
II suppose It was for that You
have He would have said. no need
70 ask" But she misunderstood and
Interrupted quickly.
Il have no right to ask thIs-or any
thing of you? ! know that. more
clearly than You can tell me. nut
zen In the way of unhappiness and
then chose ngainst vou for thinqs-for
things Of no value. II may give you
some satisfaction to know that they
are cone-thongh you can hardly be
lteve that the taste for them went
6rst.
"l-my father and Senator Murcbell.
the men who will profit by your
silence, deserve nothing at your hands.
at anybody's. ! can't pretend that
they would show mercy to you. But
my father. at least, is a broken man.
Last night took away his courage. He
believes that he II responsible for War
rem Blakess"
mo- She saw him shudder and
draw back NO! |. with my rash
ness, am to blame for that"
"Ah! you mustn't say that" she
| @sSOA q olcp iOINNTu, eager III Ms Oef
Tense. II know what you've been
through and how 1t must have given
you the horrors. But you mustn't say
that. Nobody could think It. You
only did Your duty. But I'm afraid
for him. He is half crazed from fear
and shock. think - couldn't endure
many more nights like last night. I'm
afraid. II II all comes out. he'll take
Warren Blake's way OUT
'Don't"' he cried roughly. az ~
pain. "I've gone over II ALL
'1'm not trying to brighten you. And
didn't want to- to come to you." The
steadiness was leaving her. She
thought she saw In his lack OF ~,
Spouse hostile determination, III
have no right to ask man such a.
you are-to sacrifice himself. his ron
science for snch man. can ofYer
mono adequate return. hut he IL my
father and It is MOTT can not be II,
very wrong to err on the aide 81
lmercy. And once you said-you