Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-18

window. but in that glimpse | had
seen the set look Of hopeless despair
that Cut through my heart like knife
at the thought OF her and OF all that
She had suffered.
Nearer and nearer the steps out.
side approached Then, at what
judged to be Lacey's door, they
stopped voices rumbling in converse.
ton. door slammed and all was still
again | knew they had gone into
: Laceys cabin to decide what was To
be my fate
And still | stood there motionless.
all my powers OF feeling stunned into
paraly sis, and with the loss OF these
powers went the ability to command
my muscles or to stir them into ac-
tiop. 1t is impossible FOR me to judge
how long this state continued.
II may have been five minutes: il
may have been an hour | do not
know. Time simply ceased to exist for
me.
Gradually however, something
seemed to move in my sluggish brain
not a definite thought nor any CO.
herent impressions, but merely the
mechanism, like a heavy engine
laboring and wheeling and grooming
in an effort to resume it. functions ar
ter full stop.
became, As il were semiconscious.
At least TO the extent OF sensing the
vhirling Of everything around me.
and the necessity for holding on to
som ethins il | would keep from fall
ing from sheer vertigo.
Little by little | regained control OF
myself, and with the return OF the
power OF thought came also the mem
DRY that some time---I could not rec
ollect exactly how long since---I had
heard Laceys door open and slam
shut again and the feet Of the men
crunch upon the gravel AS they
walked away in the direction from.
which they had come.
And then, with my mental faculties
returned to this extent, suddenly
xwoke to full consciousness with the
realization of the fact that some one
hchind me was whispering my name
over and over again, horsely, warn,
ir3ly, sibilantly - "Mr Carrigan,
at. Carrisan,'
whirled around to the wilGn"
and there, framed against the pare
blue of the cloudless sky was the pure
beauty OF the lovely face and the deep
hazel eyes of my little girl
| sprang to her and grasped the
warm hand that she extended to me
through the bars. Utterly regardless
OF the fact that | had never spoken
d tender word TO her. | bent and
kissed her hand again and again, nor
did she withdraw it nor appear sur
prised.
On the contrary, it seemed as
though that was the way We had both
pictured our greeting when We should
meet again.
| felt the firm pressure OF her
, fingers on mine, ahd when | looked
up into her tear.filled eyes, sad and
troubled as they were, | saw there the
message that made me thrill with
supreme joy.
Catherine" / breathed.
al h, she cautioned. "They will
hear. They are out there doing some
thing to your Bleriot Oh, Toni am
! afraid"
stepped back and gazed at her
stunned for the moment. | knew
what it meant.
Yes, sweetheart" ! said slowly;
your fears are correct They are
preparing for me what they prepared
for Linderman."
Her wide eyes stared at me in
! horror.
Ny Cod" she murmured,
"And So" | continued, once more
! taking her hand, "our meeting now
is both greeting and farewell. Oh, !
J Udu ~ HuI'u lOl tibllltl klIlN III
one where there would be time to tell
YOU how much YOU have been in my
/ thoughts. how | have striyen night
ani day for some way in which
could hep you, how have hoped to
clear away the trouble that | knew
w.s breaking your heart!
"But this is the erd, little girl
know what they are doing out there.
Soon now they will come for me. but
before | 70 | want YOU to know that
YOU have the whole-Learted love Of a
man who would 20 TO bis death gladly
II he thought that it would bring you
happiness
Her head had fallen upon her arm,
and | saw her shoulders shaken with
sobs.
1T will not" she whispered bro.
kenly. Nothing will ever bring me
happiness again IL you so On,
Tom we must do something can,
not live without You"
Through the bars OF the window |
TOOK the tear.stained face IN my Two
hand. and lifted it clase to mine.
catherine exclaimed, do YOU
mean that---that-- you"
"Yes. dear she said 80 low that |
could sesrcsly hear Il love ycu."
Between the heavy bafs pressed
my linz upon hers in 4 first long kiss