The Southern herald., 1916-09-29
CHAPTER XXI.
Atonement.

hIS' diHuudlJ w JOu uCdE ue-uO
you understand"
The wide blue eyes fiickered an in.
stant; it was her only response. She
lay stretched out, white and still on
rhe great bed-a pathetic figure in
which age and childhood's frailty had
Joined in the completed circle Of life
Her hands lay on the countepane
They were still loaded with rings, and
the heavy, glistening stones seemed
to have drawn in all the vitality from
the dead and helpless fingers. For
the first time her wig sat straight and
0y contrast the face beneath looked
smaller, wizened and shriveled like a
little old witch who, somehow or
other, had retained grotesque fasci-
nation, Only the eyes were terrible.
Save for that one scarcely perceptlble
flicker of assent they never closed or
wavered, yet the change in them was
ceaseless. They passed from face to
face with a concentrated intensity that
was savage in its dumb significance.
They became then pitiable In their ap-
peal or frantic in their fierce impa-
tlence.
Preston, standing beside her, took
one of the helpless hands and pressed
1t shyly.
You understand, Mrs. Farquhar?
I've been something worse than a
blackguard-I've been a fool. But
now I'm going back to make good.
You trust me now, don't you? You
believe me-Td lay down my life to
have Richard back. You know that? |
won't touch my native shore till I've
made things right"
1t was scarcely smile that shad-
owed the blue eyes. Then suddenly
they closed, and the last sign Of life
was snuffed out like the light Of q
candle. Preston looked up. Gabri-
ellie stood at the foot Of the bed and
she beckoned him, and they went out
together in the adjoining room. Pres
ton closed the door. His boys face,
contrasting curiously with the upright,
powerful figure, had lost its hopeful
ness and had become haggard and
overcast.
My God, and to think that l was
Instrumental in that! he said hoarsely.
Il feel as though l had murdered
someone; it's pitiable-terrible. l shall
see those eyes to my life's end, Miss
Smith"
She nodded from the window where
she stood looking out on to the street
Oathed in the mellow glow of evening.
1T Is awful to watch the struggle"
she said half to herself. "She is trying
10 tell US something, and l cannot read
me message. Her eyes are full of tt
feel that l am blind and stupid not
10 understandable l only know that
y Is vital, that it may mean life or
death"
"DeathT he echoed blankly.
After what you saw that night,
OFF," ' '"-
lie thrust his hands deep into his
pockets.
i won't believe it." he said decisive
~ They dare not"
is there anything that dare not be
uone to a legionary?"
He is an Engllshman. If-if they
cared should make it an international
question: should rouse all Eng.
land"
Would you succeed in getting a let
vet INTO the Times, do you think, Mr..
PrestOn?"
he drew his hands out of his pockets
ana swung round angrily on her. She
was smiling a wry amusement.
laugh?" ' ~
ies-a little. suppose you think
,ue leartless As matter of fact, we
.augh most easily when" She stopped
,,n snort with gesture Of impatience.
Forgive me, I have a tendency to be
ulle' and at that moment l was peril.
ously near pathos as we'll"
a, l know what you mean, though. l
ulan't think you heartless But Won
oau | reel as do. You haven't all this
~ - your cOnscieHce-you weren't his
oiend' as I was" He caught glimpse
ss =. 1er face clean cut against the light,
a aul suddenly he faltered and the slow
e0.Or mounted to his eyes.
II understand, You're rather
~. sp@nald' Miss Smith. II could only
~ ullngs right-make goodp he NUT
~. sns made a little gesture Of assent.
A4as seems tn ne al that we live