The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-08-06
dress ab..ract.dly For several .econds,

dress a~5stractsdly for several seconds.
thurst II into an inner pocket OF his
coat. He fingered over his break.
fast after most of the guests had
taken their departure, and made a
brave attempt to eat as much as
usual. After he had paid his bill he
lighted a cigar ard sat down neal the
fire to study the timetable. He was
In no particular hurry. II he got to
Mawgan Chase In time for dinner 1t
would be quite early enough.
He made no inquiry respecting Ma.
rion. Whether she went early that
morning or the evening before did not
concern him. The outstanding fact
that dominated all others wes that she
was the daughter OF Dick West. He
could hardly help smiling at the grim
irony OF the situation. His mother
would have had a fit had she known.
There was no name so reprobated-
so loathed-as that of Dick West. 1t
was a synonym for all that was base
In human nature, and that n daugh-
ter of this man should have been
their guest-and a welcomed and hon.
ored guest-seemed almost incredible.
But there was another fact almost
more %ironical. The daughter of this
man had interested him, attracted
him, fascinated him, more than any
other woman he had ever met. He
was in Exeter at this moment simply
because he had been unable to rest
without knowing what had become OF
her. He had been resolved to take
her back with him to Mawgan Chase
and risk everything.
Well, there was at least n COM
forting reflection. He would not
now have to invent explanations and
He would return alone. He
need not say where he had been or
whom he had seen, and the role or
pretended Indifference to the fate Of
Marion West which he had COM
menced he would be able to carry
through to the end. That he could
take any further interest in her was.
of course, out Of the question. On the
whole, he was inclined to think on
the course events had taken. That
he had been drifting into a position
of some delicacy and of considerable
difficulty there could be no doubt.
New the knot had been cut at a single
stroke, and by Marion herself. She
had lone the right thing-he admired
her for that. She had taken herself
off without fuss-had lost herself, as
IL we're, in the great city which swal-
lowed up so many of the waits and
strays Of humanity-and there was an
end of the whole affair.
What was TO become of her was no
concern OF his. The chances were, OF
course, against her. Whilst her
money lasted she would be all right.
After that
He s~huddered a little and shrugged
his shoulders unconsciously. n was
young and innocent and fair to look
upon, and though she was the daugh-
ter of Dick West she was still a
woman.
He took a slow train to Plymouth
and got there in time for a late luncn.
He was not in the least hungry. He
was really too much depressed to feel
the need of food, but he assured him.
self that he would let no woman in
the world interfere with his appetite,
least OF all the daughter of a scoun-
drel like Dick West.
From Plymouth he sent a telegram,
asking that the brougham should be
sent to the station to meet the D
O'Clock train. He smiled a little grim
ly during this operation.
Mother and Esther will think l
have never gone beyond Plymouth
he said to himself. And | shall not
feel called upon to enlighten them'
Ito Be c~ontinued.)