Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-02-15

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together in untoward circumstances.
Before their journey ended at Mon
treal, Paul Andsell had become almost
intimate with the Templetons.
Gladys strange shrinking and ter
ror of the scientist had entirely worn
off. simply because he had ceased to
bestow the faintest attention to her
dainty person. His eyes never by any
chance rested upon her.
II might be cow or wax doll for
all the notice your fine philosopher
gives to mel" the girl-bride said.
"Oh, well, you can't expect to have
dry-as-dust scientific fellows in your
train, my DEAR" said Gervs mildly.
"You must be content with ordinary
men, such as your humble servant, for
slaves. l don't suppose Andsell, poor
old chap, knows a pretty face from a
plain one"
Pm not so sure about that" skep-
tically said the bride. why, should
not be surprised If he has a wife of
his own here in Montreal!'
Not he" carelessly said Gervis.
"He's woman-hater, I should i'm
agine His bride is science. to which
he seems to have given himself up
body and soul. You should see his
diggings GLADLY! Never saw such
collection Of weird and extraordinary
inventions in my life. He took me
there last evening, and you don't see
me going again to such creepy place.
Why, he has got his coffin, all spick
and span and ready for occupation, in
one corner, and in the hall, instead Of
a hatstand, he has actually got skele-
ton, braced up with iron, on the arms
of which the crazy old chap hangs his
hat. There, my dear, I ought not to
have told you that"
GLADLY had gone quite white.
look here, 1 am going to take you
to the ice carnival tonight, and tomor-
row We start for old England. And
did I tell you, GLADLY? Andsell has
suddenly made up his mind to 60 with
us. There's something-some elixir
to be got only in London from some old
wizard of an east end chemist, and
Andsell must have it to complete
some marvellous scientific invention
he means to patent. So I've asked him
down to Temple-Dene to spend Christ
mas. We owe him some little atten-
ton for all he did for US that awful
night of the fire."
That evening, however, Gervis Tenn
pleton went to the ice carnival alone.
GLADLY, when quite ready to start out
with him, was seized with an unac-
countable chill and trembling.
you've taken cold" said Gervis
practically, "that's what it Is. Now,
you just stay quietly at home and cos
set yourself up, or We shall have to
remain behind tomorrow" .1- ~
GLADLY, thankful enough OF the rest
and quiet, lay back in low chair in
the private sitting room the Temple
tons had secured. Her eyes were hid
den under their soft, white lids; but
GLADLY was not asleep. Strange visions
and stranger thoughts were whirling
through her brain; and her small
hands lay Imply in her lap, their wax
en- whiteness intensified by the violet
satin of her evening gown.
It was not OF her own simple past.
nor yet Of the wonderful happiness
that had come to her 30 lately that
GLADLY was dreaming. Instead, dark,
fantastic shapes and visions came and
went, succeeded by grim forebodings.
Never q strong girl, GLADLY, since
the night Of the fire in the snow shed,
had dropped strangely. It was as II
the springs of life within her were
broken. The shock might or might
not have done the mischief; but it
was there nevertheless. AS she lay
back with closed eyes and whitened
cheeks there was distinct change on
the round young face.
So thought somebody who had come.
stepping softly over the thick, rich car
pet, close to the little figure reclining
in the low chair-so softly that Glad
dy did not open her blue eyes. Indeed,
the white lids closed down tightly over
them, perhaps because a hand with
long, thin fingers was waving slowly to
and fro in front Of them.
In a few seconds GLADLY was in a
deep, motionless sleep, and standing
looking down upon her out Of his dark
unfathomable eyes, was Paul Andsell,
who, on hearing from the black waiter
that Mr.. Templeton had gone out to
the ice carnival, stepped upstairs to
pay his respects to Mrs. Temp.eton.
Bending close down until his lips
neared her pink ear, Paul, in a mon
otonous voice, recited sort Of state
ment. He spoke In carefully measured
tones, as if anxious that rot the
merest syllable should be slurred over.
The room was still and quiet, and
GLADLY slept on TRANQUILITY, white Paul
looked round him for something he
wanted
Reaching over, he drew towards him
a Japanese screen, and fixed 1t partly
between the sleeping girl and little
table, on which were writing mater1-
ais. Then he spread out blank sheet