Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-04-16

must not go to the inn"
You know" faltered the girl.
Yes. You poor thing!" There was
infinite pity in her voice.
The sirl laid her head on her arms.
Mrs. Wrandall sat above her, look
ing down, held mute by warning emo
tons. The impossible had come to
| pass. The girl for whom the whole
world would be searching in day or
| two, had stepped out of the unknown
| and, by the most whimsical jest of
! fate, into the custody Of the one per
son most interested OF all In that self
same world. It was unbelievable. She
| wondered II it were not a dream, or
the hallucination Of an overwrought
mind. Spurred by the sudden doubt
as to the reality of the object before
her, she stretched out her hand and
! touched the girls shoulder.
! Instantly she looked up. Her nm
gers sought the friendly hand and
clasped it tightly
"Oh, II you will only take me to the
city with you! II you only give me
the chance" she cried hoarsely. Il
don't know what impulse was driv
| ing me back there, l only know
could not help myself. You really
mean it? You will take me with your"
YES. Don't be afraid. Come. Get
in" said the woman in the car rapidly
"You-you are real?'
The girl did not hear the strange
| question. She was hurrying around
to the opposite side of the car. AS
she crossed before the lamps, Mrs.
WrandalI noticed with dulled inter
est that her garments were covered
with mud; her small, comely hat was
in sad disorder; loose wisps of hair
futtered with the unsightly veil. Her
hands, she recalled, were clad in thin
suede gloves. She would be half
frozen. She had been out in all this
terrible weather perhaps since the
hour of her fight from the inn.
The odd feeling of pity grew strong
er within her She made no effort to
analyze it, nor to account for it. Why
should she pity the slayer of her hus'
band? 1t was question unasked, I'M
considered. Afterwards she was tc
ACSdll tiilo nun dIO- ltS Dbl 0h6C ILL
pulses, and to realize that 1t was not
pity, but mercy that moved her to do
the extraordinary thing that followed.
Trembling all over, her teeth chat
tering, her breath coming in short lit
tie means, the girl struggled up be-
side her and fell back in the seat.
Without word, Sara Wrandall drew
the great buffalo robe over her and
tucked it in about her feet and legs
far up about her body, which had
slumped down in the seat.
You are very, very good" chartered
the girl almost inaudibly. II shall new
er forget" She did not complete the
sentence, but sat upright and fixed her
gaze on her companions face. You
you are not doing this just to turn
me over toto the police? They must
be searching for me. You are not
going to give me up to them, are you:
There will be reward -"
There is no reward" said Sara
Wrandall sharply. Il do not mean to
give you up. | am simply giving you
a chance to get away have always
felt sorry for the fox when the time
for the kill drew near. That's the
way feel"
"Oh, thank you! Thank you! But
what am saying? Why should l per
nit you to do this for me? | meant to
go back there and have it over with
know / can't escape. 1t will have to
come, 1t is bound to come Why put
it off? Let them take me, let them
do what they will with me. +"
Hush! Well see First of all, ur. \
derstand me: | shall not turn you
over to the police. will give you the
chance. l will help you l can dc
no more than that"
But why should you help me? T.
I-oh, | can't let you do it! You do
not understand. I-have-committe
a-terrible-" she broke of with q
groan
4 understand said the other. soma
thing like grimness in her level tones
4 have been tempted more than once
myself The enigmatic remark made
no impression on the listener.
I wonder how long ago it was tina
It all happened" muttered the girl, as
If to herself. 1T seems ages-oh
such ages"
Where have you been hiding since
last night?' asked Mrs Wrandan,
throwing in the clutch The car start.
ed forward with jerk, kicking up ths
snow behind it.
Was 1t only last night? Oh, I've
Deem" The thought OF her suffer
ings from exposure and dread was too
much for the wretched creature. She
broke out in soft wall
You've been out in all this wealth.
err" demanded the other.
! lost my way. In the hills back
there ! don't know where was
Had you no place Of shelter?'
Where could I seek shelter?