Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-18
Copyright 1909, by Benz. B. Hampton.>
WYE HEN Arthur Hepburn turned up at Ben
wv guela after two years in the interior MS
w appearance in most particulars equiv


alent to return from the dead Certa'n
Of his natives had appeared year before ana mar
rated, with much detail, the circumstances Oh "i'
Ieath by fever. Accordingly his will had been pro
hated and his estate settled. and Eleanor Hepburn
was already laying aside both the insignia and ''e
attitude of mourning.
Everyone expected her to wait a reasonable 'l''e
md then marry Jack Macarthur and everyone we'
.omed the prospect most feicitous Macarthur
lad been best at Hepburns wedding, ana h'i
gone away sorrowful. The marriage had not proven
Il happy one, and nobody knew this better IMAM
Macarthur There had been friction from the hiSt
unconscious nagging her part and an aroi'ra
riness on his, with minimum of forbearance on oo'h
sides 1t this lack of domestic happiness wiich
had sent Hepburn to Africa, and doubtless was "n"'
kept him there for two full years.
In the meantime Macarthur came into intimate
relations with Mrs Hepburn. AS her layer ne
was called upon to advise and to execute for her;
1t was he who brought the of Hepburns death;
and the settlement of the estate had been IN MS
hands.
Nothing was more natural therefore, than thaI
Mrs. Hepburn's friends should speculate upon no"
much longer she would keep Macarthur waiting
Macarthur, himself. had waited decent six months
out of respect for his friends memory; but wheh
n year had passed. he and HRS. Hepburn were seen
much oeether. 1t generally surmised that they
nouncement of quiet wedding. There was no
substantial basis for this expectation other imam
their open friendship and acknowledged intimacy
This was the situation when Hepburn emerged
from Benguela in Portuguese West Africa He had
gone in trim and clean shaver; he came lo'tn
bearded to the eyes and clad in tatters. lie had
gone in rather florid fublooded man; he returned
a living skeleton yellow skinned and gaunt, his
cheek bones polished like ivory Yet fever ana
starvation and the albut fatal struggle against long
odds had been the making of him, and In place Oh
the rather shallow-minded, MISUNDERSTANDING youth
who had gone, there came back one whose leEe
gray eyes challenged mans respect.
II was the want CT mail awaiting him that hrst
stirred suspicion his mind. Strangely enough
the thought that she might suppose him dead dld
not occur him. Even in that black hour wheh
the fever had laid him by the heels, and MS men
deserted in a body, he, himself had not despaired
The lack of any word when he came in touch with
the word Of steamers and more or less regular
post was therefore shock, and all the more as
turbing since his attitude toward her had undergone
a change In the fever-brightened watches OF the
African night he had come to see himself WIN a
clearer vision, and to despse the selfishneS' the
want of consideration the bullying, overbearng att
tude which had characterized his relations with his
wife.
He was coming back make amends, and he
had looked eagerly for the day when he should re
ceive his first word from her. The fact that none
! awaited him threw blight upon his triumph. vi
what use was it to have fought off fever. conquered
starvation, and forced reluctant circumstances 10
bend before his will. if all she had forgotten
aim?
He thought the matter with particularly on
the voyage up to London, dscarding theory after
theory inadequate, never lighting on the truth
Nothing had happened to her. OF that he felt as
sured Jack would have let him know. One letter
might have been lost, but not the dozen he had
hoped to find, and he felt he had a right to expect
The voyage set him mp so far as his body was
concerned and he reached England still thin and
yellow. but with his legs more beneath him.
With his spirits it different matter. These
refused to respond to clean air and good food and
grateful rest, The blow they had received could be
counteracted by sophistical imagnngs.
The first inlng of the truth came when he found
Ids London letter of credit had been cancelled.
There was of but one explanation of that.
She must think him dead. And accepting this n.y.
pothess, he decided not to cable word of his com.
Ing choosing rather to return unheralded
rising from the dead
Delaying then only TO make himself presentabe
in the matter Of clothes he sailed Immediately for
New York. He had to borrow money for his pass.
age and he the friend who lent 1t to utter
secrecy. On the boat he passed as H. e. P. Burn
and the passenger list included none whom he knew
acquaintance with him in the smoking room. intro.
ducing himself as Mr.. Sayre
They proved congenial. and spent considerable
time together during the remainder of the trip.
they we're sitting the deck morning smoking
and talking when Sayre made some casual mention
# his country place.
"You say you have place at Chatham Farms?"
Hepburn took him up with interest.
yes" returned Sayre. "Know the place?
bought the Judson tract and built there last spring.
Perhaps then" said Hepburn you know my
you may know Mrs. Hepburn"
Indeed yes" returned Sayre delightful woman.
You know her do you? Sad about her husband
wasn't it,"
Very" said Hepburn. do you happen to know
any OF the particuars?"
"Oh he went exploring Central Africa and
died of fever. That's all any knows, ! believe.
Gues9 he didn't amount % much at best. Her friends
seem to think she is well rid of him."