Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-10
Hers was such distress and emotion

| defS was Sucn QlStroSS ana emotion
as could only be calmed by her being
let alone-alone, or only with that Un-
seen Presence in whom she was doubt
/ less wont to seek strength and peace.
l therefore vent away without another
word, and accompanied for a time by
the painful doubt whether it were we'll
to pursue my inquiry, since it caused
her such pain; whether there was not
even something vindictive in following
up evidence which would lead to the
incrimination of even such villain as
Steinhardt.
But all doubt was dispeIled by let
ter l received next morning from Bir-
ley.
Thou must come back, my lad, at
once he wrote. II was mistaken in
my notion that Manuel would bring
you know who, back home Frank
came home the same day you left; and
his father went off to London next
morning. 1 managed to get to see
Frank. He is in very low spirits, poor
lad. His father has almost scared him
into marrying the girl; but 1 don't
quite think he can bring that about
without asking me, at any rate. L
shall not be at all surprised if he does
ask me one of these days, for he has
not yet come down near So hard on me
you know what | mean-as | expect
ed. l fancy he wants to reserve the
chance for a last big squeeze Hut
don't thou be afraid, lad; I'll stand hy
the lass and thee. Well, 7 prevailed
on Frank to tell me the Blackpool ad-
dress, though l had to promise much
his father shouldn't get to know he had
told me. [ went straight away, and
found her; and she was main glad to
see me. poor thing. I told her what l
had come for; and the end of it was
she packed up her little traps, and
came back with me-and here she is
with me now. But I've not come to
the den yet. Manuel has only gone to
London for the week, 1 find He will
be home on Saturday; and then / ex-
pect he will want me to square up with
him. So 1 say you had better come
back at once"
Here, surely, was matter for the
gravest anxiety and apprehension,
though it did not appear what there
was to fear exactly, except that Stein
hardt might somehow reclaim Louise
from Birley's charge, and again hide
her away. But the fact is, my dread
and suspicion of Steinhardt were such
that I was prepared for his committing
the greatest and vaguest enormities.
1t was now Friday morning, and there
was only another day during which
could think of Louise as at rest in Bir-
ley's house. I could leave Basel that
night by the mail train, and probably
reach Timperley late on Saturday night.
Greater speed could not be made. But
was l, after all, going to leave without
knowing what was that damning some
thing concerning Steinhardt which
Frauleip Haas's "dream, or Dreams"
might reveal or suggest? I must en-
deavor to win it from her.
I called that morning, but was told,
as on the first occasion, she would not
be home till five o'clock in the after
noon. I got everything ready at my
hotel for a prompt departure, and
called again soon after the hour named. |
$50 you have come again." she said,
YEARLY, when she saw me.
LES, TIdulelH, L answered, ana /
l have come in haste.''
"To urge me, know. But WHY is
it necessary? 1t is terrible law that ,
quick death should be brought upon
one man because he brought quick
death on another!-a terrible law. /
am not sure it is Gods law. Think
you it is, Herr Pastor?''
"Fraulein!' l exclaimed, alarmed at
her continued disposition to consider
too curiosly and sbstrusely, 81 am sorry
| cannot linger to discuss such things
with you. l must travel back to Eng
land in very few hours, on most anx-
ious business, and l entreat you to re-
solve to tell me what you say has been
revealed to you concerning this crime.
1 have said it already, Fraulein, and
l say it again: what the great God may
have in store for Herr Steinhardt for
all his wickedness, cannot Judge, and
do not seek to put out my hand to
force; l say do not desire to bring
punishment on him, only wish to be
able to make him withdraw his hand
from the perpetration of more cruelty
and oppression"
"Is he so wicked. them" she cried
in an accent of the keenest pain.