The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-07-31
CHAPTER \.
a Search and It's Sequel.

CHAPTER TX.
A Search and Its Sequel.
Three days passed away and Aot q
solitary word was received from Mari
on West. Esther showed signs of
acute anxiety and disappointment.
Clement became irritable and restless,
and manifested a 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 a 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 1t was hardly
likely, in the natural order of things,
that she would cross their path again.
He argued also that he had lone
with women-that he had proved by
painful and humiliating experience
that they were not to be trusted; that
the old adage, "Once bitten, twice
shy" was particularly applicable in
his case; and that II he allowed him.
self to be c%aptivated by a girl in her
teens after what he had passed
through he deserved to be locked up
in a lunatic asylum.
Also he made mental vows that he
would not allow himself to be capti-
vated-that he would be master of
himself at all costs; that he would
cease to worry about Marion West and
forget her.
All this as a mental and even q
moral exercise seemed admirable
enough. Unfortunately. the results
were not commensurate with the ef-
fort. His arguments remained with
out a flaw, but his heart refused to
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
two or three days. Esther looked
surprised. His mother was glad that
the committees Of the county council
found him something to do. It had
long been evident to her that he lack
ed sufficient employment, and she had
begun to fear that she had made a
mistake in insisting that he should
live the life of a country gentleman.
He was of too active a temperament
to vegetate successfully In such a
place as st. Chloe. He was spelling
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 q somewhat dolorous
mood. He was conscious of a certain
moral deterioration which did not
tend to improve his, spirits. He
would have been happier II he had
had the courage to take his mother
and Esther into his confidence. But
after the role he had chosen to play
he could not bring himself TO the con.
fession that he was consumed with
anxiety to discover what had become
Of Marion West. He reached Exeter
about noon, and. jumping into a cab,
drove at once to the address Of the
late Mr.. Mayhem. He expected to
find q private residence, instead of
which he found q suite Of offices. Mr..
Pinder, commission agent, was now in
possession. He had succeeded Mr..
Mayhem. for whom he had been for a
considerable time managing clerk.
Mr.. Pinder was pleasant and, up to
q point, communicative. Miss West
had called earlier In the week. He
was sorry she had Travelled SO far to
no purpose She ought to have writ
ten earlier. What had become Of her
he did not know. She had seemed a
little upset but was by no means
overwhelmed ct the news Of Mr.. May
hew's death She had asked . great
many questions, and had intimated
her intention of iUtituting inquiries
In other directions. She might still
be Ii the city, but he thought 1t was
scarcely probable. Up to this point
Mr.. Pinder was quite ready to give In.
formation, but whom Clement began