fice yourself
needlessly for him?" he questioned quickly.

"No, not that--not that," a shudder ran through her body, "but he--he
was my husband. You forget."

"I do not forget. God knows it has been burden enough for me. But you
have no further duty here, none to him. You have to yourself and to
me."

"To--to you?"

"Yes, to me. I will put it that way, if it will only stir you to
action. I can not, will not, leave you here alone to suffer for this.
If you stay, I stay. In Heaven's name, Beth, I plead with you to go; I
beg you to be guided in this by me."

"You--you will go with me?" her voice trembling, yet for the first time
exhibiting a trace of interest. "If I go, you will go?"

"Yes, yes; can you suppose I would ever permit you to go alone? Do you
give me your promise?"

She still held her head pressed between the palms of her hands, her
dishevelled hair hanging far below the waist, her dark eyes, wild and
filled with terror, roving about as though seeking to pierce the
surrounding darkness.

"Oh, my God! I don't know!" she cried in a breathless sob. "I don't
know! Why won't you go? Why won't you go, and leave me here with him,
until some one else comes? I cannot understand; my brain is on fire.
But that would be better--yes, yes! Do that. I--I am not afraid of
him."

He caught her outflung hand firmly within his own grasp. She
shuddered, as if the contact were painful, yet made no effort to
escape, her eyes widening as she looked at him.

"No, I will not go one step without you." He held her helpless, his
face grown stern, seeing in this his only hope of influencing her
action. "Can it be you believe me such a cur? Beth, we both
comprehend the wrong this man has done, the evil of his life the
provocation given for such an act as this. He deserved it all. This
is no time for blame. If we desired to aid him, our remaining here now
would accomplish nothing. Others will discover the body and give it
proper care. But, oh, God! do you realize what it will inevitably mean
for us to be discovered here?--the disgrace, the stigma, the
probability of arrest and conviction, the ruthless exposure of
everything? I plead with you to think of all this, and no longer
hesitate. We have no time for that. Leave here with me before it
becomes too late. I believe I know a way out, and there is opportunity
if we move quickly. But the slightest delay may close every avenue for
escape. Beth, Be