Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-07-17

Don't speak! Think first-think well,
Brandon Booth. 1t is what you have
been seeking for months-the truth.
You share the secret with us now.
Again / ask, is it safe with your"
My God!" he muttered again, and
passed his hand over his eyes. His
brow was wet. He looked at his fin
gers dumbly as If expecting to find
them covered with blood.
"Is it safe with your" for the third
time.
Safe? Safer" he whispered, follow
ing her example without knowing that
he did so. II can't believe yous
Sara. 1t can't be true"
1T is true"
"You have known-all this timer"
From that night>when l stood where
we are standing nov.
"And-and-sheTS
81 had never seen her until that
night. | saved her"
He dropped suddenlyNupon the trunk
that stood behind him, aga buried MS
face in his hands. For long time
she stood over him, her intSSest diV1d-
ed between him and the hall, wherein
lay their present peril.
Come" she said at last. Pull your
self together. We must leave tbs
place. If you are not careful they
will suspect something downstairs"
He looked up with haggard eyes,
studying her face with curious inteS
ness.
What manner of woman are YOU
Sara?" he questioned, slowly, Won
deringly.
Il have just discovered that l am
very much like other women, after
all, she said For awhile l thought
l was different, that l was stronger
than my sex. But am just as weak,
just as much to be pitied, just as
much to be scorned as any one Of my
sisters. l have spoiled a great act
by STOPPING to do mean one. God
will bear witness that my thoughts
were noble at the outset; my heart
was soft. But come! There is much
more TO tell that cannot be told here.
You shall know everything"
They went downstairs and out into,
the crisp autumn air. She gave direc-
lions to her chauffeur. They were
to traverse for some distance the same
road she had taken on that Inflated
night year and a half before. In.
course of time the motor approached,
well-remembered railway crossing.
SLOW down, Cole" she said. This
is mean place-a very mean place"
Turning to Booth who had been sit
ting grim and silent beside her for
miles, she said, lowering her voice: "T
remember that crossing yonder. There,
is sharp curve beyond. This is the,
place. Midway between the two
crossings, l should say. Please re-
member this part Of the road, Bran
don, when l come to the telling of
that nights ride to town. Try to pic
ture this spot-this smooth, straight
road as it might be on dark, freezing
night in the very thick of a screaming
blizzard, with all the world abed save
two women"
In his mind he began to draw the
picture, and to place the two women
in the center of it, without knowing
the circumstances. There was some
thing fascinating in the study he was
making, something gruesome and full
Of sinister possibilities for the hand
of virile painter. He wondered how
near his Imagination was to placing
the central figures in the picture as
they actually appeared on that secret
night.
At sunset they went together to the
little pavilion at the end of the pier
which extended far out into the sound.
Here they were safe from the ears
of eavesdroppers. The boats had been
slowed away for the winter. The
wind that blew through the open pa
vilion, now shorn Of all its comforts
and luxuries, was cold, raw and repel-
ling No one would disturb them here.
With her face set toward the sinking
east, she leaned against one of the
thick posts, and in dull, emoionless
voice, laid bare the whole story of that
dreadful night and the days that fol-
lowed. She spared no details, she
spared not herself in the narration.
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