The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-01-19

fed from her lips. You loved ne:
she said In a voice grown soft--husky
still, but soft as the liEht in sum.
mer heaven. You loved mi and
have always loved me since we firsi
met?'
II have always loved you. Shela
and shall do so while have breath
and life. I have always given you the
best that Is In me. tried To do what
was good for US both. since my mis-
fortune-crime, Lord MallOw cnlls II.
as does the world. Never sunrise
that does not find you In the forefront
Of oil the lighted world; never a flower
1T brings thoughts OF you; never
crime that does not deepen Its shame
because sou are in the world. In pris.
on, when used 10 mop my hoor ami
clean down the walls; when | sweep
the dust from the corners; when !
folded up my eonvict-elothes when
ate the prison food and sang The
prlson-hyInns when | placed myself
beside the bench In the workshop t.
make things that would bring cash tn
my fellow-prisoners in their need
when | saw a minister of religion or
heard the Litany; when COUNTED ~
the days, first that | had spent In jan
and then the days ! had still To spend
In Jail when 1 read the books from
the prison library OF the land where
you had gone, and OF the struggl.
there; when l saw you, In my minds
eye, In the cotton fields or on the We
randa Of your house in Virginia:
had but one thought. and that was III.
look In your face at Playmore aud
Limerick, the sound OF your voice a.
you came singing up the hill just be
fore first met you, the joyous beaut!
Of your body"
"And at sea?" she whispered with
gesture at once beautiful aud palheti,
for II had the motion OF helplessnes,
and hopelessness.
AT sea- he answered, with his eye
full OF intense feeling-"at sea. w;>
free at last, doomed as thought. an
guished In spirit, and yet with wild
hope that out Of 1t would come deli,
erancs. l expected to lose my life
and lived each day as though i
would be my last. | was chief r"gu
In shlpful of rogues. chief sinner
in hell of sinners. and yet ! had "a,
remorse aud no regret. | Ind don
aIl with an honest purpose with tlrt
good OF the sailors in my mind an.
so lived In daily touch with death
honor and dIshonor. Yet | never 81,
n snilor In the shrouds. or heard tn
hight watch call 'All's well = in tlt
midst Of the night and mutiny. that
did not long for word from you tina
would take away the sting Of death
Those days at sea for ten long week
were never free from anxiety. ia
anxiety for myself. only for the me-
who had put me where | MAS. ha'
given me captains RINK. had"
Suddenly he stopped. and took fr"l
his pocket the letter he WAS writing u
the very dny she landed IN Jarair
He opened ftrAnd' studied Il for a. mo-
ment with dafR 'rtoxo In his faeei'"
This 4 wfctp eteti AZ you were -Ialid-
ng In jamaica. and l'Rnew naushtaof
your ebming. II was sn'ouibreak OF
my soil. 1t7wks 1he truth written TO
YOU aud fdr seu. and yet with the
feeling that yon Would never scetit !
Was stih Writing ituwhen Michael
Clones came up the drive TO tell me
you aDl Your mother were here. Here
1t is With all the truth and terror IN
lt-aye, there was terror, for it gave
the soul OF my life to one ! never
thought TO see again, and. II seeing
should be compelled 10 do what have
done-tei her the whole truth at once
and SO have it over.
But do not think that in telling II
now repent OF my secrecy. repent
of nothing; | would not alter anything.
What vas TO be Is, and what Is has lis
place In the book of destiny. No, !
repent nothing. yet here now ! give
you this to read While still my story oil
the days Of wbich,you know is in your
ears. Here Ii isa, 1t will tell the whole
story; ror. &hep you have read II and
do understand, then we part TO meet no
more rs friends. You will ga back TO
Virginia. aud l5wil stay here. You
will not regret coming here; but You
will desire our friendship TO cease anu
what has been 10 be no more, while
the tincture OF life is in your veins
Sheila, read this thing, for it 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 to me. ]
will read 1t now. while my eyes can
still bear TO read II. have laid on IN!
heart the nettle of shame. and while
II Is still burning there | will read all
that you have TO teach me"
II will so out In the garden whll'
you read it, he said. I'm hnlf-houl
| will Come back, and then we can SAY
aood BY" he added, with pain in his
voice. but firmly,
mo, do not go she urged. "Slt here
on tho behch-at the end Of 1t here,
she said, rnolionins with her hand.
He shook his head 10 nesntion. NO
H..