The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-23

we have been led to believe that you
lynch women here as readily as you
lynch men. I now know better than
that. From you alone I learned my
greatest lesson. You revealed to me
the true meaning of human kindness.
You shielded me who should not
Even now l believe that your first
impulse was a tender one. I shall
not forget it, Sara. You will live to
regret the baser thought that came
later on. l have loved you-yes, al
most as good dog loves his master.
1t Is not for me to tell the story Of
that night and all these months to
the world. / would not be betraying
| myself, but you. You would be called
upon to explain, not l. And you would
| be the one to suffer. When you met
me on the road that night I was on
my way back to the inn to give my
self into custody. You have made it
| impossible for me to do so now. My
lips are sealed. 1t rests with you,
Sara"
Sara joined her in the broad win
dow. There was strangely exalted
look in her face. A gilded birdcage
hung suspended in the easement With
out a word, she threw open the win
| dow screen. The gay little canary in
the gilded cage cooked his head and
watched her with alert eyes, Then
she reached up and gently removed
the cage from it's fastenings. Putting
it down upon the window sill, she
opened the tiny door. The bird hoped
| oh nc ~%o
excitement.
Hetty looked on, fascinated.
At last yellow streak shot out
through the open door and an instant
later resolved itself into the bobbing,
f1uttering dicky-bird that had lived
in cage all it's life without an hour
Of freedom. For a few seconds it
circled over the tree tops and then
alighted on one of the branches. One
might we'll have imagined that he
could hear its tiny heart beating with
terror. Its wings were half-raised and
f1uttering, it's head jerking from side
to side in wild perturbation Taking
courage, Master Dicky hoped timo
rously to a nearby twig, and then ven
tured flight to a tree top nearer the
window easement. Perched in it's top
most branches he cheeped shrilly, a.
, if there was fear in his little breast.
In silence the two women in til,
window watched the agitated move
ments of the bird. The same though
. was In the mind of each, the SAM,
!. question, the same intense wish.
A brown thrush sped through tn
nv 10
, a flash it dropped to the twigs lowe
down. its wings palpitating in violea
alarm.
"Dicky!" called Sara Wrandall, all,
then cheeped between her teeth
4 A moment later Dicky was f1utterin
about the caves; his circles grey
!. smaller, his wtnging less rhythmical
till at'last with a nervous little flute
d he perched on the top of the windo>
shutter, SO near that they might hav
q reached to him with their hands. II
sat there with his head cooked to on
a side.
r "Dicky!" called Sara again. Thi
f." time she held out her finger For som
IL time he regarded it with indifference
e not to say disfavor. Then he took on
more flight, but much shorter than tn
first, bringing up again at the shutter
d top. A second later he hoped dow
and his little talons gripped Sara
J. finger with an earnestness that lei
no room for doubt.
it She lowered her hand until it wa
even with the open door of the glide
cage. He shot inside with whir ths
o suggested scramble. With his wing
j. folded, he sat on his little trapez
If and cheeped. She closed and fastene
a. the door. and then turned to Hetty.
q my symbol" she said softly.
a There were tears in Hetty's eyes.
d (TO BE CONTINUED0