The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-09-17
CHAPTER xIv.-(continued,.

tn
On the second Sunday in February
he got his reward. He sat under the
gallery on a line with the pulpit. The
building was crowded. The wide gal
lery opposite him seemed ready to
overflow into the arena. Even the
gangways were full. The congregation
stood up to sing the first hymn. Glenn
emit raised his eyes from his hymn
book, and almost directly opposite him
was Marion West. For a moment or
two he was In doubt; her head was
bent a little, and the brim of her hat
threw her face into shadow, but when
at length she lifted her eyes and be.
gan to sing all doubt vanished, and
for the next hour and more he was
conscioIs of nothing save that Marion
was alive and before him.
He kept hoping that she would turn
her eyes In his direction, but she was
too intent on the service and ON the
preacher. During the sermon she
scarcely moved her mead. For him,
self he heard nothing. The preacher
might be very eloquent-probably he
was, for there was a wonderful still.
ness in the plaW. He was too intent
on watching Marion's face to give
heed TO what the preacher said.
The service ended at length. He
saw Marion move into the gangway
and begin to mount the steps. Every.
body SCENE danxious TO get out of the
sitting atmosphere into the fresh air,
and there was much pushing and jos,
Ting In consequence. Clement lost
no time In elbowing his way through
the crowd. In the vestibule he stood
back from the %converging streams and
waited. The gallery people surged
down the stairs in a compact mass,
His heart began to beat uncomfortably
fast. In a moment or two he would
see her face light up with surprise
perhaps with pleasure.
He had great difficulty In holding
himself in check. How slowly the
moments passed! Why was she so
long In appearing? The stream OF
people got thinner, then suddenly
ceased to flow. What was the mean,
ing of Il? Where was Marion?
He learned later that there was an
other exit from the gallery. He was
terribly disappointed, but there was
no help for 1t. He waited till every.
body had disappeared, her turned his
face dejectedly towards his home.
He sat up later than usual that
night. He knew he would not sleep
II he went to bed. His brain was in a
whirl, his heart sore with disappoint,
ment. Nevertheless he was able to
extract a few large grains of %consola.
ton from the events of the evening.
IL was no light matter to have the
assurance that Marion was alive and
well and in London. Also she did not
look unhappy. For a full hour he had
watched her face closely, had marked
the play of every emotion in her eyes
and on her lips. and had detected no
sign of suffering or distress.
This was a great load lifted from
his mind. He had so often dreaded
the worst that he was ready to fall on
his knees and offer thanksgiving, ana
but for the poignant sense OF disap-
pointment at having missed speaking
to her he might have done so.
After the remnants of his frugal sup.
per had been cleared away he lighted
his pipe and tried to make himself
comfortable In what had once been an
easy chair.
In spite of his disappointment there
was a delightful thrill of exhilaration
In his heart. In any case, he reflect
ed, Marion was not far away from him.
II he had seen her once the chances
were he would see her again. Most
likely she attended the same church
regularly. They were bound TO meet
sooner or later. He would constitute
himself her protector. She would
learn to lean upon him and trust in
him. Friendship would in time ripen
into affection. His own deep love
would kindle hers. He would plead
his case with SO much ~earneStnes that
che would not be able TO resist, and
then Well, after that would be
the millennium.
He let his pipe go out several times,
SO intent was he on following his fan
cies. That night he dreamt he had
been made archbishop Of Canterbury,
and that he had appointed Tom Gray
ton to be his private chaplain.
During the next two or three days
time passed very slowly. He was i'm
patient for Sunday to come again. He
had formed any number Of plans for
waylaying Marion on her way to or
from the church-had almost decided
on the form of words he would use
when they met.
Events. however. have usually q
tantalizing way Of upsetting all our
calculations. He was coming out OF q
secondhand book sellers shop In Hol-
born on Thursday afternoon when he
almost collided with her. The meet
ing was 30 sudden and unexpected. 90
unlike anything he had anticipated or
pictured. that not n Of his prettily-
balanced speeches fitted the occasion
OF the two. he was the more complete.
" taken by surprise.
In her frank, candid way Marion
expressed at noe the uppermost feel
Inn in her heart. "Oh. Mr.. Mawgan,"
she exclaimed. how glad l an to see
vouls The next moment her face fell
ana the light went out Of her eyes.
sNot 90 glad as am to see you" he
protestsd. eagerly. Il have been look