The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-07-24
did the men get started before you

Did the men get started before you
ieft?" she inquired. putting her arm
around the girls waist and leading hers
to the cool sitting-room.
YES; they had planned to throw
line ell the way across the mountain.
moving it northward. SO as to cover the
whole plateau"
"They can hardly fail to find him;
that is, if he still on the mountain,
replied Mrs. Ludlow.
''Oh, yes, Helen. but just think of it
this is the bird day. They can sea1ce-
ly hope to find him alive if any acct.
dent has happened" Hester's voice
betrayed her emotion, and Mrs: Ludlow
fastened to comfort her.
You mustn't be discouraged, dear;
it'll come out all right just feel that
it will. All day yesterday was just
as blue as could be. but now am sure
We'll hear good news before long"
81 wish I could be; but can't; and
I've tried so hard. All night long was
haunted by. the most dreadful pictures
Of him lying in some desolate place.
Sometimes it seemed as if he We're only
wounded but at others his face was
iivid ard ghastiy. Oh. it was terrible!"
"Poor dear" said Mrs. Ludlow.
sympathetically, docs it mean so much
to you?'
Hester covered her face with her
forter saw tear trickle down one of
the shapely fingers. There. there,
Hester, dear; don't cry: I know you
can't talk about it yet. not even to me. :"
The girl looked up with her cheeks
afiame. And you know why l can't!
It shameful to even think of such a
thing"
NO, it isn't-not from my point Of
view; you must remember 1 know
some things on the other side, and if
Hugh hasn't spoken it's because he has
been restrained by nobler motive than
most men could find place for. Oh, you
needn't hide your face again: I'm not
going to do his wooing for him; you'll
find he can do that for himself, some
day, and then he'll tell you all about it, -
Hester rose and crossed to the win
| dow, commanding the view of the
mountain, and Mrs. Ludlow went away
| to attend to her household duties.
| When she looked in an hour later, the
girl was still standing at the window,
looking with wistful eyes at the forest
clad slopes Of the great hills, as if seek
| ing to read the secret of the mystery
on the fair pages of the landscape. 1t
was d long weary day for the two wom-
en-, and in the afternoon Hester an
nounced her intention of returning to
"The Iaurels."
II shall hear sooner, if go back, -
she said. in reply to Mrs. Ludlow's eff
fort TO detain her, land the delay is
pitifuliy hard at best"
| ."Shan't I have John get out the
! phaeton, so I can drive you up?'
No" replied Hester, with her face
ayerted. II think it will be better for
me TO go by myself. If-if it should
turn out as fear, should want to be
quite alone for awhile"
Mrs. Ludlow understood, and did not
seei. TO change her plans; and after the
! girl had disappeared in the windings
OF the mountain road, the tender-heart-
! ed little woman took the vacant place
at the window, watching eagerly for the
! first signs of the returning search
! party.
She was standing there yet when the
sun went behind the mountain and the
first stragglers of the party began to
! appear in the road; and she was try
| ing SO earnestly to distinguish the form
of her husband among the men that she
| did not hear him when he entered the
| room. a single glance at his face dis
heartencd her. and she could not find
words to frame the question that found
better speech in her eyes.
! NO. we didn't find him." said Lud.
low, gravely. answering her thought
I'VE quartered every foot of the plateau
and looked all along under the cliffs on
both brows of the mountain. He's not
up there. dead or alive. And that isn't
all: the McNabb was blown up again
last night"
| Mrs. Ludlow seemed not to have
heard the last sentence, for she put her
arms about her husbands neck and hid
her face on his bosom, saying, softly:
''Oh, poor, poor Hester!"
fro BE Continued