Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-05-07

only stare at the open door, A small,
hatchet-faced man had come up from
below and was nodding his head to
Leslie Wrandall--a man with short
side whiskers, and sepulchral look
In his eyes. Then, having received a
sign from Leslie. he tiptoed away. AL
most instantly the voices of people
singing softly came from some distant
remote part OF the house.
And then. little later, the per-
fectly modulated voice of a man in
prayer.
Back OF her. Wrandalls; beside her.
Wrandalls; beneath her, friends of the
Wrandalls; outside, the rabble, those
who would join with these black.
raven-like specters in tearing her to
pieces II they but knewl
The droning voice came UP from be-
low. each well-chosen word distinct
and clear: tribute beautiful to the IRE
proachable character Of tho deceased.
Leslie watched the face of the girl.
curiously fascinated by the set. emo
tionless features, and yet without a
conscious interest In her. He was
duly sensible to the fact that she was
beautiful, uncommonly beautiful. 1t
did not occur to him to feel that che
was out Of plsce among them, that she
belonged dcwn stairs. Somehow she
was part OF the surroundings. like
the specser at the feast
II he could have witnessed all that
transpired while Sara was In the room
below with her guest-her companion,
as he had come to regard her without
having in fact been told as much-he
would have been lost in a maze of the
most overwhelming emotions
To go back The door had barely
closed behind the two women when
Hetty's trembling knees gave way be-
meath her. With low moan of hor-
ror, she slipped to the floor, covering
her face with her hands.
Sara knelt beside her
Come" she said gently, but firmly;
II must exact this much of you. II
we are to go on together, as we have
planned, you must stand beside me at
his bier. Together we must look upon
him for the last time. You must see
him as / saw him up there In the
country. had my cruel blow that
night. 1t is your turn now. will not
blame you for what you did. But If
you expect me to go on believing that
you did a brave thing that night, you
must convince me that you are not
coward now. 1t is the only test shall
put you to. Come; / know 1t is hard,
know 1t is terrible, but 1t is the true
test Of your ability to 90 through with
1t to the end. shall know then that
you have the courage to face anything
that may come up"
She waited long time, her hand on
the girls shoulder. At last Hetty
arose.
You are right" she said hoarsely.
Il should not be. afraid"
Later on they sat over against the
wall beyond the casket, into which
they had peered with widely varying
emotions. Sara had said:
You know that loved him"
The girl put her hands to her eyes
and bowed her head
"Oh. how can you be so merciful
to me?"
Because he was not" said Sara.
white-lipped. Hetty glanced at the
half-averted face with queer, indescrib-
able expression in her eyes.
II Leslie Wrandall could have looked
in upon them at that moment, or at
any time during the half an hour that
followed, he would have known who
was the slayer of his brother. but 1t
is doubtful If he could have had the
heart to denounce her to the world.
When they were ready to leave the
room Hetty had regained control of