The Winslow mail., 1915-04-17

Dennis, in fact, having walked on
the first fierceness of his despair, had
reached the stage where a man won
ders what it is best for him to do.
He knew that he could not marry
Katherine He knew that Nora pos
sessed his heart Yet he owed each
woman a duty.
So absorbed was he in his thought
that he did not see the shadowy fig
ure which crouched behind him, wait
ing until ne turned at the bend Of the
way.
AS Dennis turned Maloney fired.
Dennis fell forward, scrambled to
his feet, and, seeing his assailant near,
rushed at him. The two men locked
in death grapple. From within the
hut Nora looked on, horror-struck.
For a moment only The next her
dormant love revived at the sight Of
Dennis, bleeding, all but unconscious
under the buffeting of the powerful
peasant. Upon the mud floor was
broken bar of a gate which had once
marked the boundaries of the little
holding. Selling it, Nora rushed out
into the rain and brought it down
with all her force upon Maloney's
head.
She helped fainting Dennis to his
feet, and half led, half carried him in
side the cabin. She brought peat
from the bog, and birch bark, and
soon, with the aid of a box of matches
from Dennis pocket, she had kindled
fire
But when she turned to him she
found, for the first time, that he was
bleeding from a bullet wound in the
shoulder. And then, all her resent
ment forgotten, she kneeled beside
him, striving to quench the blood, and
now and then looking into his white
face, and now and again beseeching
him to live, because she loved him. So
the night wore away.
At dawn Dennis had fallen asleep.
And the peace reflected on his face
was the same in Nora's heart, for she
knew now that their love was too en-
during for anyone to come between
them Presently the creaking wheels
of passing farm wagon were heard.
Nora went out and stopped the farm
er. She told him what had occurred,
and asked him to carry Dennis to his
home She saw him safe inside the
cart, and then went ahead of the We
hicle to warn Mrs. Delaney. When
she passed the scene Of the struggle
she saw that Maloney had gone.
v.
"Nora!" cried Mrs. Delaney. where
have you been all night? Why, you
are wet through, child"
Listen aunt! Dennis met with an
accident in the forest. I have been
with him. We"
She WINGED at the incredible brutal
taunt that Katherine flung at her.
"He is being brought home, aunt"
the girl continued "I came on ahead
to warn you to get bed ready"
Good Mrs. Delaney was too greatly
excited by the news of the accident
to worry the girl for explanations. A
SICK IOOM was pICPdACO dho AhOe'A
while the women awaited with intense
impatience the carts arrival Mrs. De-
laney would have gone to meet it, but
her niece succeeded in dissuading her.
And it was not long before the wagon
arrived, and Dennis, pale, but con-
scious and cheerful, was being lifted
out.
Mrs. Delaney noticed then that he
turned toward Nora instead of to
Katherine. But her surprise was lost
in her anxiety for her boys recovery.
And it was not until it became clear
that Dennis would live that she let her
thoughts dwell on what had become
obvious.
And it was Katherine who solved
the situation. For on the third day
after Dennis return she came into MS
room, where the two women sat.
"I am sure you will both congratu-
late me-" she said, when l tell you
that + have promised to marry Sir
Brandrum Boileau."