The state herald., 1915-11-19
CHAPTER x-contlnued.

She had rather have died. nay. have
had Reuther die. than to find herself
forced to weigh and decide so mo-
mentous a question.
For. however she might feel about
1t, not single illusion remained as to
whose hand had made use of John
Scoville's stick to strike down Alger.
non Etheridge. How could she have
when she came to piece the whole
story together. and weigh the facts
she had accumulated against oliver
with those which had proved SO fatal
TO her husband?
Deborah shuddered. Aye. the mys-
terry had cleared. but only to en-
shroud her spirits anew and make her
long with all her bursting heart and
shuddering soul tina, death had been
her portion before ever she had es-
sayed to lift the veil held down so
tightly by these two remorseful men
But was her fault irremediable {?
The only unnnswerable connection be.
tween this old crime and Oliver lay in
the evidence she had herself collected
AS she had every intention OF sup
pressing this evidence. and as she had
small dread of any one else digging
out the facts to which she only pos.
sessed clue. might she not hope that
any suspicious raised by her inquiries
would fall like q house of cards when
she withdrew her hand from the top
pling structure'
She would make her first effort and
see. Mr.. Black had heard her com.
plant; he should be the first to learn
that the encouragement she had re-
ceive was SO small that she had de-
cided TO accept her present good luck
without further query. and not bark
back to u past which most people had
buried.
"You began It. as women begin most
things. without thought and a due
weighing Of consequences And now
you propose to drop II In the same
freakish manner Isn't that it?'
Deborah Scoville lifted her eyes In
manifest distress and fixed them de.
precatingly upon her interrogator
Mr.. Black smiled The woman de-
lighted him The admiration which
he had hitherto felt for her person
and for the character which could SO
develop through misery and reproach
as to make her In twelve short years
the exponent OF all that was most at.
tractive and bewitching in woman
seemed likely to extend to her mind
Il am reconciled simply from neces.
sity." was her gentle response. Moth.
ing Ia more precious TO me than
Reuther's happiness. should but en-.
danger II further by raising false
hopes. That 10 why have come to
cry halt"
Madam. ! commend your decision.
But why should you characterize
your hopes mr. false. just when there
seems 10 ts some Justification for
thcmH"
Her eyes widened. and she regarded
him with . stimulation OF surprise.
~hieL interested without Imposing
upon him
Il do not understand you" said she.
Have you come upon some clue,
Have you heard something which q
have nct7"
Mr. Black took two or three crushed
and foidef papers from drawer be-.
side him aad. holding them. none too
plainly In sight. remarked very quietly,
but with legal firmness;
DO not let uB play nbou, the bush
any longer You have announced your
Intention Of making no further attempt
10 discover tie man who IN your eyes
mcfi,cd the doom accorded to John
6eoviilc, Your only reason for this
" you arc the woman ! think YOU
Hes In your fear Of giving further op.
portunity 10 the misguided raneor OF
an irresponsible writer Of anonymous
epistl.a' Am ! not right. madam"
Beaten, beaten by direct assault,
because Hhc possessed the weaknesses.
a. well an tho pluck. of n woman She
,ould control the language OF her lips,
su, not their auiyefing. she cou.d
beet his eye Win steady assurance. |
but she could not keep the pallof from
her cheeks or subdue the evidences OF |
ssI ,s.-1s turmoil Her pl,ifui glance |