Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-22
Stanton shr.nk TITO the dnrkent

went on WaltlnS.
The shrinking was only matter of
instinct. His course and his chances
had appeared more and more doubtful
with each half hour. There's nothing
like immoderate waiting to make a
coward of a man; and, besides, it bega1
to appear quite possible that if John
Olmstead could speak he would say:
LET the other one have it. Robert,
rather than try to save it In such Il
way as this"
For the hundredth time he tried to
fashion Esther Thorndike-the poor
deformed creature who was to throw
herself away just to serve his pur-
poses.
''Confound it, it's shame" he NUT
tered. 'I've been blind, selfish brute.
I'll tell her so, when she comes, and
send her away again. 1t must be eight
o'clock. Ha! there's the clock strik-
ing, at last. She's late. Women are not
to be trusted, anyway. T.
A messenger boy touched his arm,
repeating the name "Malcolm?" in a
questioning way, and holding out an
envelope.
With shrug Of his shoulders the
young lawyer took it and turned it
slowly over in his hands. There was no
doubt about whom it came from or that
she was not coming herself. He forgot
that a moment before he had been
earnestly planning to set her free at
once, and, muttering fragment of the
lines containing women and the fools
who have faith in Them" he actually
put the envelope in his pocket, I'M
opened, and '%as turning away, when
the boy asked him for the answer.
"Answer?" he remarked, looking
down in surprise. Then he slowly drew
the letter from his pocket again, and,
retreating farther into the shadow,
opened it, lighted match, and read:
'Mr. Raymond is in carriage round
the first corner. He was following
yours when you came. His driver sits
where he can see it. If I shall come at
once, send me word by the bearer. If
not, will wait where I am till he is
away. E. T."
With low whistle Stanton returned
to the messenger and asked: do you
want to take ridc?" The boy grinned,
and he continued: ''Here's dollar
for your time. Get into that carriage
as quick as you can and slam the door
after you, but don't speak to the driver.
When he stops on the ferry and asks
you where to go next, tell him to drive
back to the stables and that I will
pay him in the morning. See?''
The boy saw, for he was in the car
riage in no time. The dor closed with
a bang that thoroughly woke the
driver, whose educated brain caught up
the thread precisely where he had
dropped it. Before his eyes were well
open, the blankets were off the horses,
the whip had cracked over them, and
they had started most satisfactorily.
Stanton watched them from the
shadows. A moment later the tips of
his teeth appeared under his mustache
as carriage came from the side street
and followed his own with the messen-
ger boy.
"Dat's him." he muttered, and was
still looking after the lost interest,
when another hand touched his arm,
and another voice, softer than the mes
senger's, repeated:
"Mr. Malcolm?"
1t was a time of swift vicissitudcs
for one guided by instinct. In the first
quiet thoughts of his waiting he had
honestly determined to give up the
plan for the sake of her who was to be
the sacrifice. A moment later he was
turning away, disgusted that he had
ever thought of trusting her. 1t took
but touch of opposition, in the shape
Of Raymond round the corner, to de-
termine him to carry out the plan at all
hazards. Now the determination van
ished in an instant, whether because
the sacrifice stood before him or be-
cause the way was clear of opposition,
and he replied:
81 was this morning, but I am
ashamed of it. My name is Stanton
Robert Stanton"
"Mine is Esther Thorndike. My
friend explained to me what is required,
and am ready to act for you
The young lawyer hardly realized
what she was saying. He was looking
for the deformity. 1t required but a
moment to decide that at least it 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 a question. He tried to recall
what she had said, and then took refuge
in expressing his compunction.
1--WE begun to realize that my plan
was a very cold-blooded and selfish
idea, and I've grown heartily ashamed
of it," he said.
"a plain business bargain is hardly
open to sentiment" she replied, quick
1y. II am quite ready, and if you are
we had better start
eyes, but my carriage. It has just
gone with your messenger-boy to Jer-
sey City" He paused as bis ear caught
a low laugh tinkling under the veil. 1t
was contagious. He was smiling, too,
as he continues: "Shall we have on
other carriage and 60 on, risking
meeting? It 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. 1 hate to run the other way,
but perhaps it would be wiser, tonight,
to go to Brooklyn instead. Does it
matter to you?"
CDR. Atwood is my pastor, ard