The Marshall republican., 1910-01-21

catch the east-bound express. 1t was
more than enough. He did not want
to be alone and think. He saw before
him long years In which he would
have" time to think. To-day he must
go to her. He might be needed. He
had said that he would come II she
needed him, and that he should see
her soon--"I shall see you soon"
How the wheels caught up the words
and tossed them back to him. They
reiterated with clanling monotony-
~ shall see you soon-I shall see you
SOON" Underneath the rattle and
roar, between the shrieks of the en-.
CINE, In the midst of the conversation
around him, he heard them with aw.
full distinctness, and wondered vague.
ly II he should go mad before he
reached her.
He found her after a short search.
He was directed to a small house, a
little distance from the scene OF the
wreck. When he announced his err.
rand the woman of the house looked
at him closely.
"f your name is Derring, ! have
something for you" she said. She
disappeared for a moment and re.
turned with a small parcel. She hand.
ed 1t to him.
He turned 1t over in his hand.
There was no writing on. 1t. Are you
sure II IS for me?" he asked, doubt.
fully.
"She was not strong enough to d.
rect It. But she told me your name
Just before she died at daybreak. She
said you would be sure to come, and
I must give 1t to you"
That he would be sure to come.
Yes. she had known. He turned alb
ruptly to the window and looked out
across the fiat. monotonous country.
1t yet. He held 1t in his hand. "She
was not able to direct it." The drst
tears filled his eyes. "
When at last he undid the parcel
Seth's ring flashed in the sunlight.
Underneath 1t al a small folded slip
of paper. His fingers trembled a lit
tie as they smoothed the crumpled
lines: "Loved-One,-be brave. l
would gladly have lived for you. But
1t was not to be. ! shall come back
to you If / can. But II not" The
last words struggled down the page
and were lost.
But If not" Derring crushed the
paper in his hand and turned to leave
the house.
Don't you want to see her, sir?".
de looked at the woman blankly,
stupidity. Without q word he turned
towards the door she indicated. 1t
closed behind him and they were
alone together once more. He had not
thought her face would be SO peace
ful--nor SO far away. He could not
understand how she could seem so
far away. She was here, close beside
him. He could touch her, He put
out his hand and softly stroked her
cheek. He did not bend to kiss the
quiet face. She was toe far away fc'
kisses. "She would come back to hiL-
IL she could-But II not" Good God!
How was he to bear 1t? ? He turned
swiftly away. He could not stand
there-near herewith that hooking,
Unreasonable distance between them.
He vert straight from the house to
the office of the superintendent and
offered his services in caring for the
injured. A surgeon was about to
start on his rounds. Derring had been
detailed to help him. The first pa
tient was a young man about his own
age. The leg was to be amputated
Just above the knee. Derring held his
hand while the operation was prepar.
ing. speaking to him now and then
and wiping the Precipitation from his
forehead. When all was done and the
white sheet was being drawn smooth
ly In place once more, he struggled to
consciousness, reaching out his hand
for Derring and begging him not TO
leave him.
But the surgeon interposed prompt.
~. mo. l cant spare him. He is too
valuable. You would have had a
tougher time II he had not been here.
He shall come back to you by-and-by.
Drink this and 60 to sleep"
So Richard spent the day In the
midst OF suffering, Everywhere the
magnetism Of his touch soothed rest.
lesnness, and his personality put cour-
age into faint hearts. No n guessed
that he was carrying q hurt deeper
than any he looked on or that his
heart wal wrung by keener suffering
than any that he soothed.
Twice during the day he stole into
the where she lay. and. standing
by her side, tried to span the infinite
distance between them by the inspira.
tion OF love. But 1t was hopeless.
Always he saw before his eyes q high,
cold wall of darkness and at Its foot
q crouching figure with fingers creep.
ing here and there to and some open
ing or crevice. and. falling In this,
beating itself till the blood trickled
down. He knew that II was only his
diseased imagination, But always the
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