The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-20
Swan smiled a little, but looked puz-

zled O''0 PUG
II should dismiss the matter from
my thoughts If 1 were you, madam, "
ne said, after a little thought. TOO
mucn studying over a matter is apt
to cloud it after awhile. This man
evidently has no connection with the
subject of your husbands disappear
ance. He has seen you and admired
you, that is ALL"
A simple solution of great mys-
terry, thought Constance, if only she
could belive it. 1t looked plausible
| after she had thought of it awhile, and
she was indignant with herself that
she had allowed so slight a matter to
ruffle her, when she was already borne
down by such heavy burdens.
swan returned to Boston, and Mrs.
Hamilton was fain to take up her per-
| picked existence undiminished by a
single care, unless it was the strange
dread she had felt that Primus Edes'
hair was really light instead of dark
IN It's natural state. That she had dis
, missed. He did not come to her house
now. She never saw him except at
church, and then he did not glance at
her. But he did at Perley and one
Sabbath the boy surprised her by leav-
ing her side and walking off with Pri-
mus Edes. When reprimanded by his
mother he only said:
"Oh, know him. I've seen him lots,
and like him. He has made me a
kite, and now he's at work on a ship
for me-
:, But l don't know that 1 like to have
| YOU with him. When did you first see
him?"
He spoke to me when I went over
to Mrs. Frye's on an errand for you,
| and l most always run into the mill
minute or two when go to school"
But is he good man, Perley," ask
ed she, seriously.
"Oh, yes. He says I must always
mind my mother, and he hurries- me to
school so 1 won't be late.''
Incontestible proofs to Perley, but
not so to his mother, though she could
not think wholly ill of him. Indeed,
the time was coming when she was
to feel inexpressibly grateful to him.
CHAPTER XII.
Unknown to Mrs. Hamilton, Dan
had told his mothers boarder that his
conduct in regard to watching her
house was a subject of annoyance. He
did not do so, however, until he saw
that Edes was determined to take his
walk each evening in that direction.
Then he told him. The man seemed
somewhat mortified, and promised not
to go if displeased her.
"I liked to look in, it seemed so pleas
ant there" was all he said; and he did
so no more, but centered his attention
upon Perley, to whom he seemed
deeply drawn. The child was a great
favorite with all, and if, as Dan sus-
pected, Edes was fascinated by the
mother, it was not to be wondered at.
One day Perley did not return as usual
from school, and for some time his
mother was not alarmed, as she sup
posed he had called to see his friend
Edes. Clare, whose studies took her
to a different part of the school build
ing, knew nothing about him, and by
six o'clock Mrs. Hamilton experienced
sudden thrill of fear that he had
not returned.
She went to the mill at once and to
her uncle's office, but he had not seen
Perley.
where does Mr.. Edes work, the one
who boards at Mrs. Fry's? Perley may
be with him."
"Edes? oh, he takes away from the
saw. l will go with you"
Together Mr.. Carter and his niece
wended their way mid shrieking
machinery till they approached Edes,
one of a score of men who presided
over the process of changing the bark
covered logs to white, planed boards.
At this moment he was carrying one
end of a board to pile not far away
when he saw Constance approaching.
Down went the board, to the great in
dignation of his comrade at the other
end. while he stood staring rather
stupidity at the lady.
"Pick it up, mani" shouted Mr.. Car
ter above the din; and then when he
returned, at the mill-owner's order a
man from the yard took Edes' place
while Constance questioned him about
her boys whereabouts.
It was the first time she had ever
spoken to him, she thought, for all
this wild questioning of her heart and
of other people. But it was but for
an instant this occurred to her, for she
was not a little alarmed about Per-
ley.
II will go out and hunt him up"
he said, putting on his coat that lay
near on a pile of shavings. II saw
him this morning, not since then"
"Oh, if he should have fallen into the
water!" cried Constance. 81 I'LL Po
to see his teacher at once. Yes, do
go in search of him." she said TO the
man. Have you any idea where he
can be?"
"No, but will find him." he said,
confidently. II will find him."
Mr.. Carter looked at him in some
surprise. well, hope you can get
him home before nightfall. He may
be somewhere in the neighborhood with
the other children"
questioned the
chool-teacher, inquiries were made
through the village, but no trace of
the little fellow could be found. Moth
ing had been seen of him since he
stood in the yard at the close of
school; but one little girl professed to
have heard him say he was going aft
er beechnuts. With this clue COM
pany of men and boys at nightfall
started to scour the woods with Ian
terms and torches, for by this time 1t
was pretty evident that there was
serious cause for alarm, many per-
sons not hesitating to say that
he might have fallen into the water
while looking from the bridge, as the
scholars often did in their passage
through 1t, to and from school. Con-
stance, nearly frenzied by this time,
sat with tightly clenched hands, lis
tening for any sound she might hear
from the direction of the woods. Glare
had cried herself to sleep on the sofa,
and Mr.. Carter walked nervously about
the yard and down to the edge of
the woods a score of times.
Better men than he for wood craft
were in them, and he had been advis-
ed to stay with his niece. For IL
we don't find the boy" whispered one
Tomorrow the water will have to be
searched, and she must be kept as
cnnnnsed as possible. Too bad! when