White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-11-07

You must not come back. Tonight
must be the end"
"You mean you cannot face tomor-
row-the disgrace"
IT mean tonight must be the end"
she reiterated.
Through narrowed lids, he looked at
her, scanning her averted face.
Then she heard him laugh bitterly,
discordantly.
II have, apparently, expected too
much Of you. ! night have known 1t
would be so. All women are alike. They
desert man when he needs them
most. The prospect Of sharing my
shame Is more than you can bear"
Again he laughed. ''Well, tonight shall
be the -tonight-now Don't think
blame you. It Is not your fault. !
merely rated you too high, Marcia.
The mistake was mine not yours"
He left her then.
Stunned by the torrent Of his re-
proach she stood motionless, watching
while, without backward glance, he
passed into the hall and up the stairs.
Even after he was out of sight, she
remained inmovable, her frightenee
eyes riveted on the doorway through
which he had disappeared.
Then she swayed, caught at chair
and shrank into it, her body shaking
and her breath coming in gasping,
hysterical sobs.
| The clock licked on, the surf broke
! in muffled undertone, the light faded,
the candles burned lower, fickered and
overhowed the old pewter candlesticks;
and still she sat there, her fearless,
dilated eyes fixed straight before her.
Stanley Heath stood at the telephone
talking to Elisha Winslow and on the
case, overcoat and travelling rug. He
was plainly i'll at ease and had little
to offer in the way Of conversation.
When at length the meal was cut
short by the arrival Of Elisha Wins
low, all three of the group rose with
unconcealed relief.
give got my boat. Are you ready
TO come r1ghJ alOng?
Heath went to Sylvia and took her
hand.
THANK you very much" murmured
he formally, 'for all you've done for
me. appreciate 1t more than I can
say. And you, too, Mrs. Howe"
Il wish you luck, Mr.. Heath" called
!, Sylvia.
Thanks"
"And I, too," Marcia rejoined in q
voice scarcely audible.
To this the man offered no reply
They followed him to the door.
1t was then that Marcia sprang for
ward and caught Elisha's arm.
Where are you taking him, Elisha?'
she demanded, a catch in her voice
Remember, Mr.. Heath has been i'll
You must not risk his getting cold OF
suffering any discomfort"
"You need have no worries on that
score, Marcia" replied the sheriff kind
ly, noticing the distress in her face
'Ill look out for him."
Where is he going?"
ITO my house for the present" Eli
sha answered. "I've got comfortable
: spare room an figger to put him in Il
! til I've questioned him an verified hi
!. story
Meantime, nobody In town will bt
the wiser. amt even tellin' May
; Ellen why Mr.. Heath's at the house
If choose to harbor comp'ny, that!
r my business. Not a soul 'cept Eleazel
3 in on this affair an he's keepin' mum
! When him an me decide we've got tn,
truth, we'll act-not before"
: "That relieves my mind very much
Mr.. Heath is-you see he"
Hes friend of yours-I amt for
: gettin' that. I shall treat him 'cordin'ly
D Marcia"
THANK you, Elisha-thank you {
hundred times"
|. There was nothing more to be said
Heath bowed once again and tn
S two men walked down to the hoa
where they clambered with the luggag
into Elisha's dory and put out into tn
channel
Z Sylvia loitered to wave her ham
: and watch them row away, but Mar
n cia, as if unable to bear the sigh
o waited for no further farewell.
r But by noon she was, to outward APP
pearances, entirely herself. She ha
not been able, to be sure to Danish he
pallor or the traces of sleeplessness
!" but she had her emotions sufficient
e under control to talk pleasantly, if nc
= gaily.
= That day and the next passed /
I much the same strained fashion.
n 1t was not until the third mornin
that the barriers between the two col
!" lapsed.
We Marcia had gone into the livin