The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-07-31
'''The Shadow Between"
CHAPTER vIiI-(continued.
- BY #
SILAS X. HOOKING.

CHAPTER ViiI-(Continued.
There were not many letters, and
he turned them over with great Gag
erness. The last in the pile was for
Marion, and bore the Exeter post
mark. 1t was no doubt the letter re.
ferred to In yesterdays telegram.
But there wal no letter in her hand
writing.
IT'S very strange" he said to him.
self. rs he turned over the pile a sec.
ond time. II felt confident she would
write. Perhaps she was so stunned
Ut the news that she forgot all about
us. l wonder If this morning she will
turn her face toward Mawgan Chaser
He had quite recovered his equa.
aimity-outwardly. at any rate-by
the time his mother and Esther came
down to breakfast.
Esther's face expressed acute anx.
iety when she learned there was no
letter from Marion. Its very
strange, Glenn; don't you think so?''
she questioned.
oh. | don't know" hs said. indif.
eerently. MANY things may have pre-.
vented her writing"
Surely she might have dropped us
= post card to say she had arrived
safely."
she may not have thought Of it."
and he went on with his breakfast.
During the rest Of the day he play.
ID his part with considerable success
Outwardly he appeared quite uncon.
oerned. He avoided as far a. possible
Ill mention Of Marion's name, and
seemed for once to be supremacy busy.
He was careful. however. not to go
tAr away from the house. and he kept
z strict watch on the road along which
a telegraph boy would come. He
hardly realized himself how anxious
hs wa. The part he had chosen to
play became more and more didicult
=? the day wore on.
The light faded early and the sky
became laden with rain clouds. He
wanted an excuse to drive to the sta
ton. He thought It possible Marion
might come down by the 6 train, and
he would Ike to be at the station to
meet her. He had not courage. how
ever { make the proposal. He had
made . pYetense Of unconcern all day,
and It would not do to begin to show
anxiety now.
He retired to the library when 1t
grew dark, and tried to forget his anx-
iety in = book. u It proved a fruit
less endeavor. Every splash of rain
on the window pane startled him,
while the moaning OF the wind in the
trees got upon his nerves.
At Z o'clock Bilkey's van would pass
on its way from the station to st.
Chloe. It would be q long, cold ride
for her, and II there were no other
passengers 1t would be very lonely.
Perhaps she would not mind. There
would be warmth and welcome when
she reached Mawgan Chase. How
thankful he would be to- look into her
eyes again.
He began to feel a little alarmed at
his own anxiety. What did it mean?
Was he beginning to yield at the first
assault?
He made an attempt to analyze his
emotions. Why this anxious watching
Of the clock-this dread lest Bilkey
should pass empty-handed? Would
he have besn SO anxious had he been
expecting any n else? Would the
going or coming OF any other person
leave such a blank or I'LL him with
such ecstasy?
He began to pace up and down the
room after awhile; he felt SO restless
that he could no longer sit still. He
might be IN doubt % to the cause of
his anxiety. but that he was anxious
unreasonably anxious-tnere could be
no doxbt whatever.
Esther and his mother kept out OF
hk way, for which he was sincerely
thankful, for IL either Of them came
near him they would be bound to see
how ~pertArbed he was.
Az the hands Of the clock neared
the hour Of Z he began to listen in
family for the sound Of Btlkey's van.
Every few minutes the wind dropped
down In silence, and In the lulls any
vehicle passing along the road could
be distinctly heard.
He hurried out into the hall 1t
len6th With an eager light In his eyes.
Hilhey's = was coming down the
hill Pulling open the outer door. he
stood b~aseheaded In the porch ana
watted. His heart was beating wildly.
~ Nerves seemed strung up to their
highest POINT Of tension.
Every now and then a splash .ef
rain struck his face and the wind
tnssod he hair about IN ali directions:
but ~ appeared to be quite uacon-
scioas of both wind and rain. He
ceald - the fickering Of the solitary
lamp carried IN front OF the van he
cos1d hear Bilkey's voice as ne en-
ccuss&ed the horses. They came down
the ~ It = rafting pace. Now thew
we're passing his grounds: they would
pnll ~ directly st his gate. Surely
Marion would be IN the van. ana he
woald - The frat to give her vel.
NcJanA