The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-21

w appearance was in most particulars equiv
aent to { return from the dead. Certain
of his natives had appeared year before and mar
rated with much detail, the circumstances oil MS
death by fever Accordingly his will had been pro
bated and his estate settled, and Eleanor Hepburn
was already laying aside both the insignia and the
attitude of mourning.
Everyone expected her to wait rcasohaDle unie
and then marry Jack Macarthur, and everyone "ef
coined the prospect most felcitous Macarthur
had been best mar az Hepburn's wedding and had
gone away sorrowful. The marriage had not proved
a happy one and nobody knew this better thah
Macarthur There had been friction from the hrst
an unconscious nagging her part and an aroltra-
rness on his with a minimum of forbearance Oh oo'h
sides 1t was this lack of domestic happiness "heh
had sent Hepburn to Africa, and doubtless was "hat
kept HIM there for two full years.
In the meantime Macarthur came into intimate
relations with Mrs Hepburn. As her layer he
was called upon advise and to execute for her;
it was he who brought the news of Hepburns deatn'
and the settlement of the estate had been IN MS
hands.
Nothing was more natural therefore, than that
Mrs Hepburn's friends should speculate upon now
much longer she would keep Macarthur waiting
Macarthur himself lad waited decent six months
out of respect for his friends memory; but when
year had passed he and hrs. Hepburn were seen
N-~N
woul. some day surprise their friends with the an
nouncement of a 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 hau
gone in trim and clean shaver; he came Ior'n
bearded to the eyes and ciad in tatters He hau
gone in a rather ford fuIlbooded man; he returned
living skeleton. yellow skinned and gaunt his
cheek bones polished like ivory. Yet fever ana
starvation and the abut fatal struggle against long
odds had been the making of him. and in place OF
the rather shallow minded notorietyhunting youth
who had gone there came back one whose level
gray eyes challenged a mans respect
It was the want of mail awaiting him that hrst
stirred suspicion IN his mind. Strangely enough
the thought that she might suppose him dead did
not occur to him. Even in that black hour when
the fever had laid him by the heels and his men
deserted in a body he, himself, had not despalred-
The lack of any word when he came in touch Win
the world of steamers and a more or less regular
most was therefore shock, and all the more as
tlrbing since his attitude toward her had undergone
change In the feverbrghtened watches oil the
African night he had come to see himself with
clearer vision and to despise the selhshness' the
want of consideration the bullying over-bearing att-
tuea which had characterized his relations with his
wife.
He was coming back to make amends, and he
had looked eagerly for the day when he should re
cpive his first word from her The fact that none
awaited him threw blight upon his triumph VI
what use vas it to have fought of fever conquered
starvation and forced reluctant circumstances 10
bend before his will if after all she had forgotten
him?
He thought the matter over with particularly on
theory
theory as inadequate never lighting on the truth.
Nothing had happened to her OF that he felt as
syred lack 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 right to expect
The voyage set him up so far as MS body was
concerned and he reached England still thin and
yellow. but with his legs more beneath him.
with his spirits it was a different matter. These
refused to respond to clean air and good food and
Grateful rest The blow they had received could be
copnteracted by no sophistical imaginngs.
Tho first mixing of the truth came when he found
bie London letter of credit had been cancelled.
There was of course, but one explanation of that
She must think him dead. And accepting this by
notbesis he decided not to cable word of his com
ing choosing rather TO return unheralued as one
rising from the dead.
DELAYING then only to make himself presentable
IN the matter of clothes, he sailed Immediately for
New York He had to borrow money for his pass
a 90 and he the friend VINO lent II to utter
secrecy. On the boat he passed as H. E. P. Purn.
and the passenger list included none whom he knew
The second day out, however gentleman scraped
acquaintance with him in the smoking room. intro
ducng himself as Mr.. sayre.
They proved congenial, and spent considerable
time together during the remainder of the trip
They were sitting on the deck one morning smoking
and talking. when Sayre made casual mention
of his country place
you say you have place at Chatham Farms?"
Hepburn took him up with interest.
yes" returned SayIe. "Know the place?
bought the Judson tract and built there last spring.
perhaps chen" 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.
Guess he didn't amount % much at best Her friends