The Marshall republican., 1910-01-21
CHAPTER XVI.

It was found that Seth's liking for hin
had taken practical form. He had
made a will giving to Richard all the
property of which he died possessed.
The fortune was not large, but
enough to pay his college debt, raise
the mortgage, and leave a comfortable
sum for his Mediterranean, indeed,
to make her a of Importance
In the neighborhood.
She protested In a mild way when
Richard proposed to settle the money
on her. But he had grown too master.
full for her. In the end she enjoyed
the feeling Of Importance that an as
sured income gave her. She refused
{ o accompany him to Chicago. It
was all "out west" to her n very
far away.
Derring found himself speeding to.
wards Chicago, wondering whether
this unexpected turn OF fortune would
make marriage nearer for him. But
when they met he did not ask her
They assumed the old easy relation al
II there had been no separation. Life
sped on with days 100 full of content
to ask promises from the future.
When the time of parting came IL
June he found that he could let her
60 with less dread than he had
thought possible. The time would not
be long, and with the increased free
dom that had come to him in money
affairs he could run east during the
vacation. If trouble came to her. OF
harm, he could be with her in a few
hours. It was with light heart that
he saw her CO..
He had accompanied her to the
train and provided her with all the
comforts for the journey that love
could suggest. Between the leaves OF
n of the books was tucked a letter.
He had not told her 1t was there.
She would find 1t. The train began to
move. "Good-by," he said, hurriedly,
II shall come to you II o need me.
In any cas l shall see you soon"
He sat up late. working on an ar
ticle for the mex day. When at last,
tired and exhausted, he threw him
self on the bed, he fell at once into a
sound sleep. He slept long and heav-
lily. He started up with a sense of
suffocation.-Where was he?-What
was the matter?-Was the house on
fire, Before he was fairly awake he
knew that the room was quiet--so
quiet that he could hear the ticking
of his watch. Then an awful fear
came Upon him-she was In danger.
Great God, how the feeling mastered
him! He sprang up and looked at
his watch-three o'clock. He dressed
quickly and went out-of-doors. He
could not stay in the house. 1t suf-
located him. He must move about or
go insane.
lake. A light, fresh breeze greeted
him as he came to the breakwater.
He lifted his face to meet 1t. 1t would
blow these foolish notions out of his
brain. He had been dreaming and had
been frightened by his own fancies.
He slackened his pace, listening to
the soft tapping of the water against
the breakwater, and looking up to the
stars. Then again fear took posses.
sion of him and he quickened his step
until at last he broke into a run,
driven by ar awful, nameless dread.
Thus he alternated between hope
and fear until the first faint line OF
dawn appeared across the water. AS
he stood looking at 1t, longing for day
to break, a sudden peace came upon
him. He drew a quick breath as the
tension gave way. She was safe once
more. This time he did not question
hte vnnnA Ia Inour NTH ut,ta4 oar-
tainty that all was we'll with her.
He turned away from the dawping
sky and walked home. Throwing him.
self once more on the bed, he slept
soundly until the breakfast hour. AS
he entered the dining-room, his heart
gave a sudden leap and stood still.
He thrust something far down below
his consciousness. II was not a
thought. 1t had mot shape enough for
that, It was formless, unrecognixed.
The two young men bending eager
iy over the morning paper looked UP
AZ he came In. Have you seen the
paper?--Awful accident-Miss Cor.
don's train"
lie reached out his hand for the
paper. They gave 1t to him and left
the table. Their departure left him
alone, But he gave no sign, He un.
folded his napkin and spread Il across
bis knees before he took up the pa
per. He opened II and glanced down
the column.--He had known before he
~iooked.--In the list OF those killed
eHelen Gordon. Chicago"
He did not read the details of the
accident. He merely noted the place
where It occurred. Then he folded
the paper and rave his order for
breakfast. n he ate little. no one
knew it. He took plenty OF time for
II. He listened Ii the discussion of
the accident that went on as the
boarders, n after another. came In
to breakfast.
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