Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SICKLE OF FATE. The minister went toward her. “‘ What is it, Hetty?” he asked... If she heard his question she paid no attention to it. She waited a mioment, listening with bent head, and then knocked a second time. The minister touched her on the arm. “ What is it Hetty?” he repeated. “ vam have you come for?” She turned to face him. “Tye come to be married to Nathan Swain,” she said, and adjusted a fold of the crape veil upon her shoulder. . The sound of voices had drawn Mrs. Grant to the sitting-room doorway, but at sight of the black-clad figure standing there, she shrank back. Hetty was speaking rapidly im 2 low voice, as if afraid she might be overheard. ‘’ He came to me last night, and said I was to meet him here. It’s been so many years, you know, I thought he had forgot- ten. But I promised I’d be ready, and I sat up to sew my wedding dress by candle- light. But now it’s day—”’ She covered her ‘face with her hands. “Tt frightens me to think he'll find me too mruch altered—that hel expect smooth cheeks, fresh lips, now that my hair is gray! A woman grows old waiting!” — “Tell her, Arthur!” Mrs. Grant broke in. “ Don’t let, her run of so!” - The minister laid his hand again on Hetty’s arm. '“ Have you formetion what happened yesterday?” be he asked. She stared at him for a moment and then glanced back over her shoulder at the study deor. A strange smile bent her lips. “It’s true, then,” she whispered. only wanted to make sure—”’ A took of exultatian gleamed in her face, and Suddenly a peal of crazy laughter echoed up the stair. , “ Forgotten?” she cried. “No! How could you think that I’d forget? I said he came to me last night. He'll always come. It was the only way to bring him back. I killed him so he’d haunt me!” up in a heap of shabby mourning at their feet. When they. had carried her to the old “Ty 309 hair-cloth sofa in the sitting-room and had left her m Mrs. Grant’s care, the minister and Will Davis came back to the hall. - “ That’s why her sister was so frightened last night,’ the young fellow whispered; it’s not to be wondered at, shut up there alone in the house with her!” : ‘ There’s some story behind it all that I’ve never known,” Mr. Grant answered. “You can live in a village like this all your hfe and then find out that you're still a stranger.”’ thew stood on the door-step frowning into the sunlight. “I want you to get Jim Amsden up here,” he directed, “ and have him bring Joel Benton along. I think he’ll be willing to when you tell him what’s happened. No one else in the village need know.” The young man still lingered. ‘You didn’t believe the story Joel told last night, sir. I could see that by watch ing you.” ‘‘ There were too many reasons, Will, for not believing it. I thought at the time he was trying to shield some one.” ‘But why should he do that?” “ Perhaps we can judge better when we confront him with Hetty.” Wil Davis moved off down the path and the minister stared after him. He knew that they had only a little time for the State officers would soon be here, and the reporters for the city papers. All the machinery of publicity would be set up in this remote corner of the world, and worn out as he was with sleeplessness and anxiety, he dreaded what was to come. He was still standing on the step a few minutes later, when his wife came to the door. ° ‘““ Hetty wants to talk with you,” she whispered. ; The httle dressmaker was sitting huddled on the couch, her feet drawn up sidewise. Her hat and veil had been taken off and laid in a chair beside her. Two spots of color glowed in her cheeks and her eyes — glittered. “ve got to tell about it to you an’ Mrs. Grant,” she broke out, ‘‘ now while I know what I’m saying. And you must both of your a. eEOMIGENOG & CO ww