The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-06-04


low reached 1.-THE Laurels" with his
men he found the colonel and Henry
waiting impatientiy. After a short
consultation and the arrangement Of
definite plan. the quest began; and
as soon as the men were out of sight
Hester mounted and rode to Ire
garthen. The suspense of the previous
day had been hard to endure, but 1t
had been mixed with the hope that
aome of the means employed would
bring news of cheering nature. When
her father and brother returned from
their fruitless errands, and she had
read Ludlow's note. the girl began to
realize in dread earnest what the pro-
longed uncertainty meant for her, and
she was glad enough TO escape from the
ordeal of another lonely day of wait
ing. Mrs. Ludlow saw her galloping
down the road, and met her at the door,
did the men get started before you
left?" she inquired, putting her arm
around the girls waist and leading her
to the cool sitting-room.
il"Yes; they had planned to throw a
line all 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 third day! They can scarce
~ hope to find him alive IL any acct
dent has happened" Hester's voice
betrayed her emotion: and Mrs. Ludlow
hHstehed to.conlfort her. Ns
aYou 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"
Il wish / 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 were only
wounded, but at others his face was
livid and CHASTITY. Oh, it was terrible!'
"Poor dear!" said Mrs. Ludlow,
alphabetically, 'does it mean so much
to your
Hester covered her face with her
hands, and the compassionate COM
forter saw tear trickle down one OF
the shapely fingers. There, there,
Hester, dear; don't cry: / know you
can't talk about it yet, not even to me-
The girl looked up with her cheeks
afame. "And you know why l can't!
It shameful % even think of such a
thing!"
''No, it isn't---not from my point OF
view; you must remember l know
some things on the other side, and i
Hugh hasn't spoken it's because he has
been restrained by II noblcr motive thar
most men could find Il 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, thu
| girl was still standing at the window
looking with wistful eyes ut the forest
clad slopes of the great hills, as if seek
| ing to read the secret of the myster,
oh the fair pages of the landscape. L
was a long weary day for the two WON
/ en-, and in the afternoon Hester an
nounced her intention of returning t,
i 1.-THE Laurcls."
II shall hear sooner, il go back,
she said. in reply to Mrs. Ludlow's ef
| fort TO detain her, land the delay il
pitifully hard at best"
"Shnn't I have John get out tn
phaeton, SO can drive you up?"
NO." replied Hester, with her fac
averted. II think it will be better TO
me to go by myself. Tiff it shoul'
turn out as fear, should want to b
quite alone for awhile"
| Mrs. Ludlow understood, and did no
seek to change her plans; and after tn
girl had disappeared in the winding
OF the mountain road, the tender-hear1
cd little woman took the vacant plac
at the window, watching eagerly for tn
first signs of the returning search
party.
She was standing there yet when tn
sun went behind the mountain and tn
first stragglers of the party began t
Children Cry fol