The Place Beyond the Winds

again on the tall clock whose white face gleamed pallidly among the shadows like a dead thing that had

relentless touch upon the girl, and, crouching by the he

avy shutters or curtains, but a consciousness of day at last roused the sleeper. At first the experience through which she had passed made no demand upon her. She got painfully upon her feet and looked about. The fire was but embers, the air was hot and stifling, and then, with the thought of opening a door or wind

the nerves of the stomach were calling for nut

least might test her pitiful strength against Jerry-Jo's did he pursue her. The determination to act gave relief. The dark, damp room she could no longer bear; the lamp had hours before ceased t

o remain unsought; there was danger. Why, even her father could not be so-so hard as to sleep undisturbed while she was unhoused! And her mother? Oh! surely her m

rching it will b

pushed gently outward. Through the crack the sun poured, and oh, the fresh sweetness of the morning air! Again she pushed, once aga

e to the house and not a foot from the door through which she had come, again sh

u! I've been busy. There's a boat stopping at the wharf to-night. I'm leaving for the States. I've to

kill you when he kn

gain Jerry-Jo's laugh taunted her, and as she turned to the path her father faded from h

her appeared easy. Now that the real danger was past, her physical demands seemed simple and well within her control. If her father turned her away-and as she drew near to Lonely Farm she felt that he probably would-she would go to Farwell,

presence in the kitchen at eleven in the morning, and Theodora's red an

er! F

dishevelled girl in the doorway.

I com

m, coming as it did upon his real anxiety. He had not heard the village gossip that Long Jean had already started. He had been out

said sternly. "Wh

herself from her father's thought; as it was she could only summon enough strength to parry his q

t-Far Hi

nig

es

it

h Jerry-J

me like a sna

torm was-o

u so little morality that you choose to stay overnight with a man in a lo

he, on the sudden, seemed to grow old and strong; the ancient distrust and dislike of her father overcame her; she l

addressing Nathaniel with an anger, glo

ust incriminate

k I would have stayed there-if-if--" Here th

man's power as you have can exp

hy

lways, but I'll still stand by you if you show reason. I'll do it for your mother's sa

his was a trick her nerves had of

l? You would make that little hell for me without even knowing

is only one way out for you. If you refuse that--" And here Nat

over to her mother. She drew the bowed and quivering form

, do you believe

, strong young body gav

ou. But you must do what your father thinks best; it is the o

heed me! If she refuses, out you go with her! No longer will I live with

, the only way that led to even the poor peace she yearned to leave to

hild, your fath

re mother.

looked over the gray head

ce Jerry-Jo McAlpin to marry me; he's eager enough to do it. He leaves to-night for the States

bring dishonour upon you. I could have explained to you-you would ha

d! oh! m

e, dear

la! Do not l

s the o

ou are not

illa

o and me. And now a kiss-and th

eodora sank gently to the flo

fted the white head to her knee

as down between them. Man and woman, they st

ded Nathaniel, and strode

Neither McAlpin nor any other

d-my hate I l

g on the rough couch in the sunny kitchen, and

g pleadingly around. And then Nathaniel

or the States to-night. It's you and

've been hard on her;

are set upon. 'Twas fore-ordained and her being ours makes no difference. Every li

th. Couldn't we have drawn her from it-if we had expected different of her? Oh! I shall m

weeping aga

an, that worse ha

aint was over, Nathaniel

ungry, the poor dear! We woul

uppliant, all would

, and a kind of fren

Alpin has the devil blood in him when he's up to-to pranks. Suppose--" A sort of horror shook the thin

him, if what yo

e gone

o-morrow before you leap to the doing of that which yo

waited-many,