Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-07

ished in an instant, whether because
the sacrifice stood before him or be-
cause the way was clear of opposition,
and he replied:
II was this morning, but l am
ashamed of it. My name is Stanton
Robert Stanton"
mine is Esther Thorndike. My
friend explained to me what is required,
and l am ready to act for you"
The young lawyer hardly realized
what she was saying. He was looking
for the deformity. 1t required but
to decide that at least 1t was
not in her body, Whatever was wrong
was surely under the veil. He could
not even see the outline of the face.
She stood as If waiting for reply,
but he was not aware that she had
asked question. He tried to recall
what she had said, and then took refuge
in expressing his conjunction.
live begun to realize that my plan
was very cold-blooded and selfish
idea, and I've grown heartily ashamed
Of it," he said.
IA plain business bargain is hardly
open to sentiment" she replied, quick
ly. II am quite ready, and if you are
we had better start"
"Yes, but my carriage, 1t has just
gone with your messenger-boy to Jer-
sey City" He paused as his ear caught
q low laugh tinkling under the veil. 1t
was contagious. He was smiling, too,
as he continued; "Shall we have an
other carriage and go on, risking a
meetingq 1t seems cowardly to run
from anyone, but there are many de.
testable things which we might do that
would delay us till after midnight, in
spite of anything but common law,
which would be to degenerate alto
gether. I hate to run the other way,
but perhaps it would be wiser, tonight,
to go to Brooklyn instead. Does it
matter to you?"
"Dr. Atwood is my pastor, and I
would rather not go to him. But to
anyone else. Yes. think it would be
better to go to Brooklyn" she said.
"Rev. DR.. Borden was a witness to
the will. 1t might save publicity, in a
legal way, afterwards, to have him also
perform the ceremony"
1t occurred to Stanton that this was
really remarkable idea, and he was
wondering that it had not occurred to
him before, as the lady replied:
81 know just where he lives, and per-
haps It would be better that we should
pot go together. ] will be there as soon
as YOU"
She had hardly ceased speaking when
she literally disappeared. Stanton
looked after her for moment, and the
tips Of his teeth appeared as he NUT
tered:
''Shell be there some time before me
at that rate. To say the least, she's not
a cripple" Then he followed her.
On the way conflicting sentiments
SO thoroughly disturbed his first i'm
pressions of that new idea that by the
time he arrived at DR.. Borden's he
heartily wished himself anywhere else
in the world, and it appeared the most
fortunate thing that the good lawyer
was attending conference in lower
New York and could not return before
ten.
The lady talked necessarily, upon
subjects which had always interested
him, and more than once Stanton
found. to his establishment, that he
was laughing heartily at her wit an(
| joining eagerly in arguments, fire.
auently With the conviction that he
GAME out of them overmatched, liz
wondered that he was not bored. ant
said to hi aielf that II were not fol-
| the business ahead of him he should
count 1t one of the pleasantest even
ings of his life. Sometimes it occurred
to him that he would have been forum
ate if he had made the bargain for ,
real wife, instead; only how could III
have known in advance? Yet under
tanning conflicting sentiments abou
the ACCESSIBILITY of securing the service.
of Judge Russell, after all. There wer,
certain social complications Whlcl
might result, later on, which would no
threaten if DR.. Borden performed tn
ceremony. Besides twelve o'clock wa
creeping dangerously near, and at las
he suggested that they go back to d.
Borden's.
In all his life he had never been of $
many minds; but the lady cencurre
with each as though 1t were the wises
possible suggestion, and they returned
Sober thought would have helped him
bat ideas came in the abstract and il
utter confusion, piling one on another
If DR.. Borden had returned, doubles
Stanton's first impulse would havst
been to turn and run, But DR.. Border
bad not returned. 1t reused in hin
simply determination to find him be
fore 1t was too late.
Absolutely nothing occurred to hin
but to go at once to New York an,
hunt him up.
They went by the ferry, as neare
their destination and less conspicuous
and a cnrieusly safe feeling crept int
Stanton's heart as he walked by Es
Their Thorndike. Heonly realized it, jus
as he had realized that she entertaine
him at Judge Russell's. He had n
time for more than that among tn
crewlipg of conflicting sentiments cor
eerning the business in hand, but he re
membered the impression afterwards
and better appreciated it.
Among the thoughts that came to hir
was one pctNring his condition at tina
moment had it not been for his frs
caller-had he been forced, for il
stance, to select the bedizened duches
for his bride, or the runaway schoo
girl.