Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-15

acnaro Somers passes out of her life
! to serve his country. His duty done.
/ please God. and she needs his arm hs
| Will follow her to tho end Of the earth"
CHAPTER w.
The morning sun striking through tho
eastern window of hotel room shone
| full upon the face Of woman who lay
sleeping there. She was dressed as for
the street. but her hair was loose and
fell about her shoulders in cleaning.
golden masses. Even in the trying
light upon it her face was beautiful.
Perfectly oval, it possessed combi-
nation of dark shadings rarely found
in blonde types. and the even brows
were as delicate as though psncilsd
by an artist. Upon her cheeks lay long,
dark lashes. Sleeping, she seemed
scarcely more than a girl In age. the
few lines upon her face fading out Of
prominence; and yet there was a won.
anliness in her trim, settled figure that
told Of years not otherwise 70 be sus-
peotsd.
The bell of tower clock near at
hand rang out loudly the hour. Tho
sleeper stirred uneasily, opened her
eyes, and instantly, as full conscious
ness returned, bounded from the bed
to the floor. In the quick look she
gave to her surroundings terror was
apparent. A moment later she had
pulled the bell-cord and was waiting,
her watch in hand. by the door. A ne
gro servant knocked and was admitted.
She did not notice his old-fashioned
and courteous salute.
''Why was I not called for the six
O'Clock trainP" she began in great agi-
| tation.
1--WE call tree times, ma'am-t'ree
times; an you say all right ev'y time.
ma'am."
II answered."
eyes, ma'am. An we t'ink, ma'am,
mebby you done change yo' min"
Something like despair came to her
faSs;
Mine o'clock, ma am. Clock Is st truck
ma'am. Gsm'man downstairs SEN dis
cyard. ma'sm, an say" The gen.
tleman in question passed the speaker,
stepping across the threshold.
"You may CO." he said, CURLY, and
waited until the old servant had re-
tired and CLOSED the door. Then he
turned coolly towards the woman.
| And now, madam, what does this
| mean2"
raymond"
"Why have you left Londen?" The
woman did not answer. She had cried
the name Historically and started for.
ward; then. suddenly. drawing her
hair from her face, she shrank away
from him, her gray eyes distended in
terror or the expectation Of violence.
In the presence Of this paatomime, tho
mans face lost its cynicism and stern.
ness. He was Enthusiastically astonish ed.
"Well." he said. at length, what is it ?"
You here!" the exclamation was
but whisper. II thought"
why should I not be hsrsP Didn's
you write. requesting mo to come
was not in the city yesterday, nor
last night, and have but just received
your foolish letter. Are you mad, in
deed-that you come to this city
that you follow me up in public!-
Name of Heaven, woman. what is tho
matter with your"
mot In the city last night! Not in
the oityl Then-then--" She caught q
chair. "Oh, am ill--ill!" She seemed
about to fall. but her companion made
no movement to assist her. There il
somo-mistake!" she whispered. Some
| awful-mistakei"
What are you talking about?" He
stood looking curiously upon her. She
turned suddenly, ran to him, and,
falling upon her knees, clasped her
arms about him, giving way At the
Same time to paroxysm of hysteria
that swayed them both with its vio-
lencs. He stopped impatiently. broke
her clasp with a violent effort, and
half pushed. half lifted her into the
chair. Burying her face In her hands,
she gave way to violent weeping while
he stood by.
The man was OF medium height and
fine figure, his faultless dress and his
every motion revealing tho fashiona.
bio world. His face might have been
handsome at one time. but something
had fed from It, and something had
come to It since then. That which
had come men usually call the marks
OF dissipation; that which had aed
they had no name for.
He might have been genuinely in
dignant or playing part. but he
gazed sternly few moments only
upon the agitated woman, his black
eyes cleaning wickedly; then, with q
sneer and slight gesture of dismissal,
turned away. Taking from his pocket
. case, he proceeded calmly to select
and light cigarette, and walking I'M
ooncernedly to the fireplace, tossed his
match into IL. Standing with his back
towards her, he busted himself with q
hunting scene above the mantel. And
thus, presently, the woman, ceasing
to cry, found him. She clasped her
hands upon her chair-arm convulsive-
ly and lifted her head.
With few rapid motions she twist-
ed the fallen hair into position and
arose to her feet.
when you have finished with the
fieturs," she said, "listsn to me-"