Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER xvI.-contInued.

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'T am all right. I'm resting, dear,
and thinking. Don't fret about me.
When feel able, 1 will come down
to you"
"As you WILL" he assented, unspeak-
ably relieved; and returned to the
kitchen.
Sunset interrupted his thoughts
sunset and his wife. Sounds of
someone moving quietly round the
kitchen, a soft clash Of dishes, the
rattllns of the CRATE. drew him back
TO the door.
She showed him a face of calm re-
straint and implacable resolve.
"Hugh"-her voice had found O new,
sweet level of gentleness and strength
-'T just wanted to tell you how sorry
1 am. I've let you go without your
lunch"
"wel." he admitted with a short
laugh. "Pm famlshedr r.
She paused. regarding him with her
whimsical. indulgent smile. "You
strange creature 7" she said softly.
"Are you angry with me--lmpatient-
for this too facile descent from heroics
to the commonplace? Be patient with
me, dear"
But. alarmed by his expression, her
words stumbled and ran out. She
stepped back a pace. little flushed
and tremulous. t
"Hughl No, Hugh, nor
Don't be afraid of me-" he said,
turning away. II don't mean to bother.
Only-at tines"
II know dear; but it must not be-"
"Shall you make a fire again to-
nightT" she asked, when they had con-
cluded the meal.
''In three places" he said. Wen
not stay another day for want Of let
ting people know we're here. I'll go
now. When you ure ready"
II shan't be long" she said.
When 1t was quite dark, Whitaker
brought a lantern to the door and
called her. and they went forth to-
gether.
AS he had promised, he had built
up three towering pyres, widely apart.
When ali three were In full roaring
flame, their illumination was hot and
glowing over oil the upland. 1t
seemed impossible that the world
should not now become cognizant OF
their distress
At some distance to the north OF
the greatest fire-that nearest the
farm-house-they sat as on the previ.
Gus night, looking out over the black
and unresponsive waters, communing
together in undertones.
In that hour they learned much OF
one another; much that had seemed
strange and questionable assumed, ii
the understanding OF each, the com
pletion of the normal and right. Whit
aker spoke at length and in much de
tail of his Willful Missing years with
out seeking to excuse the wrong-mind
ed reasoning which had won him hi!
own consent to live under the masl
of death. He told of the motives tina
had prompted his return, Of all tha
had happened since in which she hat
had no part-with single reserva
tion. One thing he kept back; tn,
time for that was not yet.
A listener In his turn, he heard tn
history of the little girl of the Com
mercial House breaking her hear
against the hardness of life in wha
Mt first seemed utterly futile endeavo
to live by her own efforts. aslSin
nothing more Of the man who har
given her his name.
He learned of the coming of MAJ
his interest In her. the Indefatigabl
pnins he had expended coaching he
TO bring out the latent ability his ow
genius OWNED; of the initial perform
ance Of Joan Thursday before
menger and Indifferent audience, he
Instant triumph and subsequent col
quest Of the country In half u doze
widely dissimilar roles; finally of he
decision to leave the stage when sh
married, for reasons comprehensive,
demanding neither exposition nor d,
fence.
1T doesn't mntter any longer" sh
commented, concluding: 'I loved an
hated II. 1t was deadly and 1t wa
glorious. But It no longer matter
1t Is finished; Sara Law Is no more
'YOu mean never to 60 back to Il
stageT
Never"
"And yet" he mused craftily.
"Never~ She fell blindly into h
trap. Il promised myself long Of
that II ever became a wife"
"But you are no wife," he countere
''Dear. you are cruel to mel"
II think it's you who would
cruel to yourself, dear heart"
II think" she announced, "we'd bt
ter go in."
She rose without assistance. NOV
away toward the house. paused al
returned.
Hugh" she said gently, with
Quaver In her voice that wounded /
conceit in himself; for he was su
II spelled laughter at his expense a
well-rlcrited-"Hugh, you big sui
boy get up this instant and col
back to the house with me. You KIN,
I'm tlmid. Aren't you ashamed
yourse.fT'
II suppose so,T he grumbled. risil
IL presume It's childish to want [
moon-and sulk when you find y
can't have It."
"Or n starr
lie mode TO reply; but his v,
silence was eloquent. They enter
the kitchen.
"Sonething1l have to be done /;
thoy won't help US, wen have to b
ourselves"
"Hughl" There was alarm In
tona He looked up quickly. "Hu
what arc You thinking Off"
"Oh-T7nothIng. But I've got to tn
OF something"
She came nearer, intuItively alarr
and pleading. ''Hugh. you woulC
icave me here aloneT
"Dou't be afraid" he said evaslv
s'rn be here--as nlwnys-when