Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-07-03

I we have been led to believe that you
lynch women here as readily az you
lynch men. now know better than
that. From you alone I learned my
greatest lesson. You revealed to me
the true meaning of human kindness.
You shielded me who should not
Even now I believe that your first
impulse was tender one. I shall
not forget 1t, Sara. You will live to
regret the baser thought that came
later on. l have loved you-yes. al
most as good dog loves his master.
1t 10 not for me to tell the story of
that night and all these months to
the world. ! would not be bAtraying
myself. but you. You would be called
upon to explain. not I. And you would
be the one to suffer. When you met
me ON the road that night I was on
my way back to the inn to give my
self into custody. You have made It
impossible for me to do 20 now. Ny
lips are sealed. It rests with you,
Sara"
Sara Joined her in the broad win
dow. There was . strangely exalted
look In her face. A gilded birdcage
hung Suspended in the easement With
out . word. she threw open the win
dow screen. The gay little canary In
the gilded cage cooked his head and
watched her with alert eyes. Then
she reached up and gently removed
the cage from its fastenings. Putting
1t down upon the window sill. che
opened the tiny door. The bird hoped
about his prison in q state of great
excitement.
Hetty looked on. fascinated.
At last q yellow streak shot out
through the open door and an instant
later resolved itself into the bobbing,
huttering dicky-bird that had lived
In q cage all its life without an hour
Of freedom. For q few seconds It
circled over the tree tops and then
alighted on one Of the branches. One
might well have imagined that he
could hear its tiny heart beating with
terror. Its wings were half-raised and
fiuttering. its head Jerking from side
to side in wild perturbation. Taking
courage. Master Dicky hoped timo-
rously to nearby twig. and then ven
tured flight to . tree top nearer the
window easement Perched In its top
most branches he cheeped shrilly, a.
II there was fear in his little breast.
In silence the two women In the
window watched the agitated move
ments Of the bird. The same thought
was In the mind Of each, the same
question. the same intense wish.
A brown thrush sped through the
air. close by the timid canary. Like
a fash It dropped to the twigs lower
down. it, wings palpitating in violent
alarm.
"Dicky!" called Sara wrandall. and
hen cheeped between her teeth.
A moment later Dicky was luttering
about tie caves: his circles grew
his winging less rhythmical,
Ill at last with q nervous little nutter
he perched on the top Of the window
shutter. % near that they might have
to him with their hands. He
'at there with his head cooked to one
tide.
"Dicky!" called Sara again. This
line she held out her finger. For some
line he regarded 1t with indifference,
lot to say disfavor. Then he touk one
more fight. but much shorter than the
irst. bringing up again at the shutter.
op. A second later he hoped down
md his little talons gripped Saras
niger with an earnestness that left
10 room for doubt.
She lowered her hand until It was
ven with the open door of the gilded
age. He shot inside with q whir that
q scramble. With his wings
olded. he sat on his little trapese
nd cheeped. She closed and fastened
he door. and then turned to Hetty.
my symbol" she said softly.
There were tears in Hetty's eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED