Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-14

tiouS Wnlcn were pressing Tor utter.
ance may say, however, that when
we had abundant opportunity there
after we obtained scant information.
| Donaldson either could not or woult
| not tell how he obtained his psychic
messages. ut is like suddenly remem.
bering something that you have always
known" was the usual way in which
he lodged the question, and he would
never speak upon the subject at all
when he could avoid doing so.
Upon the matter of Donaldson's rec
ognition of his friend Writings pres
ence we made one discovery before
leaving the restaurant. Hackett sat
down in the chair which our young
friend had occupied and Immediately
perceived that owing to the position
of hat tree upon which our coats
We're hung the mirror in the wall could
not explain the phenomenon. l could
see around one side of this obstruc-
tion and Hackett around the other side,
but it was precisely in the necessary
line of Donaldson's vision.
About two weeks after this remark
able luncheon Deacon Donaldson was
added to our working force at Tun-
bridge and became member of my
household, and there a singular and
amusing complication presently came
about. Mrs. Jane Harrington, whose
husband is q cousin of mine and has
charge of branch of our business in
the west, came to visit me, bringing
her daughter, a very charming young
woman of twenty. In some mysterious
manner Donaldson got the notion that
Millie Harrington was the beautiful
psychic whose union with himself was
secretly plotted by the willy Stephen
Hackett and me. He had never been
able to rid himself of the idea that
something of the sort was in the wind,
but he was entirely ignorant of the
facts in the case of Dorothy Vaughn.
In fact, nobody in Tunbridge except
Hackett and me knew that Dorothy's
coming to teach our school had any
connection with our quest of mysteries.
1t was far more likely that Donaldson
should suspect Mile, who was there
upon my direct invitation and SEEM
ingly thrown into his way with malice
aforethought, than Dorothy, who lived
on the other side of the town and was
merely the schoolteacher.
Millie was flirt, I'm afraid, and as
the deacon was the most attractive
young man in her vicinity she pro-
ceeded to practice her innocent arts
upon him. think he was not na6
rally timid in such matters. He hadN
very easy and graceful manner in the
company of ladies', and not even SO
simple an old fellow as myself could
fail to see that he had learned his les
son in the school of experience. Mil
lie found him an admirable cavalier,
and she kept him busy in her service.
1t may have been five weeks that
Millie and her mother We're at my
house, and the place was so gay that
l did not feel at home. In the even
ings there would be music and dane
ing, and would sit in Il corner alone
except when Hackett strayed into this
scene of unaccustomed revelry or when
Dorothy could be persuaded to come
ONSl 0llSl tllC SSliOOl. Slc was III
mourning for her aunt, of course, and
could not join in the sport, but she
held it no harm to sit in sober black
and watch the others. We had some
great talks in this way, but it seemed
to me that she was not in SO good spir-
its after this brief season of festivity
got well under way. Indeed 1t must
have been trial for young and pref
ty girl, as thought more than once 1t
never occurred to me that there could
be any special trouble. Even when
she advanced the opinion one evening
that she was not doing very well with
the school and perhaps it might be
ed to comprehend.
That night after the house had be-
come quiet l was sitting before the
fire in the library alone when Donald
son dropped in to keep me company.
AT my invitation he took u cigar, Sc
lecting one that was black and strong,
and when he had lighted it perceived
that there was something on his mind.
A man who wishes to conceal his men,
tai state should not smoke in the pres
ence of n smoker.
"NIr. Harrington" said he at last,
you have been very good to me. You
have put me in n fine way of business,
so that my future is assured-if be-
have myself. l am very grateful in ev-
cry way, and I'm going to please you if
can. But, by jingo," he cried, sudden
ly springing up, Il can'tn
why not?' asked as gently as pos
sible.
He dried the palms of his hands upon
his handkerchief.
Its a great honor" he said, trying
to be calm. Il told you so long ago at
Bertram's. or course l didn't then
know that the young lady would be
related to you. l couldn't foresee how
beautiful she would be, how admira-
BILE in every way. She doesn't care a
penny for me, to be sure, but Pm not
speaking of that. I'm speaking of my
own sentiments. She's got the most
wonderful eyes-dark, mysterious, mar
velous eyes. By Jove, l can well be.
lieve that she's the true psychic! And
perhaps that's what's the matter"
Are you speaking of Miss Harring-
ton" inquired as he paused. And he
replied with quick nod of affirmation.
IN tell you the truth" he cried,
Wheeling toward me suddenly. 1.-THE
psychic matter hasn't anything to do
with 1t. It's because Pm in love with
somebody else. I've got no business to
be In love, but l am. On the chance
that the woman love may love me
ought to go and drown myself-in her
interest-but l won't. l will stay RICH,
here and win her if can. Pm selfish
enough to do it, vain enough to think
may succeed, and it seemed to be my
duty to tell you about it, Mr.. Harring-
ton. considering the very peculiar cir
cumstances of the case"