The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-14
The Missing Man.
CHAPTER I.
A MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY.

4 MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY.
1t IS the middle OF Nav, 1879. Like
q living creature the sentient earth is
pulsing with the rush OF vitality so
long withheld by the reluctant season.
The buds are ready 10 burst. the grass
is unsheathed. while white-hmbed
birches and brown-skinned NAPLES are
losing their distinctive Aryan and Sem
itic types under the green robes May
Is weaving for all. Contradictory ele-
Tnents are abroad this morning in the
weather. at all events here IN Grove
dale New Hampshire. There is q sti1
northwest wind. low-reaching 1cg
with the sun struggling 10 look through
ii, and a sky that looks like rain. II
the sun comes out il will not be direct
~. and it is nearly time for the seven
o'clock train whistle. Alter that half
hour, and then MIR. Hamilton must go,
IL he so at all this morning
Meanwhile. his wife is trying TO con-
vince him that he would better wait
until tomorrow. u looks so much like
rain. fair. handsome couple, not
yet middle-aged. they stand at the win
dow OF the dining-room look
ing out. rather than 81 each
other. A packed valise rests on a
chair. and tke brsakfast-table is left
10 the children. q boy and q girl. Nj.
Hamilton carries a light oEerCoat on
his arm, his hat and g5ovss IL hss hand,
and yet his wife declines 10 see that
he IS ready 70 go, but talks idly about
the weather He answers IN the same
way, though il is evident TO both that
underneath their words there is deeper
meaning. which neither wishes 10 make
apparent.
Must you, when Il looks so much
like RAIN she asks negligently. rety-
=
Ing dress. and picking out the bows be-
fore looking NJ. But he sees that her
hands are autteriuE. and that there Is
q nervous CLEAN in her eyes which she
lifts for q moment 10 his face.
Like rain. Constance. Why, who
ever knew II 70 rain. with the wind IN
the northwest
That Is the way il comes lately. Il
has been remarked. Nane. BY q great
many people: and II you should get wet
you would get cold. and with your
weak lunEs-
~Pshsw, Constance my lungs are as
strong as a horse. and 50 an l.
Bat yo1r mother died with consump-
ton"
Very true. But II isn't going 10
rain. mark NY words. the sun VIII Re
oSt Il less than Al hour. and. Z II
should rain I an neither sugar nor
salt 10 dissolve with the first drop. Oh
you may depend 1 shall be al right
Buz xou an not as vel as usual.
You are mere nervous. You talk N
yoCr slsep. ard your appetite has fall
ed lately
The more reason why need a
change The fact is. ny business is
too much for me this debilitating
spring weather. 7 suspect am q lit
lie bilious, and since Mr. Henderson
and your uncle have chosen to leave
the mill business so much 70 me. that
with ny duties at the bank has worn
me down. They VIII have TO take the
reins in my absence. and Tony VIII do
very well AT The bank for the two
weeks I am away"
Always two weeks" murmured has
wife.
Yes; and I am sure it seems like
year"
Then why do you goy"
Because I must You would not
understand. II Is best that I do not
explain al present. There goes the
whistle. What shall ! bring you.
Clare?" going 10 his little girls SIDE
and stepping 10 kiss her.
A small face. framed in golden hair.
with big, dark eyes hooking cut from
under fluffy bangs, was raised 70 his
as she sprang 10 her feet
"Oh, must you go2 I thought man,
ma would make you stay
Il must, Clare. Now, what shall
bring you?"
"oh. ring. papa gold ring"
IAN right ! won't forget And you,
Perlev?"
a writing book If you please. Mine
is all written through"
Very we'll" kissing the boy as he
had his sister.
And what shah ! bring you. Con-
stance?" he. asked. returning 10 his
wifes side
Just yourself, and let Il Be soon
looking eagerly and earnestly into his
face.
Il shall be back soon. never fear.
Constance. you are more beautiful than
you ever were, and ! love you better"
he whispered. I wish were at home
again. I will be soon" And kissing
her hastily he took his vslise. after
putting on his hat. gloves and over
coat, and left the house.
His wife stood by the window
watching him until he was out Of sight
when thrill OF superstitous fear shot
through her.
She had watched him out OF sight
Away back In her childhood q maid
On relative had 50 strongly impressed
her mind with the malevoient infiu-
enees OF such an act that she could
never, despite her cOmmon-sense, get
rid OF this belief.
1t will be well before stigmatizing
her as foolish for the reader TO exam
Inc his own mind y see # II be free
of some PET superstition Perhaps il
relates to Friday as being an unIucky
day. or 10 the number thirteen. or 10
breaking a looking-gl2ss. or 10 wearing
an opal think you viii find one.
though you laugh al all others. and
may be al that Still. you viii say
TO yourself that another day than Fri
day viii DO as wei, OF that an even