Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-10-15

I - AAOiu d lung ldllDle III
T. knickerbockers and Nor
~ folk jacket over the hills
was not thinking of the
sights and sounds Of the pleasant even.
Ing. He had tramped miles since sun.
down II had returned as he set out,
gloomy, unrequited, a follower of BAT
fed quest
Set back from the street in a wide
estate of trees and shrubbery stood a
great white porched house. Not q
light had twinkled from it for nearly a
year. The little city had wondered at
first, then by degrees had grown indif-
ferent. The secret Of that prolonged
honeymoon Harry Sanderson and the
bishop alone could have told, for the
bishop knew Of Hugh's criminal act.
He was named executor of the will
that lay in the Korean chest, and him
David .Stires had written the truth.
His heart had gone out with pity for
J%essica, and understanding. The secret
he locked in his own breast, as did
Harry Sanderson, each thinking the
other ignorant Of it.
Since that wedding day no shred of
news had come to either. Harry had
wished for non To think of Jessica
was a recurrent pang, and yet the very
combination of the safe in his study
he had formed Of the letters of her
name! In each memory of her he felt
the fresh assault of a new and ~tireless
fOn-fhn 1nrn u-hioh Io ,-,-4 l.-
Outcast and criminal as Hugh was,
castaway, who had stolen q banks
money and a woman's love, he was
still her husband. Hugh's wife! What
could b be to him? And this fevered
conflict shot through with yet another
pang, for the waking smart of com
junction which had risen at Jessica's
bitter cry, You helped to make him
what he has become!" would not down.
1hat cry had shown him in one clarity
ing instant the follies and delinquencies
OF his early career reduplicated as
through the facets of a crystal, and i'm
the polarized light of conscience Hugh
-loafer, gambler and %thief-stood as
the type and sign of an enduring &c.
cusation.
But if the recollection of that we'd
ding day and its aftermath stalked al
ways with him-if that kiss had seemed
to cling again and again to his lips as
he sat in the quiet of his study-no one
guessed. He seldom played his violin
now. but he had shown no outward
sign. AS time went on he had become
no less brilliant, though more inscruta-
Die; not less popular. save perhaps to
the parish hereSy hunter. for whom he
mad never cared a straw. But beneath
the surface Il great change had come to
Harry Sanderson.
Tonight as be wendell his way past
the house in the aspens. through the
clatter and commotion of the evening.
there was Il kind of glaze over his
whole face-a shell of melancholy.
Tomorrow began Harry's summer
vacation, and he had planned a
months pedestrian outing through the
wide ranch valleys and the farther
ranges. ana this should set him up
again.
NO"' hONCNSA, as ue MdlhGu ulOuS
he was bitterly absorbed in thoughts
other than his own needs. He passed
mere than one acquaintance With a
stare of n~onrecognition One of these
was the bishop, who turned an instant
TO look after him. The bishop had seen
that look frequently of late and had
wondered if it betokened physical ILL
ness or mental unquiet. More than
once he had remembered, with a sigh,
the old whisper of Harry Sanderson's
early wildneSs But he knew youth
M it's lapses, and he liked and re.
spected him Only two days before.
on the second anniversary of Harry's
ordination. he had given him for his
silken watch guard a little gold cross
engraved with his name and contain.
ing the date.
At a crossing the sight of a knot OF
people on the opposite side of the
street awoke Harry from his abstrac.
ton. They had gathered around a per
ipatetic street preacher, who was hold.
ing forth in a shrill voice. Beside him
on a short pole hung a dripping gaso-
line flare, and the kissing flame lit his
bare head. his thin features, his long
hair and his bony hands moving in
vehement gestures. A small melodeon
on four wheels stood beside him, and
on its front was painted in glaring
whifo 1attorc.