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"You waited till the sun roseand thenyou were sureyou did not doubt that theas I daredthe sun had risen and we heard the claain his parched lips would not obey his bidding
"When the men were at the very door of the hut I carried out my promise," said Anstice steadily "She closed her eyesI told her to, so that she should not be afraid to see death conant moment a slow shudder shook him from head to foot, " it was all over in a second She did not suffer--of that, at least, you may be certain"
Cheniston's hand was over his eyes; and for a space the rooht, to meet your own death?"
"Yes--and I wish to God I'd met it," said Anstice with an uncontrollable outburst of bitterness "I endured the shame, the horror of it all in vain You knohat happenedhow just as the men were about to fire the rescuers burst into the courtyard My God, ere they so late! Or, being late, why did they come at all!"
Cheniston's blue eyes, which had been full of a natural hurew suddenly hard
"You are not particularly grateful to your rescuers," he said "Yet if they had been a few minutes later, you too would have been beyond their help"
Anstice was quick to notice the renewed hostility in the young ed "But can you expect ratitude to thehat memories that lifeof those memories?"
The question, spoken quietly, yet with an obvious significance, took Anstice aback For aafter the speaker's
"Need I?" Suddenly he knehat Cheniston had meant to ith of his days?"
Cheniston nodded, never taking his eyes off the other's face
"I see Well, suicide would be a way out, of course But"--for a second his eyes hardened, grew stern--"I don't rows too much for me A second--mistake"--he spoke slowly--"would not annul the first"