The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-05-14

men in New York. But suppose you
know that without my telling you"
The girl sank back with groan.
"My God, what have I done? What
will come of 1t all?"
"I wish l could answer that ques-
tion," said the other, taking the girls
hand in hers. Both we're trembling.
After an instants hesitation, she laid
her other hand in the dark, dishevelled
hair of the wild-eyed creature, who
still continued to stare at the head
lines. Il am quite sure they will not
look for you here, or in my home"
"In your homer"
"You are to go with me. l have
thought it all over. 1t is the only way.
Come, must ask you to pull yourself
together. Get up at once, and dress.
Here are the things you are to wear"
She indicated the orderly pile of gar
ments with q wave of her hand.
Slowly the girl crept out Of bed, con-
fused, bewildered, stunned.
Where are my own things? IL
cannot accept these. Pray give me my
own"
Mrs. Wrandall checked her.
"You must obey me, II you expect
me to help you. Don't you understand
that have had IA bereavement?
cannot wear these things now. They
are useless to me. But we will speak
of all that later on Come, be quick;
will help you to dress. First, go to
the telephone and ask them to send
waiter to-these rooms. We must have
something to eat Please do as l tell
you"
Standing before her benefactrees,
her fingers fumbling impotently at the
neck of the night-dress, the girl still
continued to stare dumbly into the
calm, dark eyes before her.
"You are so good. IL"
LET me help you," interrupted the
other, deliberately setting about to re-
move the night-dress. The girl caught
It up as 1t slipped from her shoulders,
warm flush suffusing her face,
shamed look springing into her eyes,
Thank you, / can-get on very
well. l only wanted to ask you a
u,
waking and sleeping. Can you tell me
anything about-do you know his
wife?"
The question was so abrupt, so start
ling that Mrs. Wrandall uttered a
sharp little cry. For a moment she
could not reply.
Il am so sorry, so desperately sorry
or odI ha xtrI la{,
Il know her." the other managed to
say with an effort.
''If l had only known that he had a
wife" began the girl bitterly, almost
angrily.
Mrs. Wrandall grasped her by the
arm. You did not know that he had
a wife?" she cried
The girls eyes flashed with sud-
den, fierce fire in their depths.
God In heaven, no! did not know
1t until Oh, can't speak of it! Why
should I tell you about 1t? Why
should you be interested in hearing
it?"
Mrs. Wrandall drew back and re-
garded the girls set, unhappy face.
L
that escaped the others notice-a
light that would have puzzled her not
little.
"But you will tell me-everything-
little later" she said, strangely calm.
Not now, but-before many hours
have passed. First of all, you must
tell me who you are, where you live
everything except what happened in
Burton's inn. / don't want to hear
that at present-perhaps never. Yes,
on second thoughts, l will say never!
You are never to tell me just what
happened up there, or just what led
up to it. Do you understand? Never!"
The girl stared at her in amaze
ment But IL must tell some one,"
she cried vehemently. 81 have right
to defend myself"
Il am not asking you to defend your
SELF" said Mrs. Wrandan shortly.
Then, as If afraid to remain longer,
she rushed from the room. In the
doorway, she turned for an instant to
say: DO as l told you. Telephone.
Dress as quickly as you can." She
closed the door swiftly.
Standing in the center of the room,
her hands clenched until the nails cut
the flesh, she said over and over again
to herself 81 don't want to know! !
don't want to know!"
A few minutes later she was critical
ly inspecting the young woman who
came from the bedroom attired in a
street dress that neither of them had
ever donned before. The girl, looking
fresher, prettier and even younger
than when she had seen her last, was
in no way abashed. She seemed to
have accepted the garments and the
situation in the same spirit of resigna-
tion and hope; as If she had decided
to make the most of her slim chance
to profit by these amazing circum-
stances.
They sat opposite each other at the
little breakfast table.
Please pour the Coffee" said Mrs.
all rr1lx I-a