Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-05-14

-. 1 c1-pt UP to bed nervous M
fearful of tie morrow, listening to ev-
cry noise without and praying inWardiy
that my alarm might not be Justified.
When the morrow came, l went DOWN
stairs as anxious to see van Tree III
the flesh as l had been yesterday MS
appointed by his appearance. But no
Van Tree was there to be seen. NOth-
ing had been heard Of him. Dymphna
restlessiy about. her cheeks pale.
her eyes dOWncast, IL II l had ever
fiattcred myself thai 1 was anything TO
the girl I was undeceived now. Inc
duchess shot angry glances at me from
time to time. Master BERTHE kept look
ing a~nxiously at the door. Everyone
seemed to fear and to expect something,
but none OF them feared and expected
1t as 1 did.
He must have gone home. He must
nave gone to Arnlleim.' said u host,
trying to hide his vexation. HE will be
back i'm a day or two. Young men will
be young men,"
But l found that the duchess did
not share the belief that Van Tree had
gone home. for in the curse OF the
morning she took occasion. when we
were alone. to charge me to be careful
not to come into collision with him.
IIOWf Cutl l., HOW lie Has SOIIc =
said meekly. feeling l was in disgrace.
He has not gone far" replied the
duchess m~eaningly. depend upon 1t.
he will not go far out OF sight unless
there is more harm done than I think
Or he Is very different from English
lovers. But IL you come across him
pray o to keep clear OF him. Master
Francis"
nodded assent.
But of what weight are resolutions.
with fate in the other scale? 1t was
some hours after this. toward 2 o'clock
indeed, her Mistress Anne came to
me. looking Hurried and vexed. Have
You seen Dymphnao she asked
abruptly.
No" I answered. "why?."
Because she is not in the house"
the girl answered. speaking quickly.
nor in the garden. and the last time
l saw her she was crossing the is
land toward the footbridge. think she
has gone that way to be on the look
out-you can guess for whom with a
smile, but l am fearful lest she shall
meet some n else, Master Francis.
She is wearing her gold chain and n
Of the maids says that she saw two
near the end OF the footbridge this
morning. That Is the way by land to
Arnheim, you Know"
That is bad" I said. What is to
be done?"
You must go and look for her."
alone"
Let her father go or Master Bertie,"
| answered..
Her father has gone down the
river to Arnheim, ] expect, and Master
BERTHE is fishing in a boat somewhere.
1t will take time to ind him. Why
cannot you go? II h has crossed the
footbridge. h will not be far away"
She seemed so anxious as she spoke,
for the Dutch girls safety that she
infected me with her fears. and I let
myself be persuaded. After all. there
might be danger. and 1 did not see
wha else was to be done. Indeed Mis-
had seen me clear OF the orchard and
half across the meadows toward the
footbridge. Mind you bring her back"
h cried after me. do not let her
come alone" n these were her last
words.
After WI had separated I did not
think for a moment that it val q pity
l had not asked her to come with me,
But the thought occurred too late. and
L strOde' t~owardsrt}re head OF the
bridge. resolving that as soon as I had
sighted Dymphna I would keep away
from her and content myself with
watching over her from a distance. As
1 passed by the little cluster of cot
tages on the landward side Of the is
land I glanced sharply about me. for I
thought 1t not unlikely that Master
neighborhood. But I saw nothing either
of her or him. All was quiet. the air
full of spring sunshine and warmth
and hope and the blossoms Of fruit
trees. n with an indefinable pleas
ure. a feeling of escape from control
and restraint. I crossed the long foot
hrY60a Gndy aof fOCf o4rnnot for tho A~nk
time since our arrival-for at Master
I.indstrom's desire we had kept very
close-on the river bank.
To. the: right a fair road or cause-
way along the waterside led to Arm
helm. At the point where l stood this
turn at right angles. running straight
away from the river to avoid q wide
track of swamp and mire which lay
on my left. q Quaktng marsh many
miles round. overgrOwn with tall rush-
es and sedges. which formed the head
looked up the long, straight road to
Arnheim and saw only q group Of trav-
elers moving slowly along 1t. their
backs toward me. The road before me
was bare Of passengers. Where. then.
was Dymphna. II she had crossed tho
bridge? In the last esort I scanned
the green expanse Of rushes and will
lows which stretched. With intervals
Of open water. as far az the eye could
reach on my left. It was all rustling
and shimmering in, the light breeze.
but my y picked out one or two
raised dykes ~s.hich penetrated 1t here
and there and served at once as path
ways to lslets In tho mere and breast
works against further encroachments
Of the river. Presently on one Of these.
Of which h course was fairly defined
by q line Of willows, I made out the
flutter of q woman's hood, and I re-