The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-08-03
beside which . voman,s happiness and

beside which a woman's happiness and
reputation had seemed q little thing.
Before I could hope to make any fur
ther progress in that direction, I real
ized thai / needed to know more of the
iainily-of its history and social stand
ing. Besides, ! u be armed cap-a-
PIE before ! went to that interview
which I had determined to seek, in the
morning, with Marcia Lawrence.
Beg pardon, SIR" said a voice at my
elbow, and looking up. I saw the hotel
ter, isn't itc?,'
Yes I answered.
i have "a package here for you," he
went on, and landed me a square en-
Yelope. ItEWas left here fer sse..-t his
afternoon"
slipped the envelope into my pocket.
You've had rather an exciting time
here today" 1 added.
You meal the wedding that didn't
come OFF," he asked, smiling. 1T has
torn the town wide open, n no mis-
take"
so I judged from the papers. The
LaWrences are pretty prominent, aren't
they?'
Yes; top-notchers; especially In
church circles. I'll bet DR.. Echuyler is
all broken up"
a IL. lei. F99gHN.
Pastor of their church-First Pres
byterian-that big church Just down
the street yonder. They've been great
pets Of his"
H was to have performed the cere-
mony?"
Sure. They wouldn't have had any
body else. Nice old fellow, toe. Be-
sides, he's been their pastor for years"
Here was the source l had been look
ing for-the source from which l might
draw detailed and accurate informa-
ton. If l could only reach 1T.
Il suppose that house next to the
church is the parsonage" I ventured.
l a seen the church, but it
seemed a safe shot.
Yes; the one this side Of It,"
/ nodded.
II thought so Thank you for giving
me the package" I added, and glanced
at my watch and rose.
ooh, that's all right, sir" he an
swered. and turned away to his desk.
AS for me, l lost no time in starting
out upon my errand. l would see DR..
Schuyler would put the case beford
him, n ask his help. 1t was nearly
s o'clock, doubtless we'll past his dinner
hour. and I resolved to seek The inter-
view at once.
Lights had sprung up along the
street. casting long shadows under the
trees which edged either side. The win
dows of the houses cleaned through
the darkness, and here and there, where
the blinds a not been drawn, I
caught glimpses Of families gathered
together about q paper, with heads
eagerly bent. From the dim verandas,
l heard the murmur of excited gossip
and l knew too well what 1t was all
about. Tonight, this city, from n to
end, could have but a single all-ab-
sorbing subject to discuss-to wonder
at and chatter over with that %insatia-
BILE curiosity which we inherit from thd
monkeys.
But / had not far to go. The tall,
straight spire of a church told me
that had reached my destination, and
1 turned in at the gate of a house
which was Enthusiastically the parson-
age. The maid who took my caro- at
the door returned in a moment to say
that DR.. Schuyler was in his study n
would see me. 1 followed her and
found the clergyman seated beside q.
table upon which were lying the eve
ming papers. A glance at them showed
me what he a been reading, and his
perturbed face bespoke great inward
agitation. He was a small man of per-
haps 60 years. with snow-white hair
and beard and a delicate, intellectual
face. He arose to greet me, my card
still in his fingers, and then motioned
me to a chair.
"Candidly, Mr.. Lester he said, IT
was half inclined to excuse myself.
This has been a trying day for me.
But / saw that you had come from
New York"
Yes, and on an GRAND which, I fear,
may not be very welcome to you, Dr..
Schuyler
Not connected with the d~eplorable
affair Of today, l hope?'
Yes. sir; connected with that
But" and he glanced again at my
card apprehensively, you are not "a
reporter?"
"Oh. no." I laughed. II can easily
| guess how they've been harassing you.
I'm acting for Mr.. Curtiss," I added.
resolving quickly that the best him 1
could do was to tell him the whole
story SO far as l knew it, which I did,
as briefly as possible. He heard me to
the end with intent. interested face.
Il think you'll agree with me, DR..
Schuyler" l concluded, that my client
is quite right in deciding to demand an
explanation
Yes he added, after a moments
is. It's the most extraordinary thing
l even heard of-and the most deplora-
BILE. Until this moment, I had hoped
that they had gone away to get mar
ried elsewhere"
"Hoped?' I asked.
Yes, hoped. I've seen them togeth-
er. Mr.. Lester, and it seemed to me an
ideal attachment. I can conceive of
nothing which could keep them apart.
Has any explanation of it occurred to
you%'
CONTINUED Next Weekly