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

~s w :. 1890 1870
open sword lay on the table beside me
while was asleep, and that 1t had
let out his life-blood."
"Why WAS he Killed. she asked,
horror-strickcn and with pale lips.
II Go not know, but II killed him.
IL was because ] revoted from the
proposals he made TO me. /"
He paused, for the look on her face
was painful TO see, and her body was
as that Of one who had been struck
by lightning. His heart smote him.
and he pulled himself together to tell
her all.
go on" she said. II want to hear.
want--to know all. | ought TO have
known-long ago. but that cant be
helped now. Continue please"
Her words had come slowly. in gasps
almost and her voice was SO frayed
he could scarcely recognize 1t. All the
pride of her nature seemed shattered.
III L killed him." he said presently.
at was because he tried to tempt lse
from My allegiance to the crown, To
become a servant of France, to"
He stopped short for cry came
from her lips which appalled, him.
MY God-my God !" she said with
bloodess lips, her eyes fastened on
his face. her every look and motion
the infection of despair, Go on-telI
ALL" she added presently with more
+, composure.
Swiftly he described what hap
!, pened III the little room at the trail
tors tavern, OF the momentary recon-
cIliatlon and the wine that he drank,
drugged wine poured out but not
drunk by Errls Boyne aud of his later
Inconsistencies. At last he paused.
"Why did these things not come out
at the trial?' she asked in flushed
tones.
ANS HaaGe n lirlifless- gesturN ~ did
not speak bfI tl'eni because I,thoughi
of sDu 1 hid It'll lid iDt wnnt you
10 Know what yonr ihcr VAST ri
~ Som ethlas III. ., susndIs gathered al
her pA1e hb% "You saved me, for III, {
monent, Ind condemned yourself for
ever she said in a voice OF torture
"If you had told what he was--f you
had told that, the jury would moi have
condemned you, they would not have
sent you to prison"
81 believe ! did the right thing" he
said. "lf l killed your father, prison
WAS my proper punishment. But cant
remember. There was no other cluc
no other. guide to Judgment. So til,
law said killed him. and-he hau
evidently not drawn his sword. II
was clear he was killed defenselcss.'
You killed defenseless man
Her voice was sharp with agony
That was mentioned at the trial
but did not believe 1t then--in tia
long ago" She trcmbled to her fee
from the bench where she was sitting
"And do not believe II uow-no, o.
my soul. do not" -
f'"But 1t makes no difference, >yn'
see. 4 was condemned for KILN
your father, and the world knows tha
Errls Boyne was your father, an
here Lord Maliow. the governor know
II; and there Is no chance " friend
ship between you and me- You dar'
not be friends with me-"
Her face suddenly suffused and sh
held herself upright with an cfr0ri
She was about to say. II dare, Dyck
! do dare" bat he stopped her with
reprovlng gesture.
mo. no, you dare not. and woult
not let you II you would. ! am an IN
convict. They say | killed your In
Their, and the way 10 understanding
between US Is closed"
She made protesting gesture
CLOSED Closed but Is II closed
No. no, some one else killed him, M
you. You couldn't have done II. Yo'
would have fought hm-fought hin
us you did Lord Mallow, and in fight
Ing you might have killed him. bu
your sword never let out his llf'
when he was efenselesS-never."
a look Of intense relief, almost OF
happiness. came to Dyck's face. That
Is like you. Sheila, but 1t does not
cure the trouble. You aud | are as
far apart as noon and midnight rm
law has said the only thing that can
be said upon IT,"
She sank down again upon the
wooden bench. "Oh. how mad you
were. not to tell the whole truth long
ago! You would not have been con
dcmned. and then"
She paused. overcome. and his self
control almost deserted him. With
strong feeling lie burst out: And
then we might hive come togetheri
No. your m0t1cr-your friends. myself
could not have let that be. See. Shcm
will tell you the whole truth now
aye. the whole, absolute truth have
loved you since the first day saw
you on the hills. Not day hus
passed since then. when you we're not
more 10 me than any other woman In
all the world"
A new light cnue into her face. the
shadows left her eyes and the pulvr