“Can you bear a great shock, my love?” murmured Queenie, in a low voice, tightening her hold of the girl’s arm. “Are you brave enough to hear something that will be a great blow, a great sorrow to you?”
Jess looked at her in affright. Her two little hands clutch at Queenie’s skirts, while her eyes, like two burning flames, seem to devour the face of the false friend.
“If it is something about my—husband, tell me quick!” she breathes hoarsely, “for the suspense is killing me.”
“I would to Heaven that it was not my lot to break the pitiful news to you, Jess, but perhaps I can do it better than any one else.”
“Yes, yes; go on, go on. I am sure it is something about my husband,” whispers Jess in intense excitement.
Queenie nods, and clasps the two ice-cold hands of Jess in her own, while she prepares to utter the death-warrant to the girl standing so innocent and so helpless before her—at her mercy.
“Little Jess, I pity you with all my heart,” she begins, “and my heart bleeds for you. I cannot keep the truth back from you an instant longer. Something has happened to your husband.”
“He is hurt!” shrieked Jess, wildly, clutching at her heart as she gulps out the choking words.
“He met with an accident as he was leaving here, and he is—dead!” whispers Queenie.
The words have scarcely left her lips ere Jess falls like a log at her feet.