Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-05-22
raven-like specters in tearing her TO
pieces IL they but knew!

The droning voice came up from be-
low, each well-chosen word distinct
and clear: tribute beautiful to the IRE
proachable character Of the deceased.
Leslie watched the face OF the girl.
curiouely 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 she
was out Of place among them. that she
belonged down stairs. Somehow she
was a part Of the surroundings. like
the specter at the feast
II he could have witnessed all that
transpired while Sara was In the room
below with her guest-her companion.
az he had come to regard her without
having in fact been told as much-he
would have been lost in q maze of the
most overwhelming emotions.
To 60 back: The door had barely
closed behind the two women when
Hetty's trembling knees gave way be-
meath her. With a 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 60 on together, as we have
planned, you must stand beside me u
his bier. Together we must look upon
him for the last time. You must see
him a. l saw him up there In the
country. ! had my cruel blow that
night. It Is your turn now. l will moi
blame you for what you did. But II
you expect me to 60 on believing that
you did q brave thing that night. you
must convince me that you are not
coward now. 1t Is the only test shall
put you to. Come; l know 1t is hard
l know It is terrible. but 1t Is the true
test of your ability to 90 through with
It to the end. shall know then thai
you have the courage to face anything
that may come up"
She waited a long time, her hand or
the girls shoulder. At last Hetty
arose.
"You are right" she said hoarsely
Il should not be afraid"
Later on they sat over against thu
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 eye
and bowed her head.
"Oh. how can you Be 20 mercifu
to met"
Because he was not" said Sara
white-lipped. Hetty glanced at tn
half-averted face with queer. indescrih
able expression in her eyes.
| II Leslie Wrandall could have looke'
in upon them at that moment, or q
any time during the half an hour tina
followed, he would have known VIII
was the slayer Of his brother. but
10 doubtful II he could have had tn
heart to denounce her to the world.
When they were ready to leave tn
room Hetty had regained control o
her nerves to q most surprising extent
q condition unmistakably due to tn
influence of the older woman.
Il can trust myself now. Mr.. Wrar
DALI" said Hetty steadily as they hes
itated for an instant before turnin
the knob of the door.
Then I shall ask you to open tn
door," said Sara, drawing back.
Without q word or q look, Hett
opened the door and permitted tn
other to pass out before her. The
she followed. closing 1t gently. eve
deliberately. but not without q swii
glance over her shoulder into tn
depths Of the room they were leaving
OF the two, Sara Wrandall was tn
paler as they went up the broad stall
case with Leslie.
The funeral grafton by the Rev. d.
Maltby dragged on. Among all hi
hearers there was but one who b,
lieved the things he said of Challi
Wrandall, and she was one of two Pc
sons who. so they saying goes. ar