Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-02-17

! uuCu on lue OulslQe, ne went on
loved you as | never thought 1t was
possible for a man to love a woman"
81 never felt that way. DEAR" she
interrupted. Il mean, that was stand
ing with Brand. Bob, you know that,
don't you?" she cried appealingly. and
the tears Of self-condemna:ion started
from her eyes while she begged-al-
most demanded the extenuation that
she knew was not rightfuliy hers.
Yes, ! know IT," he answered gently
And you see. sweetheart, | was right
when said | was to blame. Just me.
No one else. l have been at fault since
the first day back there In the bunga-
low when you and Mrs. Collins went
to the matinee and you came home
with the new hat. | told you it didn't
matter about the butcher-that every
| thing would come out all right. Since
that day we have been piling up these
things-these crimes, dearest-yes,
crimes. | knew 1t all the time. And
| knew 1t as well as l knew that l
loved you, that sometime the day
would come when we--when would
have to settle. But kept you in igno-
rance. ! was afraid to spoil your hap
piness, afraid to tax your love, and l
let things go on until now, out there
in that valley, whole families-just as
dear to each other as you and Just
as important In the world as you and
|, are gone-wiped out. l promised to
lead you blindly from every decent
thought"
mo, no, Bob" she interrupted vehe-
mently. 1T was who did the leading,
not you. You simply followed me-"
But when a man does that, Jane, 1t
is he who must pay the penalty, II
there is one to pay. He should he
stronger-the thing that she should
lean upon. 1t has always been that
way Her sin Is his sin, II he makes
no protest when he knows, or makes
no determined effort to right things,
and have not done that. Jane, dear
est, I've decided one thing. The time
has not come, nor will 1t ever come,
when it will be right for you to ruin
the rest of your life up" He stumbled
for word, for he could not bear to
use the real one-prison. You must
be spared the misery and degradation
of that horrible thing and I've found
way out of it for both of us. | am go
ing to take 1t and in time you will be-
leve it was the only way. But al |
ways" he murmured, pressing her to
him, mo matter where we are we'll |
always love each other-always."
mo matter where we are?" she
echoed, answering his look that
seemed TT penetrate her very soul.
mo matter where We are? What do
you mean, Bob? Are you going away
and leave me?"
yes, darling. For while at least,
we must separate. l cannot bear to
have you fugitive, chasing about all
corners Of the earth with the fear OF
guilt in your heart and the dread of
capture ever at your door. You must
have liberty-a way to live your life
out in all the sweetness that must
come into 1t after all this suffering.
And you will know that | am always
with you, loving you and guarding you
the best way God will let me-"
The infinite tenderness Of his voice
now unneryed her completely 80 that,
though she saw or felt some dire omen
in his words, she was helpless to pro-
test them. She sank into his arms and
they were clasped together in one
long passionate embrace.
The lights of the room danced be-
fore her eyes as their lips parted. She
could scarcely see him as he gently
drew away from her and stepped light
ly toward the telephone. He called a
number that was strange and mean
lngless to her
Hello" he said, police headquar
ters? Connect me with the Ninety
seventh, please" A pause Hello!
Send man to four
two-six Marion road Yes, imme-
1iately. It's a suicide"
For an instant she was stunned, but
as she sprang toward him her cry Of
horror mingled with the report Of
pistol. She caught his arm as he fell
and they sank to the floor together.
But she was too late. Reynolds had
paid the price and paid alone.
Dick cleared the half dozen steps
rom the first landing at bound and
Brand came stumbling after him. The
Exporter knelt quickly beside them.
"Is he gomez" the millionaire painted
The reporters eyes swept over the
ifeless body of his friend and his hand
vent lightly to his heart.
"Yes, he's Dead" he answered soft
=. Il think he's been planning 1t a '
ong time and he knew just how" /
1T vas the best thing he could do" I
Brand said coolly THE best for him '
elf, for her-and-for me. Suicides q
confession, and that let's us out. I'm I
,oing to get out Of here, Meade Take 1