The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-04-16
CHAPTER x-Contlnued.

CHAPTER x-Continued.
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
It, not a 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 s%huddered. Aye, the mys-
terry had cleared, but only to en-
ehroud her spirits anew and make her
long with all her bursting heart and
shuddering soul that 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 unanswerable 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 a clue. might she not hope that
any suspicious raised by her inquiries
would fall like a house Of cards when
she withdrew her hand from the top
ping 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 q past which most people had
buried.
you began 1t. as women begin most
things, without thought and a due
Weighing of consequences. And now
you ropos to drop it in the SAM
freakish manner. Isn't that it,"
Deborah Scoville lifted her Eyes II
manifest distress and fixed them de
precatingly upon her interrogation.
Mr.. Black smiled. The woman de
lighted him. The admiration whicl
he had hitherto felt for her persol
and for the character which could s.
develop through misery and reproacI
as to make her in twelve short year
the exponent Of all that was most a
tractive and bewitching in woma
seemed likely to extend to her mind.
II am reconciled simply from nece'
sity," was her gentle response. Mott
ins is more precious to me tina
Reuther's happiness. should but e'
danger It further by raising falls
hopes. That is why l have come
cry halt"
MADAM. I commend your decisio
But why should you characters
your hopes as false. just when thel
seems to be some justification II
,them?"
Her eyes widened, and she regardt
him with a stimulation Of surpris
which interested without imposir
upon him.
IL do not understand you." said sh
"Have you come upon some clu'
Have you heard something which
have not?"
AIR. Black took WI or three crush
and folded papers from a drawer |
side him aad, holding them. none t
plainly in sight. remarked very quiet
but with legal f%irinness:
do not let us play about the bu
any longer. You have announced yo
intention of making no further atten
to discover the man who In your ey
mcrited the doom accorded to 10
Scoville. Your only reason for this
II you are the woman ] think YOU
lies in your fear OF giving further
portunity to the misguided rancor
an irresponsible writer OF anonymt
ep!stles. Am l not right. madam
Beaten, beaten by a direct assa'
because she possessed the weakness
as well as the pluck. OF a woman :
could control the language OF her II
but not their quivering; she CO
Leet his eye with steady assuran
but she could not keep the pallor IF
her cheeks or subdue the evidences
her hearts turmoil. Her pitiful glal