Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-29

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Copyright IT'S. by J. p Lppincott Col
CHAPTER V.-CoNT1NUED.
On the way conflicting sentiments
a. 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.
Judge Russell drew the will, AID is
anxious to see it carried out. Doubtless
he can perform the ceremony. He will
be the best one in the world" Stanton
remarked, with vivid thrill of self
congratulation that he had escaped the
first idea and hit upon the second
They walked together to the Judges
house, which was so near that there
was really no time to reconsider on the
way; but Judge Russell and his wife
were out, and the servant did rot know
when they would return. They went in
and waited till after 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 and
joining eagerly in arguments, fire.
quently with the conviction that he
came out of them overmatched. He
wondered that he was not bored, and
sid to hi:l:elf that f it were not for
the business ahead of him he should
count it 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 a
real wife, instead; only how could he
have known in advance? Yet under
meath it all his other mind was enter
taining conflicting sentiments about
the ACCESSIBILITY of securing the services
OF Judge Russell, after all. There were
certain social complications which
might result, later on, which would not
threaten if DR.. Borden performed the
ceremony. Besides twelve o'clock was
creeping dangerously near, and at last
he suggested that they 60 back to DR..
Borden's.
In all his life he had never been of so
many minds; but the lady concurred
with each as though it were the wisest
possible suggestion, and they returned.
Sober thought would have helped him,
but ideas came in the abstract and in
utter confusion, piling one on another.
If DR.. Borden had returned, doubtless
Stanton's first impulse would have
been to turn and run. But DR.. Borden
had not returned. 1t reused in him
simply determination to find him be-
fore it was too late.
Absolutely nothing occurred to him
but to go at once to New York and
hunt him up.
They went by the ferry, as nearer
their destination and less conspicuous.
and a curiously safe feeling crept into
Stantcn's heart as he walked by Es-
Their Thorndike. Heonly realized it, just
as he had realized that she entertained
him at Judge Russell's. He had no
time for more than that among the
crowding of conflicting sentiments con-
corning the business in hand, but he re-
membered the impression afterwards,
and better appreciated it.
Among the thoughts that came to him
was one picturing his condition at that
moment had it not been for his first
caller-had he been forced, for in
stance, to select the bedizened duchess
for his bride, or the runaway school
girl.
His heart went out in an unaccount-
able fashion to Esther Thorndike. He
wanted to grasp her hand and thank
her for saving him from that. He did
not venture quite so far; but he spoke
to her that he might at least hear her
voice in reply. 1t was like water to the
thirsty. He wondered what it could
be that was wrong with the hidden
face. He was sorry for her-very sorry;
and he resolved that as soon as this bust
ness was settled he would show her his
gratitude and appreciation in very
substantial way. Indeed, he had
reached a point where he was almost
ready to declare that she should not
sink into oblivion at all, when the boat
touched the New York side, and she
proposed remaining in the ferry wait
ing-room, that she might be near at
hand when he wished her without ham,
pering his search.
An hour later he came hurrying
down the walk alone, his face express
i've of failure.
Esther Thorndike was waiting at the
gate. He knew her in an instant, but
before he could speak she laid her hand
on his arm, saying:
"Hurry. He just passed me. de is
on this boat"
Again strange feeling crept over
him, which he remembered afterwards.
AS the wheels started, Esther Thorn
dixie entered the ladies' cabin, and on
the other side Stanton greeted the cler'
eyman with the question:
"Do you remember my uncle's last
words, DR.. Borden?"
Early in the morning the good doctor
had heard that the property was taken
from his young friend and parishioner'
It fell like heavy weight upon his
heart, and all day long his mind had
been upon the death-scene, with the
dying words its salient feature. In
stantly he repeated them: Twelve
o'clock, and all is WELL" ''But, Robert
he said, anxiously, "what does this
+ha+T bear ahout the property?'