Iron County register., 1915-03-18
CHAPTER XIII.
One Secret Less.

One Secret Less.
Suddenly he faced Deborah again. |
The crisis of feeling had passed, and
he looked almost cold.
"You have had advisers" said he.
"Who are they?"
81 have talked with Mr.. Black"
The judges brows met.
well, you were wise," said he.
Then, shortly, what is his attitude?"
Feeling that her position was fast
becoming intolerable, she falteringly
replied, Friendly to you and Oliver,
but, even without all the reasons
which move me, sharing my convic-
tions."
"He has told you so?"
mot directly; but there was no mis-
judging his opinion of the necessity
you were under to explain the mystic
ries of your life And it was yester-
day we talked; not today"
Like words thrown into a void,
these slow, lingering, half-uttered
phrases seemed to awaken an echo
which rung not only in his inmost be-
ing, but in hers. Not till in both ma
lures silence had settled again (the
silence of despair, not peace), did he
speak. When he did it was simply
to breathe her name.
Deborah"
Startled, for it had always before
been madam" she looked up to find
him standing very near her and with
his hand held out.
Il am going through deep waters"
said he. Am to have your sup
port?"
"Oh, Judge Ostrander, how can you
doubt it?" she cried, dropping her
hand into his, and her eyes swimming
with tears. But what can | do?S II
remain here | will be questioned. If
fiy-but, possibly, that is what you
want--for me to go--to disappear-to
take Reuther and sink out of all mems
sight forever. II this is your wish,
am ready to do it. Gladly will we
be gone-now--at once-this very
night
His disclaimer was peremptory.
mo; not that. | ask no such sac
rifice Neither would it avail. There
is but one thing which can reinstate
Oliver and myself in the confidence
\ and regard of these people. Canno
H you guess it, madam? mean you
\ own restored conviction that the sen
T tence passed upon John Scoville wa
\ Just one. Once satisfied OF this
4 your temperament is such that yo1
] would be our advocate whether yo1
wished it or no. Your very silenc
! would be eloquent"
Convince me; am willing to haV
d you Judge Ostrander. But how cal
YOU do so? A shadow stands betweel
my wishes and the belief you mention
The shadow cast by oliver as he mad
his way towards the bridge, with m
husbands bludgeon in his hand"
did you see him strike the blow
Were there any opportune shadow
!, to betray what happened between tn
- instant of-let us say divers al
i proach and the fall OF my friend
" Much can happen in minute, an
this matter is one of minutes. Sc
% Vile had heart open to crime, Olive
= not. This | knew when / sat upc
. the bench at his trial; and now yt
" shall know it, too. Come! | hay
'I something to show you."
: He turned towards the door al
:, mechanically she followed ii
:, thoughts were all in whirl. She d
H. not know what to make of him or
herself. The rooted dread OF wee
vs. was stirring in its soil. This sugge
Ve ton of the transference OF the stl
from hand to hand was not impossib
"a Only Scoville had sworn to her, a
So that, too, upon their child's head, tn
he had not struck this blow. And s
NV had believed him after finding the ca
70! and she believed him now. Y
wv against her will, she believed him no
oh Why? and again, why?
Gu (To BE CoNTINUED)