Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
Who Can Teit?

Afler 4 certain time - how lohs
| am not certain-l reused my sell 10
action again. My plan stili held good.
To burn the house and with il all eyi-
dences OF the TRAGEDY
Firmly fixed on this purpose, re
turned 10 the Kitchen and SET fire to
the ol-soaked pile OF kindlin@ there.
As The second thought disconnected
The tube from the eas-stoye. laid the
Tree end of II along the woodwork.
and also lighted this. A great yellow
tongue OF fire shot forth painting tn"
wall with Il brush of flame.
For a moment | stood there. watch
inc. Then ! turned ana went back IA
The hallway took no final look al
the BODY OF Andre in The ward. noi
I'D pay any attention 10 that ~
Nnall Er1azy, huddIrd C. lho floor ut
the hall. merely picked up my
,sllSe. walked out oil he door sin len
ofen by Alexandra departure. and
forever left that thriCc-accursed spot
With my eyes SWep, The road and
rain.driyen marshes, Alcyandra's
footprints had already been obiterat-
cd by the torrents poured from the
weeping April sky. could Get no def
mite trace ol her.
Not a living soul was visible Tho
sky had gone gray with dun light.
Day was At hand.
Far off to the westward heard the
skreel OF q locomotive. Ii recalled ME
10 a world OF realities | wake i down
inc drive, turned westward along the
I muddy road, ana set oa. nlodding 10
ward Flushing.
3 ] walked fun milo before even
looking back. Their. jusi a. the road
Swunl round an island OF wooded land
auid the marshes, turned and 9azed
IL eastward.
A black drift OF smoke. rudy III its
6ase--the funeral pyre OF what hopes,
what ASPIRATIONS, and what love, 49,
was streaming down.wind. II trailcd
off into lonl banner on the vague
horizon, sheeted in rain, and vanished
in miata and yapors.
| gave no further look. but turned
again, and once more resumed my
hegira.
Three hours later. drenched to the
skin ana drained OF all energy, | was
safe in my apartment al No. - Con-
gresS Avenue Without even the
strength TO unuress ! flung myself on
the bed and slept the sleep OF IN AM
NAL for more than twenty hours.
Nobody ever questioned me. No
body ever connected me with the sin.
gular tragedy on Long Island. where
Two physicians We're thought to have
persisted in fire that destroyed an
old colonial homestead | kept my 50.
cret to myself Mrs. Spragg and her
son never dared utter word The al.
fair was never explained
Ashes 10 ashes. dust TO dust. the
bones of Andre Brodeur and Vitall
Ersa2y still lie mingled with those Of
the ancient house.
May they rest in peace.
often. often | have pondered on
Alexandra. wondering as 10 her fate
Has she become immortal, or must
She 100, fade and die. as all must do?
Her pertecl beauty il endure
On did swift disintegration once more
sci in, never again to be replaced By
loyNliness?
Her path through liie-naS ii been
rose.strewn, or over thornS Who
sfail say
Sometimes, reading OF strange
events, Of complications and Of irdg-
edies both here and in the Old World,
where some surprisingly beautiful
woman, loving no one bur beloved by
many who may perhaps have fought
for her. been ruined for her. died for
her MS men will do in this sad drama
known ~ liIe-I have unused long and
asked myself;
'ou'" Va" y" A'oN"A'''"
In my Aavy. as any one viii soc
VIII happens to possess it after ! am
gone, have kept many clippings Of
such affairs, Through all runs a la.
tality, a strand OF anguish and of VICE,
like the siken thread through he
Cream labyrinth. Am amiss in ihink.
ing tina, perhaps this thread is knot
led at The end, 10 that most nNst"ri-
Gus of all women?
Who shall solve his mystery and
read this riddle? Alas nor t.
My story is told The facts, such Is
| have seen them, have been laid bare,
Az for The rest--mere speculation;
who can fell?
am tired now. The years arc ToI
ng heavily ON me. Let me too-now
that my tale is told end my share o.
guilt as3umed-rest in peace
For her there may be none. Doomed
ondlessly 10 wander through the
worldif as she feared, she has real
" been lowered with Immortality us
well nS cursed with perfect beauty
her fate may ever BE- 10 cause the mis-
cry of men, to wreck their lives Ia
break and tanele all their Skeins OF
destiny. to work their deaths.
May all this no, be true, and more
Y