The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-08-07
"TbeShadOW Between"
-BY-
sILAs K. HOOKING.
CHAPTER XII.
Transformation.
SILAs K. HOOKING.

Clement had made the discovery that
the one overmastering desire OF his
life was to win the love Of Marion
West and make her his wife. He had
faced the issue calmly and steadily
through a dozen sleepless nights, and
he had reached a point when doubt
wal no longer possible.
To resist was useless. The Fates
were against him. He had fought and
struggled till he had no energy left.
He had argued and debated and tenn.
porized till brain and will alike SEEM
ed worn out. Little by %little--like an
incoming tide-the conviction had
crept ove him and submerged him.
He accepted the inevitable at last
with a curious thrill Of gladness
mingled with pain. He knew what he
wanted-there was satisfaction in that
but beyond that the outlook was as
dark and depressing as 1t could we'll
be.
He took no n into his confidence.
From every point Of view his passion
seemed hopeless. There was nothing
for him to do but to lock the secret
In his own heart and endure doggedly
and silently to the bitter end.
What had become of Marion West
be did not know, and he had no means
Of finding out. She had disappeared
In the great city and all trace of her
Was lost.
But wen II he knew he would be no
better of. She would not listen to
him. The knowledge of what her
father had done had raised an in
superable barrier between them. In
her way she was prouder than he. She
would rather starve than be his wife.
And even II she were willing to OBJ
literate the past as he was willing, he
was still in an utter state of helpless
ness. The finances Of Mawgan Chase
not equal to the maintenance Of
another person. They had already re-
duced economy to a fine art. If mar
rage did not mean IN additional in
come, then it were folly to dream of
marrying. When he became engaged
to Edith Tremayne this view of the
case was not lost sight of for a mo-
ment. Edith was not only of good
family, but she was an heiress in her
own right. or course her money was
not the only thing. not even, perhaps,
the principal thing. He had been
taught by his mother to look only
where money existed. and he had been
obedient to her teachings. OF all the
eligible young ladies Of his acquaint-
ance he liked Edith best. He honest
" believed that he loved her. she
wa pretty and sprightly and quick
witted, and he got to be exceedingly
fond OF her. She made much of him
met all his advances with a delightful
everything.
Well, that was an old story. now. He
hoped. she was happy with the man
she had married. She had treated
him badly, there vas no doubt; had
proved herself to be q heartless and
deceitful firt, and for the time being
had destroyed his faith in woman
kind. But he knew now that he had
never loved her. The coming OF Mari
on had been a revelation to him.
There were depths In his nature that
Edith Tremayne had never touched
and never could touch. He had en-
c0uraged himself to love her, and
dwelt on her good qualities. and had
reasoned himself into the belief that
she was meant for him.
hut IN the case Of Marion West love
needed no encouragement. 1t sprang
up and lourished in spite Of every
thing. He had tried his hardest to
check its growth. had labored to pull
Il up by the roots, and the more he
had labored the more 1t had grown.
He could forgive Edith now for mar
rying the other His eyes had
been opened to distinguish between
the genuine and the counterfeit.
And yet, apart from the Joy Of low
Ing. his experience brought him no
satisfaction. Even II he could find
Marion, win her love, and persuade
her to ignore the past, he was still in
durance from tho very fact that he
was not IA ! position to marry. q pen
ni1ess bride, and was incapable Of
earning maintenance for himself
and her.
This fact awohe IN him q feeling Of
bitterness amounting almost to con
tempt. II led him to look - his past
life more calmly and dispassionately
than he had ever done before. It sug-
gested ! number Of questions that had
never before occurred to him. and It
pulled the scales from his eyes in q
way that9was distinctly disquieting.
For the FIRST time In his life he was
brought to close grips with himself.
Up to the present he had been con.
tent to 50 the way Of least resistance.
. accept wAat had been provided for
hin. and 70 grusnble because there
- not more Of II. He had been
conscious all the time Of . feeling OF
deep dissatisfaction. but had been too
incident to seok out its cause. It was