Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-30
CHAPTER VIii-(continued.

mark. It was no doubt the letter re-
ferred to In yesterdays telegram.
But there was no letter in her hand
writing
It's very strange" he said to him
sell. as he turned over the pile sec
ond time. II felt confident she would
write. Perhaps she was SO stunned
at the news that she forgot all about
\ us wonder If this morning she will
turn her face toward Mawgan Chase 2"
He had quite recovered his equa-
nimity-- outwardly, at any rate-by
the time his mother and Esther came
down to breakfast.
Esther's face expressed acute anx-
4 iety when she learned there was no
letter from Marion. ITS very
strange, Glen; don't you think SOP"
she questioned,
Oh, / don't know" he said, indif-
ferently. 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
ed his part with considerable success.
Out@ardly he appeared quite uncon-
cerned. He avoided as far as possible
all 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 kes1+
I strict watch on the road along Which
the telegraph boy would cove, He
hardly realized himself hsw anxious
he was. The part he had chosen to
play became more ana more diff1cult
as the day wore on.
The light faded early and the skv
became laden with rain clouds. He
wanted 81 az excuse to drive to the sta
Ion Gie thought 1t possible Marion
.has1I come down by the 6 train, and
1se would like to be at the station to
meet her He had not courage. how
ever to make the proposal. He had
made pretense of unGOncern all day,
and y would not do to begin to show
anxiety now. 3s4 s.s
3 He retired to the library when It
grew dark, and tried to forget his anx-
iety in book, out 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
I on its way from the station to ST.
y Chloe. 1t would be long, cold ride
for her, and IL there were no other
4 passengers II would be very lonely.
Perhaps she would not. mind. There
would be warmth and welcome when
she reached Mawgan Chase. How
Z thankful he would beto look into her
eyes again.
He began to feel a little alarmed at
U his own anxiety. What did it mean ?
Was he beginning to yield at the first
assault?
He made an attempt to analyze his
y emotions. Why this anxious watching
OF the clock this dread lest Bilkey
should pass emp y-handed? Would
he have besn SO anxious had he been
expecting any one else? Would the
going or coming of any other person
I leave such a blank or fill 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 as to the cause Of
his anxiety. but that he was anxious
IL unreasonably tous--there could be
a no doubt whatever.
Esther and his mother kept out q
& his way, for which he was sincerely
thankful, for il either of them came
near him they would be bound to see
& how perturhed he was. K q;
AS the hands of the clock nearet
the hour of Z he began to listen. il
NJ tently for the sound Of Biikey's van
s@ Every few minutes the wind dropped
down IN silence, and In the lulls an,
vehicle pas SIM along the road .coult
be- distinctly heard 5 AZ
He hurried II out into the hall a
length iths an eager light in hispeyes
III! Bi lkey' s van was coming down: til,
@ hill Pulling open the outer door, ii,
stood bareheaded In the porch M.
waited His heart was beating Wildly
his nerves SCENE strung up to the.
q ighest point Of tensio B
Every now and then a splash &
% rain struck his face and the win,
s2a tossed his n air q boot ID ali directions
81 but lie appeared to be q quite uncon
ssaous o8 both wind and rain. HI