The Washington times., 1918-03-09
Read Right On in Today's
Installment.
Part One-(Continued)

Esther's heart beat painfully; she
felt as II every vein in her body
was dilated to bursting point. The
tension was almost more than she
could bear. But still she gazed, un-
able to withdraw her eyes.
'DeadI My Husbandl 0h-oh- God"
at is he-he-and dead! Oh my
Cod" she cried. dead and I am
here to share his fate! To die with
him-a slow death Oh! the horror
Of it all"
For in the corpse she had recog-
nlZed the man to whom she had
been married. There was no mis-
taking him, though on the night OF
the wedding his features had been
partially concealed. The abundant
black hair was the same; so, too,
the heavy brows. Above all, he
was clad in convict dress, even as
he had been on that eventful &C.
cAsion. and q long coat, looping
open now and concesling nothing
of the disgraceful Earb, completed
the likeness.
This was Esther's husband, the
man from whom she tried to be
free. He was dead, and she had
thus attained the object OF her
quest. But at what q cost What
Rvailed his death to her nowT"
The terrible irony of II all struck
her and drawing herself up again to
her full height she burst into peal
after peal Of wild laughter. She
had found her husband and this
the home he had prepared for her
laughing still. and hardly needing
the way she trod.
Harold, Harold, I am free" she
cried: "a free woman and no
mans wife. Take me TO you, Har-
old: oh, my dear, my beloved, II you
love me. come!
Suddenly the light which she had
placed by her side fdickered and
went out
Darkness, DesolatiOn, Death.
Dsrkness-it was the terror of
darkness which had fallen upon her.
She seized the matches from her
pocket and struck wildly one after
the other.
Her calmness deserted her. '1
can't bear tt can't" she screamed
in her wiIdness, and then as the
useless matches fell to the floor, she
gave herself up to the frenzy OF
despair and her fears. There was
no hope for her-no hope.
What was that-a step and the
breathing OF someone without& An
hallucinRtion. OF course, for who
should be walking in this deserted
IL
like a step.
Help me-help me-" she screamed
frantically, and again she beat upon
the door with her bare knuckles.
She was kneeling before X, and in
that position she prayed wildly and
loud with no comprehension OF the
words that fell from her lips.
Help! Helpl Help!"
Was the door moving7 It SEEM
ed to Esther that she heard foot
steps descending the three steps
outside, and then a sound that
might have been q fumbling with
O lock. Yes. the door was certain
ly moving. It opened inward, and
she had to retreat down the stairs
TO allow 4: TO swing open.
A flood OF gray light-the light
Of early dawn-burst upon her. 1t
hurt her eyes, and she covered
them for a moment with her hand.
Then she felt herself seized by the
wrist and drawn up. She stagger-
ed In attempted obedience, but as
soon as she had surmounted the
stairs she collapsed upon the
ground
Esther! Good God! what brought
you here?'
Saved, By Lillian.
The voice was familiar. After .
or two Esther looked up.
Vas she still in q state Of delir-
ium, imagining things that could
not be. or was It true that the cool.
pure air Of morning was on her
brow and that someone was knesl-
ing IN the long grass by her side,
gazing anxiously into her faceH
Esther opened her eyes slowly
and recognized Lillian.
''LiIlian-LilliAn-yo
Esther. my dear-my dear-open
your eyes-you are Bafe-it Is I,
Lillian. who Is with you"
Esther understood then that she
was. indeed, safe, and with a little
cry she raised herself to q sitting