Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-28


that see in my dreams. They never
have my visions Of the beautiful snow
white mother with the tender mouth
and the sad eyes that always smile at
me-"
"You have visions of such things,
eh?"
Eyes, but came generation late,
that's all, and I've got that other wo-
mans SOUL I'm not half breed. I'm
not me at all. I'm Merridy-Merridy
That's who am"
Her face was turned away from him,
so that she did not notice the frightful
effect her words had upon Stark.
"Where did you get-that name?"
His voice was pitched in q different
key now. Then after moment he
added, "From the story told you at
the mine that night, suppose?"
"Oh, no." she answered. 1--WE al
ways had 1t, though they call me Ne
cia. Merridy was my fathers mother.
I guess I'm like her in many ways, for
I often imagine she is a part Of me.
that her spirit Is mine. It's the only
way I can account for the sights i
see."
"Your fathers mother?" he said me-
chanically. '"That's queer" He SEEM
ed to be trying to shake himself free
from something Its heredity. I sup
pose. You have visions Of Il white wo-
man, woman named Merriey, eh?"
Suddenly his manner changed, and he
spoke so roughly that she looked at
him in vague alarm.
GLOW do you know? How do you
know she was his mother"
"He told me so"
Stark snarled "He liedw
II can show you her wedding ring
I've always worn it." She fumbled for
the chain about her neck, but it eluded
her trembling fingers. ut has her
name in it-'From Dan to Merridy.'"
Stark's hand darted forward and tore
the thing from her shoulders. Then he
thrust it under the lamp and glared at
the inscription, while his fingers shook
so that he could barely distinguish the
words. His eyes were blazing and his
face livid.
Necia cried out, but he dropped the
ornament and seized her fiercely, lift
ing her from the chair to her feet.
Then with one swift, downward clutch
he laid hold of her dress at the left
shoulder and ripped it half to her
waist A hoarse sound came from his
throat, cry half of amazement, half
Of triumph.
"Let me go! Let me go!" She strug-
gled to free herself, but he held her in
a viselike grip, while he peered closely
at blemish well down upon her back.
Then he let her slip from his grasp,
and, seized with terror, she staggered
away from him. He was leaning heav-
lily with both hands upon the table, his
thin lips grinning, his whole manner
SO terrifying that she shrank back.
whereupon he Strengthened up and said
in queer, commanding voice:
"Wait. Don't go. I-I-you''- he
licked his lips as If they were dust
dry, passed an uncertain hand across
his beaded brow and, raising the wa.
ter pail beside the door to his mouth
drank heavily in great, noisy gulps.
"Let me out Of here!' the girl de
manded imperiously.
"Don't be scared" he said, more
quietly now. you must excuse me
You-you gave me an awful fright
Yes, that was it. Don't worry.
didn't mean any HARM"
/ civ rha I'll
almost ready to cry. "And you tore
my Dress" she added angrily-"my fine
dress. Are you craZyY
"You see, It's like this-that name Of
Merridy and that ring-well, the whole
thing was so startling IL went of
my head. It came sudden, and
thought don't matter what
thought, but I'm sorry. I'll apologize
and I'll get you whole lot of dresse.
if you like"
His first impulse had been to tell hel
everything, but his amazement hat
rendered him speechless, and now HI
was thankful for it. Care must be ex
ercised. She must not learn too much
for If she suspected the truth sh,
would go to her soldier lover at once
and no power on earth could hold he
back. That would block the venge
ance that he saw shaping in the danl
recesses Of his distorted brain.
First, and above all, he must get tn,
girl away from Flambeau.
These last few moments had driver
Necia's own worries from her mind
but he was bent on recalling them ant
SO continued cautiously:
"You were saying that you though
you'd 60 away. think that's goot
plan, and you'd be wise to do it TO
more reasons than one. 1t will Civ,
you time to think it oil over and know
your own mind. want to help you
I'm going to help you-because I've go
an interest in you like you were mine.'
Again he betrayed that strange, mirth
less amusement.
'There is no place for me to CO." salt
Necia blankly, Except the mission
and have no way of getting there"
Don't you worry. I'll furnish tn,
means, and you'd better go tonight
she f1inched-'yes, tonight. There's NJ
use prolonging your agony. I'll get
boat ready and send a trusty man will
you. The current is swift, and If b.
rows we'll you can make 1t by tomor
row evening. That's only one nigh
O,1f aud TIL p,1t co,oo hlo pl,o+e oho,r -.