The Mena weekly star., 1916-06-15


 can be worse than this. Death 8 for all of us sooner or later, and we would rather die as free men under you than as rats"
 Farquhar struggled to free himself.
 "Dutyg' he said sharply and clearly.
 He thought he heard sigh and a curse-farther away now-and the shadow lifted. There were the stars once more. their pure serenity un. changed. and the white-glowing min. arets lifting their laee-work of dreams high up into the light as of their in- spiration. It was then that Farquhar saw her. He ground his teeth together so that he should not call her, and ln- stead prayed
 God keep her--oh. God help herr
 It had not been more than breath, the first utterance of an anguished sense of failure, but she heard it. for she came to him and knelt beside him. He felt her hand touch his forehead and glide swiftly over his helpless limbs.
 "SylviaT
 Her hands touched his wrists, and in answer the dull glowing fire burst out afresh and shot up along his limbs, burning deep into his brain, so that for a moment earth and sky became an endless blazing furnace. Then when the flame died down again he knew that her touch had set him free. He lay still. the cramped half-paralyzed body stretched out in the exhaustion of relief, and she bent over him, peer. ing into the quiet face with passionate anxiety.
 "Richardv she whispered impera- lively. Can you hear me? Do you know meY'
 He looked up at her. In the pale supernatural twilight which hovered over the plateau his features bore that look of white transparency which be, longs to death, but his eyes, black un. der the straight resolute brows, were deIiriously alive. They were lifted tc hers. but gazed beyond her intently and without recognition.
 T know you" he said. T saw you coming. tried not to call, but you must have heard my praying for you Did you know I needed you?"
 Yes" she answered Very gently she raised his dark head, so that fl rested against her knee, and passed her handkerchief over his boodstained lips. We must be very quiet" she whispered. No one has seen me-nC one must see me. Will they come tC see you again tonight?'
 No one will come to me again." Ii was very still. His hand groped for hers and held it with feverlsh strength Tt was an act of friendship" he gasped. T understand-you were thinking of those other days-long ago and you were merciful You had judged and passed sentence-and then you forgave. l am glad-it was like you--llke my dreams of you"
 In your dreams did I pass sen tence?" she interrupted in the same low tone.
 'Yes--you remember-out there in the churchyard. What you said then it has haunted me like a curse. T wish to God I had never met you Richardr"
 'The woman who said that was cruel and foolish" she said. "She didn't uI derstand."
 And now?'
 If do not understand everything at least have still my faith"
 Faith? In whom? An outcast without name CT honor?"
 You are not without name or honor You may have strained both in that first defeat-I do not know how ol why-but you have not lost them They are yours still I believe thai they will be yours always"
 You know that? You believe thatT
 q know" Her arms were about him; she held his exhausted, tortured frame in strong tenderness. If had not known would not have come here to you. Only the best of us car fall from great heights Only the bravest can pick themselves up and begin the long, heart-breaking clint back"
 She lifted her white face to the sky Ading the binding tears. All was still again. The black grotesque shadow of he sentry crossed the fading line of campfires, and she crouched lower. He passed on indifferentIy.
 You are right" Farquhar went or at last 'That was what prayed that you should understand I had failed utterly, ignominiously, but not ignobly can't explain. 1 shall never be able to; but meant to go out of your life and leave you happy. It was all thought of. Can you believe thatT
 q do believe it." she answered hoarsely.
 Thank you" He smiled a little As though overtaken by sudden IT. sesistible thought. he dragged himself up and his eyes, sightless and yet tragically conscious. sought her face That night-at the Villa Bernottos,' he stammered-''was it for me that you risked so muchY'
 Yes" she answered simply. "It was for you"
 What had you come to tell mel"
 'That the woman who had made you suffer was unjust and unworthy of you. She knew nothing of life or pain or temptation. She judged like a child"