The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-02-19
CHAPTER LII.
The Old Adam.

nc Olu Audms
A long minute elapsed before either
woman moved or spoke.
Transfixed beside Alan's chair,
steadying herself with hand upon its
back, Judith stared at the figure in
the doorway, in a temper at once dis
comfted 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 venge-
ance, when Rose threatened and
Judith shrank!
1t was as II the women had ex-
changed natures while they slept
The countenance that Rose showed
her sister was 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 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,
half'dead 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 flash OF her one
time temper qulckened Judith. OF
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: why don't you shoot?"
The upward movement OF the hand
was checked: the weapon hung level
to Judith's breast-as level and I'M
equlvocal as the glance that probed
her eyes and the tone of Roses voice
as she demanded:
What were you doing there?"
If you must know from me what
you already know on the evidence Of
your eyes-I was bidding good-by to
the man l love-kissing him without
his knowledge or consent before leav-
ing him to you for good and ALI"
What do you mean?"
That I'm going away-that can't
stand this situation any longer. Mario
phat and Jimmy are dead, my fathers
helpless-and | 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-Tm going to take myself off
and keep out of the way"
For fear lest he find out that you
love him."
Judith's 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?"
Amy way you like. But II 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 we'll, 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 Judith's
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 1t
Gathering to the floor, and hurled him
self headlong across the room, i'm
prisoning the wrist of his betrothed
with one hand while the other wrested
the weapon away and passed 1t to
Judith.
"Rose!" he cried thickly, what does
this mean? Are you mad7 Judith"
Dragging the bosom of her waist
together. Judith thrust the weapon