The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-08-21
CHAPTER X. (continued.)
SILAS Y. LOCKING.

q their shortest. He purchased a
six-penny magazine, and settled him
self into a corner of a second-class
carriage. He could not afford to
travel f%irst-class. It was mira dig. for
. Mawgan to travel third. He made
n honest attempt to read. His eyes
wandered slowly down the printed
page. He even turned a leaf accession
ally, but In reality he read nothing.
His brain was in a tumult. 1t was
easy to assume an attitude Of indif.
terence; easy to vow all sorts of he
roic things; but to be absolute mas.
ter Of himself was quite another mat
ter.
He met his mother and sister with
q bright and jaunty air, kissed them
both affectionately, declared that he
was glad to get home again, and that
he hated having to take journeys in
the winter.
Il suppose you have heard nothing
Of Marion West?" Esther inter.
rogated.
MY dear Esther" he said, laugh
tngly, how was l likely to hear any.
thing Of herr"
"Of course, he can have heard
nothing Of her. her mother inter
rupted; land why should he want to
hear anything of herr"
II want to hear, II he doesn't"
Esther answered. ITO me her silence
Is quite unaccountable."
"She may have written, of course
was the answer; "it is no unusual
thing for letters to get lost" and then
the subject was allowed to drop for
the moment.
But after dinner, when Clement had
betaken himself to the library for his
evenings smoke, Esther left her
mother and Joined him.
look here, Glenn" she said. Il
don't understand you a little bit"
NO." he questioned, looking up
with a smile.
"On the night Marion went away
you were quite anxious about her"
'She went away in the morning, /
believe"
Don't be silly. You know how the
telegram upset you, and how you de-
clared that If any harm befell her you
would blame yourself for not persuad-
ing her to write earlier"
'But I am not aware that any harm
has befallen her."
mo doubt, Esther; but there are
thousands of young people In similar
circumstances
"That does not meet the case. Why
were YOU SO worried four or nve
nights ago, and why are you SO indlf-
ferent to-day?"
II am not so Indifferent as you sug-
xest. But what can we do? she is
nothing to us. We did our duty TO
her. surely. She went away IN pur-
suance Of the end she had in view. II
she does not choose to write to US
WE'LL and he shrugged his Shout
ders significantly.
Esther said no more She felt that
her brother had the best OF the argu-
ment but her anxiety was not lessen
I'd in any degree. II it had been we'll
with Marion she felt sure she would
have written. 1t was because 1t was
mi with her that she kept silent.
On the morning but one following
Esther was the first down to break
fast. The old butler had already SORT
cd the letters and laid them on the
table. Esther seized her letters the
frst thing and glanced at the adj
dresses; then, with a little gasp. she
tore omen one Of them and began to
read. ~ she did 50 her eyes dilated
conbiderab1y and q deep wave OF Grim
son swept over her face. The letter
was from Marion West, and had no adj
dress save the word London" on the
Top Of the page.
Il would like to say Dear Miss
lEaWgan,s" the letter began, but
leel I have no right to s such words.
our brother will have told you who
am. and the daughter Of the man
Tho robbed your father must be hate
ful In your eyes. I did not know 1t
when I was sheltered under your roof.
i made the discovery after left. Had
3 known / think YOU would have
heAn kind. for God made you good.
Haa / known should have hidden my
! I ID sorrow and shame. have
nched to write to you. but feared you
would not read my letter. have
wanted to tell you that | am not un'
grateful, that the child Of Dick West
can appreciate q kindness and will
never forget It. am not asking for
pity. / an only trying to perform q
simple duty. You will not see me
again. Ii this great city am swal
lowed ~ ana lost. It's Q Is IN my
ears as / write, and its voice Is like
the voice 81 doom. How grateful shall
be when the struggle II over! Yours
ii undying gratitude,
marion West"
Estherss cheeks we're almost deathly
pale ~ th6 time she had finished the
letter. and M eyes we're full OF tears
For several mennents she stood quite
still With IL open letter a her hand
then shs folded n quickly, put II back
Into the envelopes. and hurried out O
the room. she wanted time 70 think
time % recover herself. The letter
Nvaa nravAfafion IL hAr II more WAYS