The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-10-15

at does ecrnd . little strange
doesn't IT." Mrs. Evans said merrily.
SThat II another reason why Tom
changed my name. Marian and are
first cousins, you see. and were given
the same name"
"And a. Marian II the elder. she
had first claim" Tom broke in. and
Marian gave his nearest eSr playful
tweak.
It was . happy family party. ana
Horace felt himfelf yielding to Its
charm. and losing his sense Of EN-.
barrassment. No two women could
have been more different than these
two. the Marian OF his dreams and
this fiesh-and-blood Marian. One was
small and dark. with glowing red
rose beauty. the other was tall. well
developed. . daughter OF the century.
with hair smooth laid and deep blue
eyes. Yet they had, one thing in
| common. their voices. II was dincult
| to tell which cousin was speaking I'M
less the face was seen. and Horace
found his heart responding with dam
| gerous frequency whenever the Sec
ond Marian spoke. It brought back
all the pangs Of three years back.
when he was poor. and obscure. Now
he could offer q woman more than
Tom. and he knew he had developed
In other ways than in the direction OF
his bank account. Still, as he had
then underestimate himself. SO did
he now. and hesitated as the weeks
slipped by. for the little romance con-
tinued through the summer. and Mrs..
Evans. to say nothing of Tom. helped
II on with all her heart.
The summer drifted away. leaving
beautiful memories Of delightful days.
and yet Horace knew he was storing
up for himself such unhappiness as
be had never known before. II he was
not to succeed. lie had loved the
Marian Hastings he had thought Mrs.
Evans was. but when he met her
cousin he knew that the latter was
his ideal, for outside of his admiration
for Nell Evans. he had always pre-.
ferred blondes: he himself was very
dark. and tall women to those OF
small proportions.
Els he never going to speak?" Nell
asked Tom more than once. but Tom.
remembering how hard 1t had been
for him to realize that he had won
Nell. sympathized. and longed to give
comfort. but did not know exactly
how to administer the dose.
Matters were in this state when
Mrs. Nell resolved upon master
/ IL, q .ha Id onf
shook her pretty head, although
suppose It Is going outside the limi
OF the law. but then AIS fair in love
or war;" and she laughed softly, an,
made her plans. not even taking Ton
4 into her confidence.
! That very afternoon, delightful!
| warm Sunday In early September. sh'
managed to get Horace and Marial
into the little summer parlor witt
a. windows opening on the side veranda
Then when they were absorbed i
Il. each other. although sitting In tina
: somewhat silent communion whic
= comes to those who are mental
mated. she stole up on the yerandt
carefully gathered the floating end
OF the lace curtains into her be-ringe
little hands. A moment later sb
lie fairly scuttled back to the main We
arda where Tom was blissfully nal
he ping. and picked up the book she ha
ut abandoned. she did not see a wor
d. OF the printed words, however. an
:" she was as pale as death. this 60
lie geous little rose, until size heard
y. long. thrilling scream. 1t was VIII:
DR. she had been waiting for.
W Wake up. Tom, quick" she erie
Id shaking her husband. Marian
q screaming: something has happened
~ Tom was on his feet In an instan
ana the two ran into the house, suide
re by tire screams. which were loud al
ne insistent. Throwing oren tie door
IS. the summer parlor. Nell gave lit
no sobbing laugh. and then dropped h
rs head on her husbands arm. shakiI
with laughter.
&c Marian was standing. her skir
~ drawn about her. gazing with terri
ps upon spider. while Horace was len
W ing back in his chair laughing UNI
20 fairly faint.
DO STOP. he pleaded betwes
~ gasps.
IN - spider docs maze ne so neryou
&c I'm afraid | will kill II by mistaa
40 and yet can always feel them cray
ing on me-" and Marian storri
screaming long enough to shudter.
a Tom and Ne,l were silent. and ~
Iul gave a glance toward TIE lace c,
nj talns. They were still boating.
Id thourh their lower edge was slight
ne singed.
~ Don't scream any more" Hora
an said very gently. although his vol
Die was a little weak from eycessi
laughing. Marian. I'm awfully 81
he you showed ne that there is We
On SPOT in your armor. fer now ! am !
ice afraid any LONGER. You core ri
lor here and sit down. Tsere are
re spiders here. but ne. ard you M
h DO 1