Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-04-07
CHAPTER LII.
The Old Adam.


back, Judith stared at the figure in
the doorway, in a temper at once dis
eomfited and defiant. With this she
suffered a phase of incredulity, was
scarce able to persuade herself that
this was truly Rose who confronted
her-Rose whose sweet and gentle
nature had ever served as the butt
OF Judith's contempt and ruthless
ridicule
Here was revolution with a venge-
ance, when Rose threatened and
Judith shrank.
1t was as if the women had ex.
changed natures while they slept
The countenance that Rose showed
her sister was a thundercloud rent
by the lurid lightning of her angry
eyes. Her pose was tense and alert,
like the pose of an animal set to
spring. In her hand hung a revolver.
the same (Judith's hand sought the
holster at her hip and found it empty
that her sister had worn and for
gotten to remove when she dropped.
halfdea with fatigue. upon the bed.
And slowly, toward the end of that
long, mute minute. the girls grasp
frightened upon the grip of the weapon
and its muzzle lifted
Remarking this a flash of her one
time temper quickened Judith. OF a
sudden. with start, she crossed the
floor in a single, noiseless stride. and
threw herself before her sister.
'Well?" she demanded holly. What
are you waiting for? Nobody's stop
ping you: wig don't you shoot?"
The upward movement of the hand
was checked: the weapon hung level
to Judith's hreast-as level and I'M
equivocal as the glance that probed
her eyes ana the tone of Roses voice
as she demsnded
What were you doing there?"
IF you must know from me what
you alreads know On the evidence of
your eyes--I was bidding goodby to
the man / love-kissing him without
his knowledge or consent before leav-
ing him tc you for good and ALT"
What do you mean?"
THAT Pm going away-that can't
stand this situation any longer. Mario
plat and Jimmy are dead, my fathers
helpless--and l mean to see that he
remains so. Nothing, then, stands In
the way of your marrying Alan but
me. And such being the case-and
because he's as dear to me as he is
to you-Im going to take myself off
and keep out of the way"
For fear lest he find out that you
love him."
Judiths lip curled. DO you think
him so witless he doesn't know that
already"
And so you leave him to me out of
your charity! Is that it?"
ANY way you like. But If it's so
intolerable to you to think that dare
love him and confess it to you--if
you begrudge me the humiliation of
STOPPING to kiss a man who doesn't
want my kisses-if you are so afraid
of losing him while | live and love
him-very well, them"
With passionate gesture Judith
tore open the bosom of her waist,
offering her flesh to the muzzle of the
revolver.
A cry broke from the lips Of Rose
that was like the cry of forlorn child
punished with cruelty that passes its
understanding. She fell back against
the wall The revolver swept up
through the air-but its mark was
her own head rather than Judiths
bosom.
But before her finger found strength
TO pull the trigger the man at the
table, startled from his sleep by the
sound of angry voices, leaped from
his chair with violence that sent it
Gathering to the floor, and hurled him
self headlong across the rom, i'm
prisoning the wrist of his ,,etrothed
with one hand while the other wrested
the weapon away and passed it to
Judith.
"Rose!" he cried thickly, what does
this mean? Are you mad? Judith"
Dragging the bosom of her waist
together. Judith thrust the weapon
into its holster and turned away.
BE kind to her. Alan" she said In
an uncertain voice: She didn't under
stand and--and goaded her beyond
endurance, I'm afraid Forgive me-
but be kind to her always!"
Somehow, blindly. she stumbled out
of the cabin into the open, possessed
by a thought whose temptation was
stronger than her powers Of resist
snce What Rose had failed to &C
complish might now serve to resolve
Judith's problem. . None, she told
herself. bitterly, would seek to hinder
her. But she meant so TO arrange the
matter that none should see OF sus-
pect and be moved to interfere.
Round the shoulder of the noun
tsin, on the road along the edge Of the
sIiff, she was sure of freedom from
observation.
And yet, such is the inconsistency
Gf the human animal, the instinct for
self preservation vas stronger thar
ner purpose: when touring car swung
round the mountain and shot toward
nsr. she checked herself hastily and
Jumped aside in ample time to escape
being run down.
The next instant the machine was
lUrching to a halt and the sonorous
sccents Of Seneca Urine were saluting
Ter:
Judith! You herei What the deviIi
Where've ye been? Where are Mario
phat and JimmyT'