Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-26
Destroying
Angel
& Louis Joseph Vance
Authss u
sn Pool Of F7aNs,"
TN Bronze Bell" "7hs Bisel
Beg" "7Rs Brsss Bspl."
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oopyrighs BY Louis Joseph Vance

SpOnueu pleaSnHllN. 'ftihiIliS nor.
Then he shut the outside door with
n convincing bang.
"If this be marriage !" He
smiled his twisted smile.
Leaving the kitchen light turned
low, he went to his own room and,
as on the previous night, threw HIM
self upon the bed without undressing:
but this time with no thought of sleep.
Indeed he had no expectation Of clos
ing his eyes in sumber before the
next night. at the earliest; he had
no intention other than TO attempt to
swim to the nearest land.
An hour dragged out it's weary
length, and the half of another. He
making an noise.
Slowly. on tiptoes, Whitaker stole
toward the door out into the hail, took
a single step on toward the kitchen;
and then, piercing suddenly the nbso-
lutte stiffness within the house,
board squealed like an animal be-
meath his tread
In an instant he heard the thud
and patter Of her footsteps above,
her loud, quickened breathing as she
leaned over the balustrade. looking
down, and her cry Of dsmay: Hugh!
Hugh 20
He halted, saying in an even voice:
"Yes, it is l." She had always seen
him; there was no use trying TO get
away without her knowledge now: be-
sides. he was no sneak-thief to fly from
a cry. He burned with resentment,
Impotence and Indignation, but he
waited stolIdly enough while the
woman flew down the stairs to his
side.
Hugh" she demanded, whte-faceN
and trembling, what is the matter?
Where are you goingT'
He moved his shoulders uneaSilv,
forcing a short laugh. Il darcsay
you've guessed II. Undoubtedly You
have. Else why" He didn't finish
save by a gesture Of resignation.
'You mean you were going-going
to try to swim to the mainland?"
~ meant to try IT," he confessed
II should have known" she de-
clnred passlonately. 81 was asleep, but
! knew the instant YOU stirred"
AT must be DONE he muttered.
"Plcase--"
But 1t must not be done, Hugh :"
Her voice assembled. I'll can't let
you. I won't let YOU You . . TN
be your death-youll drown. shall
have let you 60 to YOUR death"
ooh. now. really" he protested
But Hugh, know it, l feel 1t
here" hand stNyed to rest, tlut-
tering. above her heart. "If l should
don't, don't GO"
MARY" he began hoarsely. Il tell
you-"
"iou're only going Hugh, because -.
because | love you so | | am
afraid to let You love me . That's true,
isn't it? Hugh-it's true?"
lie mumbled an almost inaudible
avowal of his intention.
"Hugh, you're killing me! II you
love me"
He gave n gesture of despair and
Capitulation.
1--WE done my best, Mary. / meant
to do the right thing. /"
"IIugh, you mean You won't go?"
JOY from Il surCharged heart rang Vi
brant in every syllable uttered in that
marvellous voice
But now he dared meet her eyes.
ayes" he said, II won't go" nodding,
with an apologize shadow of his
twisted smile. Il can't If 1t
distreSSes you"
"Oh, my dear, my DEAR
Whitaker started. staggered with
amaze, and the burden of his wife in
his arms Her own arms clipped him
close. Her fragrant. tear-gemmed
face brushed his. He knew ut last the
warmth of her sweet mouth, the dear
madness of that first caress.
Then through the magical hush Of
that time when the world stood still.
the thin, clear vibrations Of distant
hail:
"Aho-oy.'
In his embrace his wife stiffened
and lifted her head to listen like
startled fawn.
Listen" He held up his hand
This time it rang out more near and
most unmistakable:
"Ahoy. The house. nhoy"
With the frenzied leap of a mailman,
Whitaker flung out into the dim, sill |
very witchery Of the night. He stood
staring, while the girl stole to his |
side and caught his arm. He passed |
II round her, lifted the other hand |
dumbIy pointed toward the northern
beach. For the moment he could not
trust himself to speak.
In the sweep of the anchorage" a |
small, white yacht lowered ghostike
On the beach itself small boat |
was drawn up. figure in white
waited near 1t. Rising over the brow |
Of the uplnnds moved two other fig
ures in white ana one in darker cloth
ing, the latter leading the way at
rapid pace. AS they drew together,
the leader Of the landing party
checked his pace and called:
"Hello there! Who are you? What's
the meaning of your fires--?"