The diamond drill., 1921-09-17

have seen that does not seem gweetcr
lit brings thoughts OF yoo; never a
crime that does not deepen its shame
because you are In the world. In pris-
on when ] used 20 mop my door and
ciean down the walls: when swept
the dust from the corners: when
folded UP my convict-clothes; when
ate the prison food and sang the
prison-hymns when placed myself
beside the bench In the workshop to
make things that would bring cash To
my fellow-prisoners In their need:
when l saw a minister Of religion or
heard the Ltany; when counted up
the days, first that had spent In Jail
and then the days had still to spend
In jail when I read the books from
the prison library Of the land where
you had gone. and OF the struggle
there; when / saw you, In my minds
eye, In the cotton fields or on the ve-
randa of your house In Virginia: I
bad but one thought. and that was tho
look In your face at Playmore and
Limerick, the sound OF your voice as
you came singing up the hill just be-
fore first met you. the Joyous beauty
OF your body"
"And at scar she whispered with
gesture at once beautiful and pathetic.
for IL had the motion of helplessness
and hopelessness
AT sea- he answered. with hts eyes
full Of intense feeling--at seq, I was
No lo n
guished In spirit, and yet with wild
hope that out Of IL would come deliv-
erance- I expected TO lose my life.
and I lived each day as though IL
would be my last was chief rogue
In a shipful OF rogues chief sinner
In hell OF sinners. and yet I had no
remorse and no regret had done
all with an honest purpose, with the
good of the sailors In my mind; and
so i lived In daily touch with death.
honor and dishonor. Yet never saw
a sailor In the shrouds, or heard the
night watch call AIRS well lr In the
midst OF the hight and mutlny. that
did not long for word from you that
would take away the sting OF death.
Those days at sea for ten long weeks
were never free from anxiety, not
anxiety for myself. only for the men
who had put me where was. had
given me captains rank, had"
Suddenly he stopped. and took from
his pocket the letter he was writing on
the very day she landed In Jamaica.
He opened u and studied 1t for mo-
ment with a dark look In his fnee-
This wrote even as you we've land
ting IN Jamaica, and I knew naught OF
your coming. II was an outbreak or
my soul. II was the truth written to
you and for you. and yet with the
feeling that you would never see H. l
was still writing II when Michael
Clones came up the drive to tell me
you and your mother were here. Here
it Is with oil the truth and terror Ia
it-aye, there was terror, for II gave
the soul of my life 20 one I never
thought 70 see again; and, IL seeing.
sbould be compelled 10 do what have
done--tell ber the whole truth ut once
and 30 have IL over.
sBut do not think that In telling II
now I repent OF my secrecy. repent
df nothing; I would not alter anything.
What was to be Is. aud what Is has Its
place In the book OF destiny. No, i
repent nothing, yet here now ] give
you this TO read while still my story OF
the days OF which you know Is In your
ears. Here II Is. IL will tell the whole
story for when you have read II and
DO understand, then we part 10 meet no
more as friends. You will go back 20
Virginia, and l will stay here. You
will not regret coming here; but you
will desire our friendship TO cease ; and
what has been to be no more. while
the tincture OF life is In your veins.
shella. read this thing. for II Is the rest
OF the story until now"
He handed her the papers. and she
took them with an inclination OF the
head which said: "Give II 20 me.
win read IL now while my eyes can
still bear TO read II. have laid on my
heart the nettle OF shame, and while
II Is still burning there will read all
that you have 10 teach me-"
Il will go out In the garden while
you read IT," he said. I'm a half-houi
will come back. and then we can say
good-by." he added. with pain In his
voice. but firmly.
mo. do not CO." she urged. "Sit here
on the bencb-at the end of II here.
she said, motioping with hen hand.
He shook his head In negation. NO.
I Will 90 and say TO your mother That
I have told you. and ease her mint
for know she herself meant to esd
You"
AS be went he looked at her face
closely. II was 80 young. so pathetis.
20 pale. yet so strangely beautiful, AMI
her forehead was serene. That was ore
of her characteristics. In all her life.
her forehead remained untroubled anl
unlfned. Only at her mouth and In hsr
-. . N