The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-10-09
CHAPTER XVII.
Marion's Decision.

Both Clement and Marion felt much
happier after the interview than be-
fore. It is true the shadow returned
again directly he had taken his de-
parture. but she no longer had any
misgiving respecting is motives, and
she was just a little in danger of max
ing a hero of him. Out in the far
West magnanimity was not q con
spicuous virtue. She had seen q good
deal Of the other thing. The ugly
head Of revenge was constantly show
ing itself. Men cherished hate as
though 1t we're a precious thing, and
hunted down an enemy with the dog
ged patience Of a sleuth hound.
Hence. considering her u%pbringing,
her fear of Clement was the most
natural thing in the world. He must
hate me-" she said to herself again
and again. "As he cannot touch my
father he will wreak his vengeance on
me. Now that he knows who l am
his friendship will Ne turned into
loathing."
But after his visit to Chingford
Terrace that fear vanished entirely.
No came to disturb them in the
drawing room, and time passed I'M
needed. Clement was very careful not
to a his timid bird. He had been
too ardent the previous day, and took
care not to fall into tn esame error
again. Fear made him cautious, and
love %sharpened his eyes.
She encouraged him to talk about
himself and he was nothing loath.
She understood him better after that
conversation than ever before, and
she found hersel fadmiring him great
~. He var very frank and honest.
Encouraged by her smile, he opened
his heart more fully than he knew.
ton rising into the cloudless dome;
saw his character growing and
strengthening by virtue of the efforts
he was putting forth; saw vaguely
and far OF how the loss of the father
might prove the gain of the son. One
thing he did not tell her: how love
Of her had been the turning point of
his life. The time had not come for
that, and yet he was impatient to
speak the words that would seal his
fate.
She looked very sweet and winning
as she sat opposite him listening to
his talk. No lovelier face, he mag
ined, could be found in all London,
and her face was the index of her real
self. For q full hour the shadow new
er once came between them, and in
that hour their hearts came very
close to each other. To her his mag.
nanimity was wonderful. That he
should want to be her friend after all
that he and his had suffered through
her father touched her with a sense
almost Of awe. Il was like q bene-
diction to find sucn a soul Of good
ness in the world. Human nature
was q finer thing than she had been
taught to believe. The world here
and there seemed to come very near
to heaven.
On the following afternoon, being
Saturday. they met accidentally in
the park. At least, that was Marion's
impression. Clement kne wbetter. At
any rate. II they had not met he
would have felt sadly out in his cal.
osaYntanMn 0Hn Ma tn1A him ~,nAnn
sciously the previous evening how her
Saturday afternoons were chiefly
spent. and he had drawn his plans &C.
cordingly.
It did his heart good to see her eyes
night up with pleasure when he made
his appearance. He was quite sure
now that she trusted him, and that
was q long step In the direction he
wanted to 90. She was a little bit
shy and constrained at the first, but
10 soon put her at ease. A little
experience had made him tactful.
They talked g~eneralities at first, but
gradually and unc0nsciously their
conversation became more personal.
C0nndence begets confidence. She
001Q 0lM IUOE0 6OOQI u0r past ll10 IAdu
II she had done before. and he won
dered greatly that % rough q soil
could produce 20 sweet q flower.
On the following evening they met
again. and be walked home with her
from church. Had she been alone she
would have taken q bus. for the dis
lance was very considerable. Being
Sunday. all the streets, except the
main thoroughfares. were quiet and
deserted. He kept very close to her.
which she did not resent, and she
showed no inclination 70 hurry.
He fell to talking about himself
again-his plans and hopes for the fu-
ture. Then suddenly he let out all tho
truth. Whether he WIS Wise or fool
ish. who shall say? He told himself
afterwards that he could not help it.
that his heart was 30 full that he could
no longer contain himself. and that.
since the truth was bound 70 come
cut soone Or later. nothing was to
~ gained BY delay. ANYHOW. he let
Ans& ~. -A~--AM $3.50 AaA&@~A-4-Ax