The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-07-01
CHAPTER xii.-(contInued.)

CHAPTER xii.-(Contlnued.)
The acute question. pierced deep.
Out Of Stanton's suffering leaped the
truth In a cry of vehement passion
and force.
Il do not know! Jessica, Jessica,
do not know! want both. love
you. I want you for my wife; left with
him. would have missed you. II
cared for you because you were like
him. II I see him now in you. what
matter? / tell you | want you. but I
shall want him all my life want the
one who rode beside me. the one who
stood with me through rough or
smooth. the one who knew me and |
him want my comrade. Jes Floyd"
The naked strength Of pain. the
fierce cutlery OF savage bereavement
left the atmosphere swept to primi-
tive clarity. free of all small things.
The girl drew herself erect, even her
lips colorless in her absolute pallor
but her eyes meeting him on his own
ground Of desperate honesty. and
raised her hands to her head.
Stanton saw her lace sleeves fall
back. and zigzag scar start into
view on her slender left arm. Like
bands Of silk ribbon she unwound the
heavy braids OF hair and flung them
aside, letting mass OF short, boyish.
bronze curls tumble about her fore
head.
There was no mistake possible. ever
again. He did not know that he spoke.
yet his cry reached the street below.
Floyd! Floyd"
II am Floyd"
You"
IT am Jessica."
The room reeled giddily. his vision
blurred. And as his composure went
down in chaos. her courage rose up to
aid his need.
You're goin' to take 1t hard" COM
FASHIONED her earnest voice. i've
been dom wrong to you. while
thought was only hurtin' myself. I'm
sorry."
The lisp, the soft excitement.born
accent so blent with memories of
splendid peril and comrade risk. fell
on ready ears.
Cod" breathed Stanton. and sank
into chair, dropping his face upon
his arm as II rested on the little tea.
table.
You've got to bear IL; there's only
me. But that's the only way I've de-
eeived you, Stanton" The rustic OF
her dress came strangely with his
name in those clear tones. IAN that
| told you of my life is true. except
Jes. My father had to have a son. an
he made me one. At first. when was
little. II was for fun he called me Jes
when | had my boy-clothes on. an
played there were two OF us. But
when We found that all the country
side. all the factory hands. every one
except my nurse believed Jes and
Jessiea twins. We let II go on. II
made II easier for him in trainin' me
to be his partner. For he said was
man.ht for that. SO Jes studied an
raced an worked with him all day: in
tho evcnin' Jessica wore frocks and
frilis. We lived alone In the big
house; IL was so easy, | used to dark
en- my skin bit: that was all. You're
not hstenm'-you want time to think
II out"
lie neither moved nor contradicted. |
Time for readjustment he did need.
for realization of this and himself. !
Standing. a slim. upright figure, she
gave IL TO him. waiting while the little
Swiss clock on the mantle chartered |
through many minutes.
When my father died" she re-
sumed. at last. after found out that
I wasn't goin' to die. toe, ! saw Jes
was able to earn his Twin while Jes-
sica was liable 10 starve. had II In
Nv blood 10 love that WORK. suppose;