New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13

|
NJ Iownshend and all the men for miles around,
including Philip Barrett, were interchangeable IN
their search of Noah's Island. But nothing what
ever came Of their search
That one day seemed a week long to Rowena
and her mother Mrs. Tutte was so Frustrated
that she could pot leave her bed, and Rowena
could not leave her alone. And there seemed to
be nothing for the younger woman to do but to
wait.
A hundred times during the slow moving hours
Mrs. Tuttc would turn her weary, fcversh face
toward her companion and ask
Amt there no message yet?"
| She had made her daughter promise that she
would tell her exactly what was in the telegram
when it did come.
Considering the sposh, and several matters of
his own private business, Mr. jerks thought he
did very well to deliver Mrs. Sears's word before
Gdk
Standing By her mothers bed having locked the
door to insure the absence of Mrs. McGee, Rowena
tore open the envelope Her eyes darted over
tile words before her tongue could possibly frame
them. Her face grew deep crimson. She read
aloud.
Mr.. Soule left Vendome last night for New
York, via Fall River. Could not learn if he were
ma~~ed C. A. Scarf"
What? WHAT" cried Mrs TnJtle.
Rowena felt choking. True she knew nothing.
But She had no doubt
In answer to her mothers cry, she read the
words again. This time Mrs. Tutte's face looked
less agonized
eff it's Mr. Soule--o she breathed long
breath Then she said, guess it's all right, alnt
it liked Mr. Soulc real we'll SO you think she
went off to marry Mr. Soulc? What made her so
secret about it? Tell what you think? Can't
you speall?' with intense interest
81 think she is with him." answered Rowena
in her lowest voice.
Then it's all right, amt it? But they needn't
have been secret, | say
Rowcns stood silent with the sheet of paper in
her hand. How she had been deceived But what
more could She have done that she had not done
Unless she had not sufficiently entertained her sis
ter?
She grew hot and then cold at the memory Of
words Mr.. Soule had spoken to her. And she had
pitcd him. Her heart had really achcd for him.
Well, che had still many things TO learn of
life and the world and its ways Perhaps another
time She would not feel pity so quickly
Her sisters image was confused in her mind
II was blurred as if forever. She could not ac-
count for the girls choosing to behave thus. But
Mr. Soule had bcwitched her tho practical, unim-
aginative girl must be under spell.
One terrible doubt there was still in her mind
the doubt whether man like Mr.. Soule would care
to marry girl like Sarah Kimbal This doubt
She kept to herself She saw that not shadow
of such a thought had come to her mother
She opened her mouth and spoke words which
She did not herself believe.
Perhaps" she SAID Sarah Kimbal thought an
elopement would be romantic
But she never romantic in her life,'
tn ia ~ No. ipt
know Sarah Kimball?"
After the first shock OF reading he telegram was
over Rowena said with serious emphasis that after
all nothing clear yet. 1t would he better not
to hint at their suspicious since they were
only suspicious. IL was true many things
led her TO suspect that her sister had
joined Mr.. Soue. But because that gentleman had
lift Boston the night before was not the least
proof that any with him.
They would wait until tomorrow and II they
heard nothing she would ask Mrs Sears 20 set n
detective TO work IL could easily enough lie
learned where Mr. Soule had gone and with whom.
And il Sarah Kimball' went Rowena angrily,
"had heart OF flesh she would write TO her mother
Girls were not AIKEN of and shut up In stone
towers in these days"
Then MIS- Tuttic tried TO defend her absent
daughter, and in her eagerness TO do she began
TO cough.
Notvythsta nding the condition OF the roads, a
great many neighbors called TO inquire if anything
had been heard II was clearly the most interest |
ing occasion that had occurred in the vicinity.
Rowena left Mrs. Mc(iee to converse with these
people which she did with an enjoyment and gusto |
impossible to describe. She always began with tow
Rowena herself had looked when she had been |
the evening before With some She even went so |
far back to give description OF the washing
she had done on the morning of the previous day.
And almost everybody still believed Sarah KIM
ball to be in the woods somewhere. She had either
been lured there or carried there. Some Of the |
women boldly stated that if they were men they |
knew they could find her Mrs. Barrett was the |
originator Of the cheerful idea that lion or tiger
had escaped from some mcnagcrie and had carried |
Sarah Kimball off She believed that il was Of no |
use whatever TO spend any time in looking.
The morning Of the second day Nathan Henry, |
who had substituted another wheel for the ono |
which was broken though it was not q match" |
drove Rowena to the postofice for the third time. |
On her second visit she had tried 10 learn to whom
her sister had been writing OF late II was strange
that nothing particular was remembered save that |
the man asserted that he could Jest about take his
oath that il want TO no man
There was something in the postmastcr's face |
that made Rowena suspect that her sister might
have found means TO secure his silence.
But now as She came out Of the office She held |
a letter in her hand. She spraDg eagerly into the |
wagon where her brother waited her.
rs it from her?" he asked quickly.
She nodded. Her fingers tremblcd, but she tore
orcn the envelope which was addressed to her and
which bore the New-York postmark
Nathan Henry turned the horse round so that thc
people on the steps should not SEE them He
slapped the lines
/ snum!n he cried Indignantly. Il hope
she's made fuss nough this time"
Rowena did not hear him. There was closely
written sheet. Her eye leapcd 10 the name
signed at the bottom. She uttered sharp ex
clamation and crushed the paper in her hand.
81 won't read any mere till get home TO
Din. fasl