The Holly chieftain. (Holly, Colo.) 1897-1987, 1916-12-29
CHAPTER XXI.
Atonement.

Atonement.
Mrs. Farquhar, do you hear me-do
you understand"
The wide blue eyes fickered an In
slant: 1t 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 counterpart.
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 shriveIed like a
little old witch who. somehow or
other. had retained 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-
thence.
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 your You
believe me-I'd 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 a smile that shad.
owed the blue eyes. Then suddenly
they closed, and the last sign of life
was snuffed out like the light of a
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.
pess and had become haggard and
overcast.
My God. and to think that was
Instrumental in that" he said hoarsely
IL feel as though l had murdered
someone: it's pitiable-terrible, 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
1T is awful to watch the struggle"
she said half to herself. "She is irving
to tell us something. and cannot read
the message. Her eyes are full Of IL
feel that l am blind and stunid NOT
to understanding only know that
1t is vital. that it may mean life or
DEATH"
"DeathT" 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.
II won't believe it." he said decisive
~. "-hey dare not"
rs there anything that dare not be
done to legionary"
HE Is an Englishman. lift they
dared should make 1t an international
question: should rouse all Eng
land"
would you succeed in getting a let.
ter into the Times. do you think. MIR.
Prestnn?"
He drew his hands out of his pockets
and swung round angrily on her. She
was smiling d wry amusement.
Miss Smith-can you afford to
laugh?"
"Yes-a little. suppose you think
me heartless. AS matter of fact. we
laugh most easily when She stopped
short with gesture Of impatience.
"Forgive me, have tendency to be
trite. and at that moment I was peril.
ously near pathos as WELL"