Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-07-10

siderably, in Mr.. Strangdeld's eyes, height
ened the mystery of his visit.
Il am truly glad, madam said he. ITO
hear Of the flourishing condition of u
husbands business, and would on no account
nave him summoned from his duties. You
and your charming daughter will, I am sure.
be as fully competent as he to answer the
question which has occasioned my intrusion
upon you"
"1ndeed, sir, we shall be glad to oblige YOU
in any way in our power"
"You are most considerable. 1 must tell
you That DR.. Shaw, Of Greystone school.
with which academy I am at present asso.
ciated, is much troubled about his son, Mr..
Cuthbert, who, I b believe, is known to youi"
This he said in~terrogatively, looking first
at one and then at the other Of them. Mrs.
strangfield gave her daughter a quick glance
and replied:
"Mr. Shaw is known to me by sight, sir.
but I have not the honor of a speaking
acquaintance with him"
Mr.. saunderson elevated his eyebrows
sWhy, then" said he, u have been greatly
misinformed. I was told that Mr.. Shaw
visited here, and was on the most friendly
footing with your family" and he looked at
Jenny with a smirk that gave a large mean.
ing to his words.
"Whoever said that spoke what Is en-
tirely falseI" cried Mrs. strangheld, indig-
nantly. spray, sir, who gave you this piece
of newsf"
Gan old woman named Mead, ma'am, who
lives behind the market yonder. I was d.
rected to her as a gossip who has all facts
concerning this town at her finger ends. Says
she: If you are hunting after Mr.. Shaw 20
to Michael strangaeld;s house4the wooden
house by the boatyard. II they choose to
speak they car tell you all you want to
know"
"Mrs. Mead Is a shocking false speaker and
is most u~nbearably impertinent to use our
name in answering you. There Is no truth
in what she hath said. II you seek Mr.. Shaw
he is not here"
"Still, ma'am, l trusted that you-or you,
miss-might know Of his whereabouts, Last
evening he left his fathers house and has not
returned. If he has run away he has gone
foolishly to work-slyly and foolishly, ladies
for no mar has seen him, and he has left
with nc more clothes to carry than what are
on his back. It u idle to suppose that he is
dead, for the cliff has been searched and the
sands under the cliff, and all about the
country we have sent our big boys and some
men, and no sign Of him visible"
Jenny sat motionless, staring at the speak
er with unwinking eyes.
However" continued he, slowly taking
his hat from the table and rising, ut il plain
that he is not here, and that you know moth
ing about him. His loss will be a heavy blow
to his father, who had great hopes of him:
though, for my part, l cannot help thinking
that he kept him too much under, and 80
forced him, after a manner, to leave his
home"
"But what is thought, sir2 What doth his
father Think" exclaimed Mrs. Strangfeld,
too much interested to notice the growing
~strangeness in Jenny's eyes and the singular
blanching Of her lips.
"Why, DIR. Shaw cannot conceive what has
become of him; he is in a bad way, and there
is no school kept this morning. Quite a sad
ness has fallen upon the boys, who talk to-
gether in subdued voices; for Cuthbert Shaw
was a kind young gentleman, much loved by
US all. As to what has become of him, I have
my W opinion. Last night, a little before
nine, I saw aim leave the house, dressed moro
queerly than ever I had taken nstice of in
him. Shall l say shabbily dressedl That
was 1t, ma'am. He was undoubtedly annoy-
ed to find me posted at the gate, and ad-
dressed me very hurriedly, md was glad to
make off. Now, l can put two and two to-
gether as we'll as another; yesterday afternoon
it was that he spoke to me of being weary Of
his life under his father-not precisely those
words, Mrs. Strangfeld, but his meaning.
Now, what would his disappearance repre-
sent but the true significance of his language
to me2"
Having delivered himself of which, Mr..
~Saunderson bowed low to Jenny, saluted
Mrs. Strangfeld and went away, expostulat-
ing with the elder lady for coming to the
door with him-though politeness was not so
much her reason as a resolve to favor him
with further views of her own respecting
Mrs. Mead before she let him out.
Now, scarce had she ~re-entered the little
sitting room when she uttered a shrek and
ran forward to her daughter. whose aspect
was one that might we'll excite a mothers
terror. She stood rocking herself at the win
dow, with both hands upon her heart, and
her face of the dreadful whiteness of the
dead. Mortally wounded she looked, with
her languishing eyes.
"Oh, my God! what is this, Jennyl' cried
her mother, fiinging her arms around her.
WAS he SO dear to thee, then7"
No answer came from the pale lips for
some moments, only hard struggles for
breath, with now and again a little moan
ooh, Jenny, rest thy poor head on my
shoulder! Oh, little hands, how bitterly
coldl' My lamb, my pretty one-hath he
betrayed theea Why were you not brave to
speak out your hearts secret to mel Whis-
per now, whisper now, that I may comfort
thee"
Smother, I am his wifel" the girl answered,
and with Almighty effort overcame the nausea
and the darkness Of swooning, and drew
away from her mother and stood erect