The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-09-22
CHAPTER XXI.
Atonement,

Atonement.
Mrs Farquhar do you bear me--do
you understand"
The wide blue eyes nckercd an In.
stant, II was her only response. She
lay stretched out white aud still on
rhc great bed~--a pathetic figure In
(which age aud chldhpod's frallty had
ininsL In the completed circle Of life.
Her hands lay on the connterpane.
They we're stll loaded with rings, and
che heavy. glistcniug stones seemed
~ have drawn In al the vitality from
.hc dead and helpless fingers. For
the first time her wig sat straight, and
by contrast the face beneath looked
smaller wlzcned and shriveicd Ike a
little old witch who. somehow or
other, had retained u groleslue faset
nation Ouly The eyes were terrible
Save for that one scarcely pcrceptibc
flicker Of assent they never closed or
wavcrrd, yet the change in them was
ccasclcsS. They passed from lace TO
face with concentrated intensity that
was savage IN ~ dumb significance.
They became then pi'iahle IN their mp
peal or frantic Ia their fierce impa.
thence
Preston. standing beside her. took
one NJ the helpless hands and pressed
IL shyly
"Yon understand, Mrs. Farquhar?
I've been something worse than
h,uchguard I've been fool. But
tr,w I'm going back 10 make good
Nau trust ne now, don't your You
believe m"--ld lay down my life to
have Richard back You know that?
won't touch my native shore till I've
made things right"
II vas scarcely smile that shad,
owed the blue eyes. Then suddenly
they closed and the last sign of life
was snunri out Ike the light Of q
candle Preston looked up, Gnbr.
ell. STOOD at the foot u The bed and
sh" hrchoncd him. ana they went out
together IN the adjoining room Pres
ION closed the door, Hts boys face,
contrasting curtously with the upright, !
powerful figure. had lost la hopeful.
hess aud had Become haggard and
overcast
Ny God. and to think that was
instrumental Ia thati' he said hoarscly
81 Zee, ~ though | had murdered
SOMEONE, rs pitsable terrible shall
SIZE those eyes To my li(e's end. Miss
&iaAAsby ;,ysavl1 ,.5.s ID! va. |
SHE nodded from the window where
she stood looking out on 10 the street
bathcd IN the mellow glow of evening.
1t IL awful to watch the struggle"
she said half 10 herself. she Is trying
60 tell us something. and cannot read
the message, Her eyes are full OF it,
! feel that MN blind and stupid not
to understand but | only know that
Il is vital, thu, II may mean life or
death
Death" he echeed hjan&ly.
After what you saw that nicht. !
don't YOU realize that death is not far
oNg"
He iErust his hands deep into HIS
pockets
Il went believe IT," hc said decisive
" They dare not"
"ls there anything that dare not be
done 10 a lrgionary?"
"uIc Is an Englshman, lift they
dared should make II an international |
question: should rouse all Eng
land
Would you succeed In getting let |
ter into the Times, do you think, Mt |
rrestcnf"
He drew his hands out of his pockets
and swung round angrily on her. She
was smiling wry amusement
Miss Smith--can you afford to
lsughy"
"Ycs--a little. suppose you think /!
me heartlcss As \ matter OF fact. we
laugh most easily when" She stopped !
short with gesture OF impattenee.
"FVrEiye me, | nave NnueuCy 10 De 7
trite and at that moment was peril, /!
cnsly near pa.hos as well"
Il know what you mesn. though | |
,lida't think you heartless. But yoa
can't feel a. ia, yor haven't all this !
on your ccuscitgce-you weren't his
friend as was" He caught a glimpse |
~ her face clean cut against the hight. /
and suddenly he faltered and the slow I
color mounted 70 sis eyes
I'LL understand. You're rather /
splrudid. Miss Smith, II could only
set things right--make good he NUT
tered
She made a little gesture OF assent
~Tha. seems 10 re all thas We live |