The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-07-23
CHAPTER vII.-(continued).


At Truro he purchased several pa
pers and a magazine and took them Il
her compartment. 81 feel strongl,
tempted to go all the way with you,
he said impulsively.
WHY"
To take care OF YOU"
Out in my country girls are laugh.
to take care of themselves"
But you are so young and friend
less"
Il am gradually getting better o.
the first disability" she said, smiling
pathetically; "and as for the other,
must take my chance"
He was strongly tempted to kiss
her hand when he said good-by. but
retrained. He remembered the night
OF the wreck, when he and the butler
carried her upstairs and her cheek
came close to his. He had not quite
got over the sensation yet. and there.
fore argued that the prudent course
would be the safe course.
She waved her hand and smiled
when the train glided out of the sta
ton. He fancied he saw tears IN her
eyes, but he was not quite sure. He
O for some time staring across
the viaduct where the train had dis
appeared; then with a half smotbered
sigh, he turned away and wandered
slowly down into the city. The rain
mad ceased and the s~hopkeepers were
beginning to display their goods out
side their doors.
he a nothing particular to do
and no business Of any Importance TO
transact. He called on a young solic-
itor OF his acquaintance and spent an
hour in his office, talking chiefly about
h weather. Then he went out and
strolied about the town till lunch
time. Then an acquaintance took him
OF to his club, and he chatted n
read the papers until tea time. After
tea II was time for him to make his
way back to the station.
IN was O'clock when he reached
Mawgan Chase, and the rain was
coming down in drifts again. He was
glad TO see the lights in his own win
dows, but he was painfully conscious
OF a sense Of oppression-not to say
detection. He had been fighting
against the feeling all day. He was
annoyed that anybody-particularly a
Toman-had the power to cheer him
or depress him He knew il Marion
West had been In the house he would
have thrown open the door with a
much more buoyant spirit. He was
quite sure that he would find the
evening intolerably dull.
Esther met him in the hall with a
telegram in her hand. This came an
hour after you left this morning. she
explained. do you think we ought
to open ftp"
He took it and read: West, Nav
gan Chase, st. Chloe"
It's a bit awkward" he remarked.
knitting his brows. ut may require
an immediCt. answer"
Il did not like to open It on my own
responsibility" Esther said. "and
mother refused to advise me one way
or another
And, of course, the post is gomez"
"Oh, yes. an hour ago"
Its rather a pity that | went on
to Truro. or course, it is too late now
to do anything"
You might get a telegram through
If you make haste"
He looked at his watch and shook
his head. AT any rate" he said. "Ill
risk opening the telegram. It must
be the right thing to do under the cir
cumstances,' and he inserted his fore
finger and tore open the envelope.
Esther watched him narrowly as he
unfolded the fimsy. and was quick to
note the troubled look that swept over
his face.
We'll, ciem, what Is 1t about? she
inquired.
"A bit OF bad news for Miss West,
he said. without raising his eyes.
"Mr. MAYHEM is dead"
Dead ?
He handed her the telegram. which
read: Don't come. Mayhem dead.
Le'tSi ioio"ihs. -Pinder."
What a pity she did not write
sooner!"
THAT was ray faui..." he answered
sharply.
NO, no. She did not want to write
at all"
But IL ] had advised her TO write a
week ago she would have done 1t. /
wonder where she is now? II harm
befalls her l shall blame myself"
"Oh, that is n~ansense, Glen. We
did all that strangers could be ex-
pected TO de-"
He looked st her for a moment in
silence. Then the first dinner gong
sounded and he hurried upstairs to
his own room.
CHAPTER VIII.
An Anxious Day.