Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-05-01
CHAPTER II.-continued.

CHAPTER II.-Continued.
There was nothing left for me to
do but that"
And why did you rob him."
"Ah, had ample time to think Of all
that. You may tell the officers they
will find everything hidden in that
farmhouse cellar. God knows l do not
want them. am not thief. I'm not
so bad as that"
Mrs Wrandall marveled. Not so
bad as that" And she was murder
Jss, a wanton!
you are hungry. You must be fam
tshed"
No, l am not hungry. l have not
thought of food" She said it in such
a way that the other knew what her
whole mind had been given over to
since the night before.
fresh impulse seized her. you
shall have food and a place where you
can sleep-and rest" she said. Now
please don't say anything more. l do
not want to know too much. The least
you say tonight, the better for-for
both of u.s."
With that she devoted all of her at
tention to the car, increasing the
speed considerably. Far ahead she
could see twinkling, will-o -the-wisp
lights, the first signs of thickly popu-
lated districts. They we're still eight
or ten miles from the outskirts of the
city and the way was arduous. She
was conscious of sudden feeling of
fatigue. The chill of the night seemed
to have made itself felt with abrupt,
almost Supplying force. She won
dered if she could keep her strength,
her courage-her nerves.
The girl was English. Mrs. Wran-
dali was convinced of the fact, almost
Immediately. Enthusiastically English
and apparently of the cultivated type.
In fact, the peculiarities of speech
that determines the London show-girl
Or music-hall character were wholly
lacking Her voice, her manner, even
under such trying conditions, were
characteristic of the English woman
of cultivation. Despite the dreadful
strain under which she labored, there
were evidences of that curious Sc
renity which marks the English wom-
an of the better classes; an Unborn
Romposure, 9 calm orderliness of the
emotions. Mrs Wrandall was con-
ecious of sense of surprise, of
wonder that increased as her thoughts
resolved themselves into something
hess chaotic than they were at the time
CT contact with this visible condition.
For mile or more she sent the car
along with reckless disregard for COM
fort or safety. Her mind was cropping
for something tangible in the way Of
attentions. What was she to do with
this creature? What was to become
of her? At what street corner should
she turn her adrift? The idea of
handing her over to the police did
Ect enter her thoughts for an instant
Somehow she felt that the girl was
stranger to the city. She could not
explain the feeling, yet it was with
aer and very persistent. Of course,
there was a home of some sort, or
lodgings, or friends, but would he girl
6ere show herself in familiar haunts?
She found herself wondering why
the poor wretch had not made way
7rith herself. Escape seemed out of
tie question. That must have been
aiear to her from the beginning, else
Why was she going back there to give
ssrself up? What better way out of
II than self-destruction. She would
slvise the girl to leave the car when
they reached the center of a certain
bridge that spanned the river! No one
would find her.
Even as the thought took shape in
hDr mind, she experienced great
sense of awe, so overwhelming that
she cried out with the horror of it.
She turned her head for quick glance
at the mute, wretched face showing
white above the robe, and her heart
ached with sudden pity for her. The
thought OF that slender, alive thing
going down to the icy waters-her
soul turned sick with the dread of it!
In that instant, Sara Wrandall-no
philanthropist, no sentimentalist-
made W her mind to give this erring
one more than an even chance for sal
vstion. She would see her safely
across that bridge and many others
God had directed the footsteps of this
girl so that she should fall in with
the one best qualified to pass judg.
nent on her. 1t was in that persons
power to save her or destroy her. The
commandment, Thou shalt not kill,
took on a broader meaning as she con
sidered the power that was hers; the
power to kill.
A great relaxation came over Sara
Wrandall. 1t was as if every nerve
every muscle in her body hau reached
the swapping point and suddenly had
given way. For moment her hands
were weak and powerless; her head
fell forward. In an instant she
conquered - but only partially-the
strange feeling of lassitude. Then she
realized how tired she was, how fierce
" the strain had told on her body anG