Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-18
CHAPTER XIV
"world II you know what is right.
Tain in HE staad

am the one that's dead"
They took Marie back to the Yellow
gheaf Inn, on the Oxford road, carrying
her on a rough stretcher made of q
Broken gate, covered with coats, and
ehris walked beside her, holding her
hand in his.
A doctor had come from Somerton,
and they took her away from him up
stairs, and shut the door.
The woman who kept the inn came
up to him as he stood on the landing
outside her room and tried to persuade
him to come away ald change his wet
kothes.
"Youll take your death of cold," she
sid in kindly anger. There's a suit
p my husbands that you're welcome
b, sir, I'm sure"
Chris thanked her absently, but
iArdly heard what she was saying. In
ls heart he was sure that Marie was
kad, though as yet the shock of the
hagedy kept him from feeling anything
cutely.
1t was a nightmare as yet-that was
bll And he had the childish feeling
That If he were patient, he would wake
up and be able to laugh at it all.
Presently the woman climbed the
tairs again with cup of steaming cof-
Zee, into which she had put strong
dose of brandy. She stood over him as
she had been his mother while he
drank it.
"It's no use every one getting i'll"
she scolded. "If the poor dear in there
wants you, you won't be in fit state
10 go to her."
She had struck the right note. and
Chris went off obediently to change his
clothes.
The mist seemed to have quite cleared
lway as he looked toward the window
Ifor moment, and there was bright
|moonlight-as bright as it had been that
plight when he went out to the sea with
|hFs. HerOt and the skiff broke away
20 long ago it seemed!
He shivered, and went back to the
poor Of Marie's room.
Feathers was dead-he knew that
|ncw-but as yet he had not been able
70 realize it, He knew that down on
|he river bank men were still searching
|for him-unsuccessfully. 1t was a hor-
|nble thought. He knew he would never
|s able to rid himself of the feeling of
those Shiny reeds and rushes that had
|red to drag him down with them.
p. Feathers was dead. Chris knew that
n must have been his arm about which
IBIS cropping fingers had first closed. He
|snut his eyes with a sense of physical
|dekness.
Where was this tragedy, which had
begun with h. own selfshness. going
10 end?
supposing Marie died, too! He
|rpped his arms above his heart as if
10 still the terrible pain that was rend-
lls him. He did not deserve that she
mould live, he knew. His face was
ssnen when presently her door opened
and the doctor came out.
Its all right" he said. "Shell be
al rlght-thanks to you. Shock to the
system, of course, but'-he gave an ex-
camation Of concern as Chris swayed
you'd better come downstairs and let
ms iSs. prescribe for you," he said bluntly.
mo, you cant see your wife yet. That
iaee OF yours would only make her
!, He would not allow Chris to see her
that night.
:, She must be kept perfectly quiet.
|ay dear chap, listen to reason" he
llrged, when Chris objected. "Do you
wan wsnt to Kill her outright? No? Very
well then, do as say"
ne hesitated, then asked: "Were
you with her--in the carp
a, No - Chris voice shook - my
friend was with her." he added, turning
Dis face away.
~ "a see; Terrible thing-terrible! !"
EIFlS followed him TO the door.
,,,,. Ahd-my wife? You are sure
NuttS sureF' he asked in agony.
quite sure She wants rest, of
.ourSe, but it's been most wonderful
ss~ape. He hcsitated. They haven't
osSnS a.Sna the other poor fellow yet?" he
no"
,.i1 ne saw the grief in Chris face, and
feid out his hand.
4, AoH did your best; it was a gal
thut h thlng-going into the river like
SnMt I'm the darkness. They would
'O.n hayye gone but for YOU"
lou best go to bed sir" the inn
fSssePer's wife said to Chris as he went
IA sIo '2lrS. "Iie down and try
Il Il she IS'ecp d III cal you the very minute
p Que asks for YOU"
hron uI ne wou'd net, and in the end she
MrIssn1t an armchair to the door Of
honaate,SS room, and, worn out with ex-
IN hit''oh u and emotion, Chris fell asleep
of 60, woke to daylight and the tramp
mn eet on the road outside. He stared
every limb. ""s anu SH"h'hs |"
brjnSinM MnTW what it meant-they were
Tsng Feathers in ="
boma, .aWtnlness of it seemed to come
as hs 70 him with overwhelming" force
H. sood there and listened.