The Huttig news., 1908-07-25

 justice he had suffered, his sorrows. all pleaded for him. Yet not in the narrow closeness of a room It would be easier out in the open. away from her own house.
 Tell him I'm driving" she said to the maid. Ask him to step to the front door
 Esther drove around the house to find him standing. bareheaded, on the graveled road. He was haggard and thin, his shoulders stopped, his eyes gloomy. His clothes were handsome and well made; but they had bor- rowed. misfitting look, that was pitt ful to Esther. He did not speak, but stood waiting. slightly bent, only his somber eyes pleading.
 Will you drive with me, Gideon ?" she asked quietly.
 Without word he put on his hat and stepped in beside her. tucking the robe carefully about her. Every move ment had gentle depreeation foreign to the Gideon she had known.
 The team was restive, the streets crowded; and she could do no more than drive until mile or more of hills had taken the first mettle out of her horses
 When they were on the road, fol lowing the shimmering bay shore around Fort Point to the sea, the plangent waves at their feet, the salt air blowing clean upon them. the vast farness of blue ocean sweeping away petty thoughts, bringing eternal veri- ties-there Gideon and Esther found common meeting ground.
 Gideon freed her from her promise and would have explained, but she ob- jeeted. It's past, Gideon. Alfred is safe, well. Let me forget what know, hear no more." Her heart bounded yet was leaden again. Freedom had come too late. Alfred no longer loved her.
 Yes, one thing I would know. Did Phineas Cadwallader have anything to do with Alfred 's-capture?
 No"
 What makes him hate Alfred. taen?''
 He hates him on more than one score. Vincent knows some important secret of his, and Vincent has also caught Cad in one or two tricks against the company. Cad's afraid he'll be reported. Besides all this, Cad was the last man seen with Vincent before he disappeared; and if the case is ever investigated Cad,ll have hard work to clear himself"
 Were you? Did any one find out =? Why were you not arrested?"
 There was not scrap of evidence against me. My alibi was perfect.
 Esther was long silent. Gideon looked out to sea. and waited.
 Have you told any one?" she asked finally. "You-you had the thing done. if you didn't do it yourself. didn't you?"
 Yes. And live told no one-must not"
 Must not?" she questioned wonder ingly. She knew he did not lack courage.
 Drag you into such a foul compli- cation-the trial. your hearts secrets e. | think of that three years ago. Now you are my cousin-my name yours"
 But justice" she began, as he halted. Ought respect for a name to stand in the way of that?"
 I've thought of that But Vincent is free, as we'll in health as ever; no trouble or disgrace attaches; and he's hotfnr off in if hQ had not suffered from me, for I've been able to throw a thing or two his way. There are the lost years, and-and you. Do you think at this late day it would please him if I dragged your name before the public? Wouldn't that rather distress him?'
 'On account of his own name, per haps he cares nothing for mine" She was thinking of Amabels face as she had waltzed by her the night before, looking into Alfred's eyes.
 "Of coursel I knew that always" Gideon said dully, and gazed seaward
 On the veranda of the old Cliff house they stopped as does the tourist of to- day to watch the endless flip-fop of wet. glistening seals clambering the gray rocks only to drop into the sea again. The same brilliant, limtless panorama unfolded westward then as to-day-beetling cliffs, the sapphire sky, white, fantastic clouds, twin green promontories guarding the Golden Gate, the misty, enchanted Farallones, the eternal roar of the surf. But na- ture then was all unsubdued
 They fingered little, both silent, Gideon nearer content than for years
 Where have you been this long, long time, Gideon?" Esther asked on their way back to the city.
 Many places. Twice I went to Poughkeepsie. I saw you. though you didn't know it; saw that you were we'll and happy"
 "Gideonl" Esther exclaimed, aston ished
 I've gridironed Nevada and Utah deserts looking for gold and for wagon routes; and have found both The last few months I've spent between San -s-.