The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-29


were not reviving? Lady Poole vas
a woman, and she was an opportunist,
too. Woman-like, her mind moved
fast into an imaginary future-it had
always done SO. And 1t Is possible
that upon the clouded horizon of her
hopes a faint star began To twinkle
once more.
Who shall blame Lady Poole?
Nov, my dears," she said In a more
m~atter-of-fact voice, Il think, perhaps,
you might be happier in discussing
this matter II were to go away. I'm
der the circumstances, l am perfectly
aware that it's not the correct thing
to do, but that is speaking only from
a conventional standpoint, and none of
us here can be conventional at a mo-
ment like this. II you would rather
have me stay, just say so. But 1t is
with pride and pleasure that l know l
can leave you with Marjorie, William,
even under these miserable circum-
stances and in this unhappy bust.
ness"
Gouldesbrough smiled sadly.
1T Is as Marjorie Wishes" he said.
But l am confident that Marjorie
knows she can trust me-"
The great man saw that once more
the girl lifted her eyes and looked at
him with something which was almost
like reverence. Never before had he
seen her look at him like this. Once
more the evil Joy In the possibility Of
victory after all leapt through his
blood.
No thought o. realization of the ter
rtble thing he had done, Of the horrors
that he and the pink-faced man In
Regents Fark were even now perfect
ing, came to trouble that momen. of
evil pride. Everybody had always
said-everybody who had been
brought into contact with him always
knew-that Sir William Gouldes-
brough was a strong man!
Lady Poole waited a moment to see
IL her daughter made any sign Of wish
ing her to remain, and finding that
there was none, for Marjorie was
standing with dropping head and
made no movement, the dowager
swept out of the room with rustling
skirts and gently closed the door.
Sir William Gouldesbrough and Mar
jorie Poole were left alone.
The mar of action asserted him
self.
sit down, Marjorie" he said, In
a commonplace tone, "and just let me
talk to you on pure matters of fact.
Now, my dear, we haven't seer each
other since you wrote me the letter
telling nj that our engagement was a
mistake. You know what my reply
to that was. and | believe and trust
you know that shall remain perfectly
true to both the spirit and actual
words Of that communication. That's
all we need say now, except just this.
loved you dearly and I love you
dearly now. l had hoped that we
might have been very happy together
and that | might have spent my life in
your service. But that was not to be
In the way that | had hoped. At the
same time / am not a man easily
moved or changed, and IL cannot be
yours in one way. dear girl, I will be
yours in another. However, that's all
about that. Now, then, let me tell
you how hard l have been trying to
discover the truth of this astounding
disappearance of poor Mr.. Gerald
Rathbone."
A low sob came from the girl In the
chair. 1t was a sob not only of regret
for her lost lover, but 1t had the same
note of reverence, OF utter apprecia-
ton, Of her first words.
"You are too good" she said. "Will.
lam, have treated you horribly badly.
You are too good. Oh, o are too
good!" q
"Hush!" he said, In a sharp, stacca-
to voice. I'VE agreed that aspect OF
the question wasn't to be spoken of
any more. The past Is the past, and,
my dear little gill, / beg you to real
lie 1t. You loved poor Gerald Rath-
bone, and he seems to have been
wiped out Of ordinary life. My bust.
mss is to find him again for you, so
that you may be happy. I have been
trying to do the utmost in my power
for days. I have done everything that
my mind could suggest, and as yet
nothing has occurred. Now, Marjorie.
let's just be businesslike. Tell me
what you think about the matter. and
I will tell you what I think. See II
u two brains cannot hit on some
thing which will help u.s."
William" she said, with a full note
"a chord. Srather-of deep pain in her
voice, William, I don't know what
to think. l can't understand it. | am
lost In utter darkness. There seems
no possible reason why he should
have gone away. l can only think that
the worst has happened, and that
some terrible people must have killed
him."
But why2"
"Oh," she answered, almost hysteri.
cally, "he was so beautiful and SO
strongl They must have killed him
because he was so different from 9th,
er men," She did not see the tall man
who sat before her vince and CULVER
She did not Q his face change and
comfort Itself into malignanoy. She
did not realize that these innocent
words, wrung from a simple, dis
tressed. and loving heart meant aw