Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-30
CHAPTER TX.
A Search and Its Sequel

|
A Search and Its Sequel
Three days passed away and not a
solitary word was received from Mari
on West. Esther showed signs of
acute anxiety 3and disappointment.
Clement BECAME irritable and restless,
and manifested strong disinclination
for food. He was passing through an
experience that troubled him a good
deal. His philosophy was breaking
down. His heart was getting the bet
ter OF his judgment.
He argued that there was no reason
on earth why he should worry a single
moment over Marion West; that at
best she was only chance acquaint-
ance--a girl without name or family;
that as humane and Christian people
| they had done all that could be expect
| ed OF them; and that it was hardly
| likely, in the natural order of things,
that she would cross their path again
He argued also that he had done
with women-that he had proved by
4 painful and humiliating experience
4 that they were not to be trusted; that
the old adage, "Once bitten, twice
shy" was particularly applicable in
his case. and that If he allowed him
self to be captivated by girl in her
teens after what he had passed
through he deserved to be locked up
in lunatic asylum.
4 Also he made mental vows that he
would not allow himself to be capti-
vated--that he would be master of
4 himself at all costs; that he would
cease to worry about Marion West and
4 forget her.
4 All this as mental and even
moral exercise seemed admirable
enough. Unfortunately, the results
We're not commensurate with the eff
4 fort. His arguments remained with
i out a flaw, but his heart refused to
4 obey,
On the fourth day he discovered
that he had business that would take
him to Plymouth, possibly to Bristol,
and that he might have to be away
u two or three days. Esther looked
surprised. His mother was glad that
the committees of the county council
q found him something to do 1t had
Il long been evident to her that he lack
ed sufficient employ and she had
ii begun to fear that she had made a
]. mistake in insisting that he should
. live the life Of country gentleman.
q He, was of too active temperament
to- 9egetate successfully in such a
]. place as st. Chloe. He was spelling
4 for lack OF use, growing hard and bit.
. ter and cynical when he ought to be
bright and hopeful and optimistic.
He left by the earliest available
train, and was in somewhat dolorous
Z mood. He was conscious of a certain
moral deterioration which did no,
i tend to improve his spirits. He
], would have been happier IL he hac
had the courage to take his mothe,
and Esther into his confidence Bu
after the role he had chosen to pla,
II he could not bring himself to the con
J lCSslOil e Lag 1iS WAS consumed Will
anxiety to discover what had become
OF Marion West. He reached Excite
Il about noon, and. jumping into cab
drove at once to the address Of The
late Mr., Mayhem. He expected tx
find q private residence instead o
which he found q suite of Offices. Mr.
Pinder, commission agent, was now ii
/. possession, He had succeeded Nj
Mayhem, for whom he had been for
consid erable time managing clerk.
j. Mr.. Pinder was pleasant and, up t,
y d point, communicative. MISS Yves
had called earlier in the week. HI
q was sorry she had travelled so far t
no purpose. She ought to have writ
8 ten earlier. What had become az he
j 5le lid not know. She had seemed
n little upset hut was BY no mean
3 overwhelmed at the news Of Mr.. Ma,
) hew' death. She had asked d grea
nany questions, and had intimate
her inIen OF inslufIir
asI In other d irections She might stil
besin the city, bat hes thought e wa
III Il sscsTcei Tgfff,, to THIS ..
Al. Nj. Rinder was quite read to- give HI
v formation but when Clement Sega