The Pulaskian., 1916-10-27
CHAPTER XXI.
Atonenent.
"A

"Mrs. Farquhar, do you hear me-do you understandw
 The wide blue eyes f1ickered an in- stant; it was her only response She lay stretched out, white and still on the 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 counterpane. 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 by contrast the face beneath looked smaller, wizened and shriveled like a little old witch who, somehow or other, had retained a grotesque fasci- nation. Only the eyes were terrible. Save for that one scarcely perceptible 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- tience
 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-Iye been a fool. But now I'm going back to make good. You trust me now, don't you? You believe me-Pd lay down my life to have Richard back. You know that? I won't touch my native shore till I've made things right
 It was scarcely smile that shad- owed the blue eyes. Then suddenly they closed, and the last sign of life was snutfed out like the light of candle. Preston looked up. Gabri- elle 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 it's hopeful ness and had become haggard and overcast.
 My God, and to think that I was instrumental in that!' he said hoarsely. TT feel as though I had murdered someone; it's pitiable-terrible. I 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 bathed in the mellow glow of evening.
 Tt is awful to watch the struggle" she said half to herself. "She is trying to tell us something, and cannot read the message. Her eyes are full of it. l feel that I am blind and stupid not to understand-but I only know that it is vital, that it may mean life or death"
 "Death?" he echoed blankly.
 'After what you saw that night, don't you realize that death is not far off?"
 He thrust his hands deep into his pockets.
 T won't believe 1t" he said decisive ly. 'They dare not"
 ''Is there anything that dare not be NOhC to d leSlOudTy
 He is an Englishman. Tiff they dared I should make it an international question: should rouse all Eng land"
 Would you succeed in getting let ter into the Times, do you think, MT. Preston?
 He drew his hands out of his pockets and swung round angrily on her. She was smiling a wry amusement.
 Miss Smith-can you afford to laugh?'
 'Yes-a little. I suppose you think me heartless As a matter of fact, we laugh most easily when" She stopped short with a gesture of impatience. Forgive me, have a tendency to be trite, and at that moment I was peril ously near pathos as we'll"
 T know what you mean, though. didn't think you heartless But you can't feel as I do. You haven't all this on your conscience-you weren't his friend, as was" He caught glimpse of her face clean cut against the light, and suddenly he faltered and the slow color mounted to his eyes.
 TT understand. You're rather splendid. Miss Smith. If I could only set things right-make good~ he nut tered.
 She made little gesture of assent. - s'.sss That seekns Io me iii iias w5 sivFe t7@7 ft