"I was maid to the woman he went away with," continued Berthe, "and so I came to know his story. The woman has been kind to him—let her pass, then"—seeing that her listener shuddered. "The man is dying. He moans and wails for you—for you. The woman herself begged me to come for you. He fears" (her face grew whiter) "he fears the fires of hell, but he will not have a priest. Only you can rescue him—your pardon—he cannot die without it." She broke down. All else she might have borne upon her conscience; but she could not bear that he should go unshriven.
At the mention of the fires of hell Natalie was conquered. "Take me to him," she said.
"Follow me in half an hour," Berthe rose as she spoke, handing a written address to Natalie.
"But no time must be lost——"
"In half an hour," repeated Berthe. "Give her—the woman—time to get away." And then she passed out of the room.
CHAPTER XLII.
"I WILL NEVER LEAVE HIM, SO HELP ME GOD IN HEAVEN."
"Natalie." He stirred uneasily, muttering the word, which since her coming he had not uttered; then, as she lightly pressed the hand she held, he slept again. So she had sat for hours beside his bed.
The physician had prepared her for the sight that had met her eyes. From Tabitha, who was with her, he had gleaned some knowledge of the facts. Tabitha, still ignorant of the granting of the decree, had assured him that the visitor was the wife of Leonard Claghorn.