The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-01-12


O'Bannon's door
Toinette. in the early morning sun
shine. was rapturoVs bird-song made
into woman. "A flower dew-bright,
carol. an embodiment of earth's re-
joicing. She welcomed Elliott with ii
smile that made him wonder. with ",
ready vanity, IL he had not been mis-
taken in the rebuff she had once ad-
ministered If he had pressed her
more hardily-did she really love Lar
renee? All. IL he could only drive the
man out of Corydon The black beast
of his jealous hatred rode on his back
and he went straight 10 his purpose:
IL have sad news for you Toinette."
The smile faded from her face and
she looked at him with slow alarm
growing in her eyes.
1T is very hard for me to tell you.
1t is about laurence"
David ~ The name was wrung
from her like gasp. .
81 cannot believe the truth myself
You remember that l told you once
that suspected Laurence Of being In
league with the Englishman., Cranmerr
| have learned the certain truth since
then-Cranmer has fled and Laurence
is left TO finish his work-the work of
a spy"
"Who says this?"
Captain Builltt at Louisville told
me. 1t will be common talk in another
day. / do not know what 10 do.
have not slept all night. Only one
thing has been clear To me-my love
for you"
"What part has that in this?" she
asked proudly.
Everything. II is because l love
you that have come To you now. l.
you-told me once that / could not
hope ever to win you. i tried To turn
you against the man i feared. But
| know now that my love for you is
| stronger than mere desire. l want
you to be happy. even though / suffer.
And so have come TO tell you first OF
all. No one here knows that Laurence
| is iS~ England's service. Let IL be
known, and his life is forfeited. j
have come to give you the greatest
gift that is in my power. l give you
the life Of this man. Warn him. and
there Is yet time for him to escape.
I shall be happy II you are happy.
Only remember that l loved you, Toi-
nette!"
The halting sentences seemed TO
come from the depths OF his soul. He
finished and stood before her humbly,
his head bowed.
God bless you." she said very
softly. .'''
She spilled the precious ointment OF
her innocent faith In his words upon
the dross OF his heart. He raised hrs
head and thanked her mutely, while
his pulses leaped with exultation. She
had believed him! But would she
warn Laurence? He scarcely dared 10
hope as he whispered:
"If you will warn him at
midnight my mare will be at his door.
ready TO ride"
But the girl answered In a voice that
seemed to come from beyond the
grave. so full OF souls agony 1t was:
There will be no need I
shall give him up. Oh. David,
David. Davidw -. ...
He turned TO hide this mocking
smile that lighted up his face.
The girls face had grown pale as
the white rose she held in her hand.
But she forced herself TO 20 on-un-
hesitatingly. but in a voice from which
all life had fed, so weighted with unr
utterable anguish IL was:
"You had better inform Judge
Boone at once" .
"YOu don't understand, ToInette. I
shall not raise a finger against Lar
renee. He shall never say | am re-
sponsible for his exposure. You alone
In Corydon know his secret. II is for
You TO decide"
GO" she said quietly. II will do my
duty"
Have / done mine, Toinettel DO
you forgive me2"
"Yes, you have done well" she an
swered mechanically.
II may see you againl Oh, Toi-
nette. let me still hopel"
81 cannot answer now. But" her
throat seemed 90 choke her and she
was unable to finish. But through the
young doctors mind there flashed the
belief thnt he would yet make her his
She would forget. Larrehce--only let
time heal the wound He raised her
hand 10 his lips. flung himself upon
the red mare and was gone.
To Toinette the next minutes were
an unreal procession In which n girl
named Antoinette O'BannOn moved
strangely upon her task. Viry-eyed,
sfeady.volced.' SHE saw-thfs girl 90
down the lane 10 the tavern. where
Ike Blackford sat deep In a book of
law: heard her ask him 20 20 with her
20 David's store: saw him bow with
unquestloning courtesy: saw them
cross the courthouse square and enter
the little storerOom, just. then empty