Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-22

son, he went to the fifth and last door.
His candle had become extinguished
IN his haste and after he had opened
OF the black hall to light it again.
There was moments pause as he
searched his pockets for match, q
silence in which he listened as he
searched, and suddenly as he was
about to strike the sulphur tipped
splint there came to his ears sound
that held him chained to the spot.
1T was the sobbing OF woman; or
was it child? In moment he knew
that it was woman; and then the
Isobbing ceased.
There was nothing but darkness
ahead of him; no ray of light shone
under the door; the chamber itself
was in utter gloom. AS quietly as
possible he relighted his candle. A
glance assured him that this hall was
different from the others; it was
deeper. and there were two doors at
the end instead of one. Through which
of these doors had come the sound OF
sobbing he had heard?
He approached and listened. Each
moment added to his excitement his
fears, his hopes, but at last he
opened the door on the left. The
room was empty; there was the same
disorder as before; the same signs Of
hurried fight. Z 1t was the room on
the right! His heart almost stopped
Its beating as he placed his hand on
the latch, lifted it, and pulled the
door in. Kneeling beside the bed he
saw a woman. She had turned
toward the light and in the dim H.
Elimination Of the room Nathaniel rec
ognized the beautiful face he had seen
ht the kings castle the preceding day
sent him to find the prophet, who had
placed her gentle hand on Marion's
head as he had looked through the
window. There was no fear in her
eyes as she saw Nathaniel. Some
thing more terrible than that shone
In their glorious depths as she rose
Ito her feet and stood before him, her
face lined with grief, her mouth
switching in agony. She stood with
,clenched hands, her bosom rising and
falling In the passion Of the storm
within her; and she sobbed even as
Nathaniel paused there, unnamed in
! this sudden presence of a distress
\ereater than his own; sobbed in a
poking, fearless way, waiting for him
speak.
Forgive me-" he spoke gently. x
nnYoo-f0r- - un fo1t
hat he had no reason to lie to this
woman. His face betrayed his own
anguish as he came nearer to her.
II want Marion" he repeated. my
: God, wAn't you tail me-2"s l1
She struggled to calm herself as he
spoke the girls name.
Marion is not here" she said. She
crushed his hands against her bosom
ana softer look came into her eyes:
her voice was low and sweet, as it
bad been the morning he asked for
etrang. AS she saw the despair deep
Sning in the mans face a great pity
swept over her and she stretched out
her arms to him with an aching cry,
Marion is gone-gone-gone," she
moaned. "and you must go, too! O.,
know you love her-she told me
hat you loved her, as love Strapg.
my king! We have both lost-lost-
and you must go-as-I-shall-go
Bhe turned away from him with cry
70 heart-breaking in its pain that Ma
shaniel felt himself trembling to the
soul. In another instant she had
faced him again, fighting back q
strange calm into her face.
II love Marion" she breathed softly
T would help you-I would help her
u could" For a moment her pale
beautiful face was filled with light
that might have shone from the face
Df an angel. Don't you understand"
bhe continued, scarcely above whis-
per. Il have been Strang's one great
love-his life-until Marion came into
his heart have lost-you have lost
but mine is the more bitter because
Marion loves you, and Strang-"
With cry Nathaniel sprang to her
side. The candle fell from his hand,
sputtered on the floor, and left them
In darkness.
Marion loves me! You say that
Marion loves me?"
The woman's voice came to him in
D whisper filed with the sweetness
Of sympathy
She said so tonight-in this room.
She told me that she loved you as
she never thought that she could love
D man in this world. o, my God, is
that not balm for your heart, if it
Is broken? And Strang-my Strang
Hhas forgotten his love for mel"
Nathaniel reached out his arms.
They found the woman and for time
he held her hands in his, while a
great silence fell upon them. He
could hear the sobbing Of her breath
and as her fingers frightened about
his own his heart seemed bursting
with its hatred Of this man who called
himself prophet Of God: a hatred
that burned furiously even as his be-
Ing throbbed with the wild joys Of the
words he had just heard.
Where is Marion?" he pleaded.
Il don't know" replied the woman.
eThey took her away alone. The 9TH
hrs have gone to the temple
do you think she is at the tenn.
ple?" he inquired insistently.-
NO. One Of the others came back
q little while ago She Said thar Mo-