The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-10-13
Atonement.
CHAPTER XXI.

Atonement.
Mrs. Farquhar, do you hear me-do
you understand"
The wide blue eyes fickered an in
stant; 1t was her only response. She
lay stretched out, white and still on
the great bed-a pathetic figure in
which age aud 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
little old witch who somehow or
other, had retained Il grotesque fasci-
nation. Only the eyes We're 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
slackguard-Tve been fool. But
now I'm going back to make good.
You trust me now, don't you? You
believe me-Id 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
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 pitiabIe-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
bathed in the mellow glow of evening.
1T 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
| feel that | am blind and stupid not
to Understandable l only know that
It IS vital, that it may mean life OF
ieath.'
"Death?" he echoed hlankly.
After what you saw that night
lon't you realize that death is not far
,ff?'
He thrust his hands deep into his
pockets.
Il won't believe it," he said decisive
y. "They dare not"
''Is there anything that dare not be
lone TO legionary?"
He is an Englishman. If-if they
Jared l should make It an international
question: should rouse all Eng
and"
would you succeed in getting let
er into the Times, do you think, Mr..
Preston?"
He drew his hands out of his pockets
nd swung round angriy on her She
vas smiling a wry amusement.
Miss Smith-can you afford to
aHgh?"
"Yes-a little. l suppose you think
ne heartless. AS a matter of fact, we
augh most easily when" She stopped
hort with a gesture of impatience.
Forgive me, l have q tendency to be
rite. and at that moment 1 was peril
usly near pathos as We'll"
81 know what you mean, though.
idn't think you heartless. But you
ant feel as | do. You haven't all this
your cOnscience-you weren't his
iend. as was" He caught glimpse
her face clean cut against the light,
nd suddenly he faltered and the slow
DIOR mounted to his eyes.
II understand. You're rather
pendid. Miss Smith. If I could only
ct things right-make good" he NUT
,red
She made a little gesture of assent.
"That seems to me all that we live
r." she said thoughtfully, ito make
ood-either to others or to ourselves.
nly-it isn't often granted u.s.
He had the feeling that she wis not
jeaking to him. that for the moment
had passed out of her range of
sion. and he remained silent. Some
ie tapped at the door, and instantly
eir eyes met in mutual Interrogation.
"a gentleman to see you. mademoi-
He
Shr rassed into the little adjoining
ting room and closed the door quiet
behind iic" "a au-g. indeed had
RA her entry thtt the man hunched
stfbtF Ag the window did not appear