Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-07-30

swiftly to the table. In another In
slant the work Of many months would
have been torn to bits OF waste paper
But his hand was stayed. Someone
had stopped outside his door. He could
not hear a sound and yet he knew thai
a hand was on the heavy latch. He sud
denly recalled his remark to the OLD
men. He would have to write the maj
chapter after all.
He waited. He knew that she was
out there, collecting all OF her strength
for the coming interview. She was
f~ortifying herself against the crisis
that was so near at hand. To his own
surprise and distress of mind. he founo
himself trembling and suddenly de-
| prived OF the fierce energy that he a
stored up for the encounter. He won
dered whether he would command the
situation after all, Notwithstanding MS
righteous charge against her. She had
wantonly sought to entice Frederic
she had planned to dishonor her nus
'h~ 1880 .
band-she had proved herself unwhoie-
some and false and her heart was eVii'
And vet he wondered whether ne
would be able to stand his ground
against her.
SO far she had ruled. At the outse'
he had attempted to assert his au
thority as the master of the mouse IL
this trying, heart-breaking hour ano
she had calmly waved him aside. Hif
first thought had been to take his
proper place at the bedside OF his VIC
tim and there to remain until the emo
but she had said: you are not TO e
in. You have done enough for one day
II he must die, let 1t be In peace ane
not In fear. You are not to go IN,
and he had crept away to hide! he re
membered her words later on whei
Holder sent for him to come down
mot in fear" she had said.
On the edge Of the table, where !
had reposed since Doctor Hodde
dropped 1t there, was the small photo
graph of Matilde. He had not touche'
it, but he had bent over 1t for man
minutes at a time, studying the sweet
acknowledgement, and yet curiousl
unfamiliar features Of that long-ag'
loved one. He looked at 1t now as h
waited for the door to open, and nj
thoughts leaped back to the las
glimpse he had ever had OF that adol
able face. Then it was white with az
SPAR and ~misery-here 1t looked up a
him with smiling eyes and the languo
, Of unbroken tranquility.
He clenched his strong, lean hand
to keep them from shaking. A me-
wonder filled him as he allowed hi
I eyes to measure the distance to tn
! floor and to sweep the strong, powerf'
frame that trembled and was cold. II
}, vas a giant in strength and yet b
trembled at the approach of this slel
der. frail creature who paused at h
gates to gather courage for the attack
I He was sorely afraid and he could nj
understand his fear. With one OF h
a sinewy hands he could crush the III
O out OF her slim, white throat-and y
4 he was afraid of her-physicaiiy afra
Of her.
v Suddenly he realized that the roo
10 was quite dark. He dashed to the wi
d dow and threw aside the broad, thi'
n curtains. A stream Of afternoon su
% shine rushed into the Don He wou
N have light this time; he would not
"a deceived by the darkness, as he hi
70 been once before. This time he won
r. see her face plainly. There should
20 no sickening illusion. He s%traighten
his tall figure and waited for the do