Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-12-28

I
Of his speed. But near the house he
halted, peering about, looked in at the
door Of the main room, found It desert
ed, then walked softly around to the
barred window. Nadine spoke before
he recognized her, standing in the twi.
light Of her prison.
my heart wal loud to tell me you
would come, Virgil. And you brought
no one with you. But Of that there
was no need now"
. He stood In silence looking at her,
his strength iexerted against a bar at
the window. to tear 1t loose, but the
wrought-irOn naild were too long, and
he could not bddee them.
'sThe ak, Virgil Is 1t lying there3'
Acting upon her suggestion, and
with no caution now against making
q noise, he cut the bars away and
helped her through the window.
Nadine. he said, my oath must
now be kept"
His arms about her, he stood press
ing her close, and never had he felt so
strong, and surely never so deter
mined. Her eyes half closed, her head
on his arm. she did not speak. She
looked as IL she were at rest, and
dreaming. He kissed her, and her eyes
flashed wide.
II have come to hang the monster
that called you a she-wolf."
"When I have told you, yes. And
now you will listen. Early I thought
I heard Tony and MY mean Stepho
Ia Vitte. go out. But Stepho was not
walking with Tony, the strong man,
but was dragged out In the rocking
chair: for some time in the night come
the strange stroke. and Stepho was
paralyzed."
"Nadine! What are you saying?"
II am saying that you must listen.
Tony came to the window and told me
what was happen. / ask him to let
me out, but he would not, for he wants
to please Stepho till the last; on ac-
count Of the money that may be some
where hid. He went for the doctor,
and he came but has gone away again.
for I hear him say he can do no good.
The old man was out. In his chair
where he sc often sit and we will go
see him, for it will not be for long.
Let us forget all and be kind when
death was come, Virgil"
"Yes, but where is Tony now?"
II think he is looking for the money.
Let us go now to the poor old man."
"You for . easily, Nadine"
She look him in wonderment.
"How can we not forgive when the
heart say we must. Virgil? He>use M
for the trap, which ! will explain all to
you, but he give me the chance to he
with you, and for that Iithank him
and for not being my sure-enough
father. Come with me-"
Old Stepho sat in his chair asleep,
but as they approached him, he
opened his eyes, looked at Nadine,
then at Drace.
Monsieur was YER strong. An /
Kill you If / be not struck down like
the beef. An Tony kill you If he here,
but I send him off for something. All,
the leetle gel, she hate me nova"
"Monsieur," she said, II cannot find
it in my heart to hate. 1t is the pol
son. Many times you were kind, and
I remember them."
He bowed his head, and through his
tangled lashes looked up at Drace, fire
cleaning through brushwood. But he
spoke to Nadine, turning upon her a
less malignant glance.
"The paralyze, it begin down here
an creep up. When 1t touch the heart,
I was go. I say Just now that Tony,
he would kill the strong monsieur. He
would not. He be scared when 1 was
DONE . Z. 80
'c'Your name, leetle GEL" pursued
Stepho, twas Walton-the daughter Of
a northern man who live in the same
town with Mr.. braces father near Gin
cinnati. You AM your mother were
carried OF by my men; but your moth
er, she fall from the horse just as We
come to our camp and she die, About,
her neck was a purse with money and
papers-one. that tell where more
money is buried. After the war I go
back and dig up this money. but ]
keep 1t for you, for your dowry. II
is here-buried under the hearthstone.
i. Now-now I beg you to go for
Father Tahan. You know where he
live. Quick, for II creep up"
"Yes, i will 60. Virgil will stay to
keep you company"
"Let me go with you" BRACE plead
ed, fearful that some harm might be-
fall her.
"No, my love one" she gently OPP
posed him. "You must stay here for
no harm can come to me now. Stay
here and be kind to him, for kindness
is the will OF the One above. You
will, yes?"
She kissed him fondly, and the old
w~olf-eyes closed, that they might not
see. Now she was ready to go. Virgil
steadied the canoe for her and gently
showed it of. She threw him a kiss,
and rounding a green cape. raised her
paddle into the sunlight and flashed
him adieu.
Drace returned to Stepho's chair, the
Md man shagging his brows at him.
Then thinkingSo Of the rope still but
toned tightly beneath his coat, he tore
1t o II and threw 1t away. Nature, he
reflected had usurped his task. and he
could safely turn owe to her his
uah4 .nt.a hahfrd bsr, /. no