The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-05-14


dali in such self-contained way that
the three men looked at her in won
der. Then she came abruptly to her
feet. II is very late, gentlemen I
am ready to go upstairs, Mr. Sheriff"
I must warn you. madam, that Mr..
Drake Is reasonably certain that it is
your husband" said the coroner IN
comfortably. You may not be pre-
| pared for the shock that"
Il shall not faint, DR.. Sheet II it
| is my husband l shall ask you to leave
me alone in the room with him for a
little while" The final word trailed
out into long, tremulous wall. show
| ing how near she was to the breaking
point In her wonderful effort at self
control. The men looked away hast
lily. They heard her draw two or
three deep. quavering breaths; they
could almost feel the tension that she
was exercising over herself
The doctor turned after a moment
and spoke very gently, but with pro-
fess1onal hrmness. You must not
think OF venturing out in this wretched
night, madam. It would be the worst
kind of folly. Surely you will be
guided by me-by your own common
sense. Mrs. Burton will be with
YOU"
Thank you, DIR. Sheet" she inter
posed calmly. IF what we all fear
should turn out to be the truth,
could not stay here. l could not
breathe. l could not live. If, on the
other hand, Mr.. Drake is mistaken, l
shall stay. But II it is my husband,
cannot remain under the same roof
with him, even though he be dead. l
do not expect you to understand my
feelings. It would be asking too
much of men-too much"
Il think l understand" murmured
Drake.
Come" said the sheriff. arousing
himself with an effort.
She moved swiftly after him Drake
and the coroner, following close be-
hind with Mrs. Burton, could not take
their eyes from the slender, graceful
figure. She was a revelation to them
Feeling as they did that she was about
to be confronted by the most appalling
crisis imaginable, they could not but
marvel at her composure. brakes
, mind dwe1t on the stories of the guil1o
tine and the heroines who went up to
it in those bloody days without sc
much as culver Of dread. Somehow
to him, this woman was a heroine
They passed into the hall anG
mounted the stairs. At the far enc
, Of the corridor man was seated IL
front of closed door. He arose al
, the party approached. The sheriff
Gle I'D fov h i'm 70 r,
guarded. AS he did SO, chilly bias
! of air blew upon the faces of those il
> the hall. The curtains in the window
: of the room were Tapping and whip
ping In the wind. Mrs. Wrandal
J. caught her breath. For the briefes
. instant 1t seemed as though she wal
E on the point of faltering. She dropped
farther behind the sheriff, her limb:
5 suddenly stiff. her hand going out t.
the wall as if for support. The mex
moment she was moving forward res
olutely into the icy, dimly lighte.
I room.
: A single electric light cleaned II
y the corner beside the bureau. Nea
the window stood the bed. She wen
swiftly toward it, her eyes fastened
, upon the ridge that ran through tn
center of 1t: a still, white ridge tina
seemed without beginning or end.
. With nervous fingers the attendan
}. lifted the sheet at the head of tn
bed and turned 1t back. AS he let
fall across the chest of the dead maj
he drew back and turned his fac
away.
She bent forward and then straight
ened her figure to it's full height. with
out for an instant removing her gaz
D. from the face of the man who la
II before her: dark-ha1red man gray i
death, who must have been beautifu
to look upon in the flush Of life.
For a long time she stood Their