The Winslow mail., 1922-12-29
But Of that there

no one with you. But OF tn4t tnere
was 10 need now"
He stood in silence looking at her,
his strength eXerted against a bar at
the window, to tear it loose, but the
wrOught-iron nails were too long, and
he could not bulge them.
THE ak. Virgil Is it living there"'
Acting uron her suggestion. and
with no caution now against making
noise, ne 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 if she were at rest, and
flashed wide.
81 have come to hang the monster
that called you a she-wOlf."
"When I have told YOU. yes. And
now you will listen. Early l thought
heard Tony and MY mean StephO
la 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?"
81 am saying that YOU must listen.
Tony came to the window and told me
what was happen. 1 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 hear him say he can do no good
The old man was out in his chair
where he so 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?''
81 think he is looking for the money
Let us go now to the poor old man."
you forgive easily, Nadine
She looked ut him in wonderment.
"How can we not forgive when the
heart say we must. Virgil? He use me
for the trap, which will explain all to
you. but he give me the chance to be
with you. and for that l thank him
and fer not being my sure-enough
fo thor Coma with me-"
Old StephO sat in his chair asleep,
but as they approa ched him. he
opened his eyes, looked at Nadine
then at Drace.
Monsieur was ver' strong. An
kill YOU if l be not struck down like
the beef. An Tony kill you if he here,
but send him off for something. All,
the leetle gel. she hate me now?"
"Monsieur" she said. II cannot find
it in my heart to hate. 1t is the poi
son. Many times you were kind, and
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 q
less malignant glance.
''The paralyze. it begin down here
nm creep up When 1t touch the heart,
was go. I say just now that Tony.
he would kill the strong monsieur. He
would not He he scared when | was
done.
"Your name. leetle gel" pursued
Stepho, "was Walton-the daughter OF
a northern man who live In the same
town with Mr.. Braces father near Gin
cinnati You an your mother were
carried off 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 purse with money and
papers-0ne that tell where more
money is buried. After the war / go
back and dig up this money. but /
keep it for you, for your dowry. 1t
is here-buried under the hearthstOne.
Now-now l beg you to go for
Father Tahan. You know where he
live. Quick, for it creep up
eyes. 1 will go Virgil will stay TO
keep you company"
LET me go with you" Drace 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
wolf-eyes closed, that they might not
see Now she was ready to go. Virgil
steadied the canoe for her and gently
showed it off. She threw him kiss.
and rounding a green cape, raised her
paddle into the sunlight and flashed
him adieu.
Drace returned to Stepho's chair. the
old man shagging his brows at him.
| ~,