Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-07-16
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a away Win Cnat last ugly thought OIL
4me, with the thought of me as ap-
/ peared to her on that last, enlighten-
/ ing day. All these months it has been
growing more horrible to her. 1t has
been beside her all the time. All
| these months she has known that
! pretended to love her as"
Il don't believe you know Hetty as
well as you think you do" he broke
in. you forget that she loved you
| with all her soul. You can't kill love
SO easily as all that. 1t will be all
! right, Sara. You must write and ask
! her to come back. It"
All, but you don't know!" Then
she related the story Of the liberated
canary bird. "Hetty understands. The
cage door is open. She may return
| when she chooses, but-don't you see?
she must come of her own free
will"
"You will not ask her to Gomez" .
mo. 1t Is the test She will know
that have told you everything. You
will go to her. Then she may under
stand. II she forgives she will come
back. There is nothing else to say,
nothing else to consider"
Il shall go to her at once" he said
resolutely.
She gave him a quick, searching
glance.
"She may refuse to marry you, even
now, Brandon"
She cant!" he cried An instant
later his face fell. by Jove, II sup
pose the law will have to be consid-
cred now. She will at least have to
60 through the form of trial"
She whirled on him angrily The
law? What has the law to do with
1t? Don't be a fool"
"She ought to be legally exoner-
ated." he said.
Her fingers gripped his arm hercely.
Il want you to understand one thing.
Brandon. The story / have told you
was for your ears alone. The secret
lives with US and dies with us"
He looked his relief Right! II
must go no farther. 1t is not mat.
ter for the law to decide You may
trust me-"
Il am cold" she said. He heard
her teeth chatter distinctly as she
pulled her thick mantle closer about
her throat and shoulders. 1T is very
raw and wet down here. Comet"
| AS she started off along the long,
narrow pier. he sprang after her,
grasping her arm She leaned rather
heavily against him for few steps
and then drew herself up. Her teeth
still chartered, her arm trembled in
his clasp.
by Jove, Sara, this is bad" he
cried, in distress. You're chilled to
the marrow"
Nerves" she retorted, and he some
how felt that her lips were set and
drawn.
"You must get to bed right away
Hot bath, mustard, and all that I'll
not stop for dinner. Thanks Just the
same. will be over in the morn
ing"
when will you sail?" she asked.
after moment.
Il can't go for ten days, at least
My mother goes into the hospital next
week for an operation. as I've told you.
l can't leave until after that's ovzr
Nothing serious, but--well, l can't 70
away. / shall write to Hetty tonight,
and cable her tomorrow. BY the way,
IL don't know Just where to find her
You see, we were not to write to esGh
other. 1t was In the bargain. l sup-
pose you don't know how can"
Yes, l can tell you precisely where
abe Is. She is In Venice, but leaves
there for Rome, by the Express"
Then you have been hearing from
herr" he cried sharply.
much: there has not been day since
she landed In England that l have net
received news of her. / have not
been out Of touch with her, Brandon,
not even for an hour"
Good heaven, Sara! You don't
snean to say you've had her Swallowed
by--by detectives" he exclaimed,
aghast.
Not directly. But l will say this
Her maid is very faithful sery-
ant. was her ambiguous rejoinder.