Tombstone epitaph., 1917-03-11

At last there came to her ears the sound of heavy feet crashing through the brush. but he had been gone ten minutes then. Perhaps they had just awakened to his escape and were cast ing aside stealth for the fury of open pursuit She even thought she heard an oath once. and then it was all quiet again: quiet for a while. and at the end of the silence. like the punctua- tion of an exclamation-mark, came the far-away snap of . rife.
 She had dropped to . chair and sat there tensely. leaning forward. her lips parted and her ears straining. Had she heard one shot and its echo. or had there been several? Her imag- !nation and fears were playing her tricks now, and she could hardly be certain of her senses.
 The passage of time was thing of which she had lost count. Each mo ment was Q century.
 Then, with a violent start, she sat up. Now she knew she heard a sound there could be no doubt this time. It came from out beyond the front door. and she bent forward. listen ing.
 It was Q strange sort of sound which she could not make out. but in a sub tie way it was more terrifying than the chatter of rifles. It was as if some heavy, soft thing were being dragged up the steps and rolling back. She rose and took Q step toward the door. but halted in doubt. The sound died and then came again, al ways with halting intervals of silence between. as though whoever were dragging the burden had to pause on each step to rest. Then there was a scraping as of boot-leather on the boards and a labored breath outside a breath that seemed to be agonized. She bent forward with one hand 1 outstretched toward the latch, and heard faint rapping. It was seem ingly the rap of very feeble fingers. but that might all be part of a ruse. Was it friend or enemy out there, just beyond the thickness of the heavy panels? At all events. she must see.
 She braced herself and threw the door open. A figure which had been leaning against it lurched forward. | stumbled over the threshold and fell in heap. half in and half out. It was the figure of Anse Havey. How far he had hitched himself along, foot by foot, like a mortally wounded animal crawling home to die. she could not tell. but for one horri- fled instant she stood gazing. down on him in stupefaction.
 He had gone out a splendid vital creature of resilient strength and pow CT. He hs l come back the torn and bleeding wreck of a man. literally shot to pieces. as a quail is shattered when 1t rises close to a Quick-shooting gun.
 In the next moment she was stoop ing with her arms around his body. striving to lift his weight and bring him in. She was strong beyond all seeming of her slenderness, but the man was heavy, and as she raised his head and shoulders sound of bitten off and stified agony escaped his white lips. and she knew that her efforts were torturing him.
 It was an almost lifeless tongue that whispered, "I was skeered-that I-wouldn't get here"
 Then as she staggered under his inert bulk he tried to speak again. Jest help-drag me"
 The few yards into the hall made a long and terrible journey, and how she ever got him in. half hanging to her, half crawling, stopping at every step, she never knew. Still 1t was done at last, and she was kneeling on the floor with his head on her breast
 No wonder they had left him for dead and gone away content. He looked up and faint smile came to his almost unrecognizable face The blood which had already dried and caked with the dust through which he had crawled was being fed by a fresh CT outpouring. and. as she held him close to her, her own bosom and arms were red too, as red as the flower pinned in her hair.
 She must stanch his wounds and pour whisky down his throat before the fiickering wisp of life-iame burned out
 Wait, dearest" she said in a bro ken voice. T must get things you need"
 Tt ain't"-he paused a moment for the breath which came very hard ''scarcely-worrh while-Fm done"
 But she flew to the cupboard where there was brandy. She tore linen from her petticoat and brought water from the drinking bucket that stood with its gourd dipper on the porch.
 But when she pressed the flask to his lips he closed them and shook his head little.
 T ain't never touched a drop in my life." he said, "an' I reckon-I nights well-fnish out-'twon't be long. It's too late to begin now"
 For a while he lay gasping. then spoke again, weakly:
 Just kiss me-dearest-thet's what l come for"
 After a pause he spoke again.
 There's one thing-Tve got to ask ye: Why did ye swear-ye didn't care l for me-in court?'
 Her head came up and she an- swered steadily:
 Dearest. I'd never asked myself that question until the lawyer asked |