The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-04-09
CHAPTER xlli-continued.

courteous self once more. BE seat
ed.' he begged. indicating chair in
the half gloom. AS she took it. the
room sprang into sudden light He
had pulled the string which regulated
the curtains over the glazed panes in
the ceiling. Then as quickly all was
gloom again; he had let the string es-
cape from his hand.
"Half light is better" he muttered
fn vague apology.
It was weird beginning to an in
terview whose object was as yet in
comprehensive to her. One minute a
Dlinding glimpse OF the room whose
details were so varied that many OF
them still remained unknown to her
the next. everything swept again into
shadow through which the tall form Of
the genius Of the place doomed with
melancholy suggestion!
She was relieved when he spoke.
MRS. Scoyille (not Deborah nowl
have you any confidence, in divers
word? Has there ever been anything
in his conversation as You knew 1t in
Detroit to make you hesitate to re-
ply?" the judge persisted, as she con-
tinued speechless
No; nothing. / have every con-
fldence in his assertions. / should have
yet, if 1t were not for this horror"
Forget it for moment. Recall his
effect upon you as a man, a prospec-
tive son-in-law-for you meant him to
marry Reuther"
Il trusted him. would trust him in
many ways yet"
Would you trust him enough to be-
neve that he would tell you the truth
# you asked him point-blank whether
his hands were clean Of crime?"
"Yes." The word came In whis-
per; but there was no wavering in it.
She had felt the conviction dart like
an arrow through her mind that Oil
yer might slay a man in his hate
might even conceal his guilt for years
but that he could not lie about it
when brought face to face with an ac-
cuser like herself.
.'Then will let you read something
he wrote at my request these man.
years ago: An experience--the tale
OF one awful night. the horrors OF
which. locked within his mind and
mine. have never been revealed to a
third person. That you should share
our secret nov. Is not only necessary,
but fitting. It becomes the widow Of
John Scoville to know what sort Of a
man she persists in regarding inno-
cent. Wait for me-"
With quick step he wound his
way among the various encnmbering
pieces Of furniture to his bedroom
Here he fingered so long that, without
any conscious volition OF her own she
found herself on her feet. but she
had not had time to reseat herself
when she beheld him approaching with
the bundle OF loose sheets ciutched In
his hand.
II want you sit here and read" said
he, laying the manuscript down ON a
small table near the wall under a gas
jet which he Immediately lighted. 81
am going back to my own desk. If you
want to speak, you may; shall not
be working" And she heard his foot
steps retreating again in and out
among the furniture till he reached his
own chair and sat before his own
table
This ended all sound in the room ex-
cepting the beating OF her own heart.
which had become tumultuous
Thank Godl the manuscript was
legible. divers handwriting pos
sessed the clearness of print. She
had begun to read before she knew it,
and having begun, she never paused
till she reached the end
was fifteen. It was my birthday
and had my own ideas Of how want
ed to spend it. My hobby was model
ling Ny father had no sympathy
with this hobby. To him it was a
waste Of time better spent in study
or such sports as would At me for
stsaE When on the DAY mention