The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-05-21

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where the others we're waiting. The
ashen-faced girl followed, her eyes
lowered, her gloved hands clenched.
Mrs. wrandall, the elder, kissed
Sara and drew her down beside her
on the couch. To her own surprise, as
well as that of the others, Sara broke
down and wept bitterly. After all,
she was sorry for Challis' mother. 1t
was the human instinct, she could not
hold out against 1t. And the older
woman put away the ancient grudge
she held against this mortal enemy
and dissolved into tears of real COM
passion.
A little later she whispered broken
ly in Sara's ear: my dear, my dear,
this has brought ue together. hope
you will learn to love me-"
Sara caught her breath, but uttered
no word. She looked into her mother
in-law's eyes, and smiled through her
tears. The Wrandalls, looking on in
amaze, saw the smile reflected in the
face of the older woman. Then it was
that Vivian crossed quickly and put
her arms about the shoulders Of her
sister-in-law. The white flag on both
sides.
Hetty Castleton stood alone and wa
vering, Just inside the door. No
stranger situation could be imagined
than the one in which this unfortunate
girl found herself at the present mo-
ment. She was virtually in the hands
Of those who would destroy her; she
was in the house of those who most
deeply we're affected by her act on
that fatal night. Among them all she
stood, facing them, listening to the
means and sobs, and yet her limbs did
not give way beneath her.
Some one gently touched her arm.
1t was Leslie. She shrank back, q
fearful look in her eyes. In the semi.
darkness he failed to note the expires.
sion
Wont you sit here?" he asked, in
dicating the little pink divan against
the wall. Forgive me for letting you
stand 80 long"
She looked about her, the wild light
still in her eyes, She was like a ra,
in a trap.
Her lips parted, but the word ol
thanks did not come forth. A strange
inarticulate sound, almost a gasp
came instead. Pallid as a ghost, she
! dropped Imply to the divan, and dug
her fingers into the satiny seat. As
II fascinated, she stared over the
! black heads of the three women imme
diately in front of her at the full
length portrait hanging where the
light from the hall fell upon it: the
portrait of dashing youth in riding
togs.
moment later Sara Wrandall came
over and sat beside her. The gir
shivered as with a mighty chill wher
the warm hand of her friend fell upor
hers and enveloped it in a firm clasp
His mother kissed me-" whispered
Sara. did you see?"
The girl could not reply. She coult
hatchet-faced man had come up from
below and was nodding his head tt
Leslie Wrandall-a man with shor
side whiskers, and a sepulchral lool
in his eyes. Then, having received 6
sign from Leslie, he tiptoed away. Al
most instantly the voices of people
singing softly came from some distan
remote part of the house.
And then, a little later, the per
fectly modulated voice of a man IL
prayer.
Back Of her, Wrandalls; beside her
Wrandalls; beneath her, friends of thu
Wrandalls; outside, the rabble, those
who would join with these black
raven-like specters in tearing her II
pieces If they but knew!
The droning voice came up from be
low, each well-chosen word distinc
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 {
conscious interest in her. He wal
duly sensible to the fact that she wal
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