The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-11-09
CHAPTER XVI.
THE RETURN.


1t was not until we were back at
the Office again that either Mr.. Royce
or myself ventured q comment upon
this extraordinary story. Even then.
we found very little to say. Nothing
could be done to divert the blow: moth
ing even to lessen its severity. Burr
Curtiss and Marcia Lawrence must en-
dure their fate with such courage as
they could must forget; at least, must
strive to soften love into affection. How
would they regard each other, l Won
dered? Would the mere fact of re-
vealed relationship alter their old feel
ing, or would love survive to torture
them? They had I'm common no BROTH
erly and sisterly instincts or exper-
fences; they were unchanged; they
were still maid and lover, as they had
always been.
The days passed. and in the stress
Of work at the office, the memory Of
Burr Curtiss and his fortunes gradually
became less vivid. until began to hope
that. in time, It might really cease to
worry me.
But one morning Mr.. Royce looked
up from his papers, his eyes shining
The Umbria reached Liverpool this
wholly steady. Its all over by this
time. 1 wonder how they bore it?"
"Bravely, I've no doubt" / answered.
but trembled at thought Of It. How
lad she summoned courage to tell
him?
He'll come home, think" added
Nh. Royce. pursuing his own thoughts.
gethc-; their relationship, Of course,
Will always remain secret
The office boy entered and laid a
little envelope at his elbow. He tore
1t open and read its contents at q
glance.
IT'S cable from Curtiss," he said,
and passed 1t over to me.
Oceanic delayed, engine break
down. read. Reached Liverpool
Ave hours after Umbria Missed Mar
cha but searching for her. Cable care
Hotel Adelphi."
Mr.. Royce sat for moment drum
ming nervously upon his chair arm.
He hasn't any chance OF finding her
| In place like that" he said. at last.
Most probably she's gone on to Lon
DON"
"Or to some place on the continent.
| There must be many places where
| she'd feel at home"
What would we better do? Shall
| we write out the story and mail II to
| Curtiss? He'll get 1T In a week.
| He won't stay at Liverpool week.
| objected. The letter might 60
astray, and be opened by some one
who had no right to read it."
| I'VE might cable mere outline"
I thought it over: but somehow my
point OF view had changed. Now that
I knew the story, 1t seemed to me
that it was Marcia Lawrence's right
| to decide what step should be taken
next Once she had recovered her sell
poise, she would see what course was
| best, and ] was certain that she would
| be brave enough. strong enough, tC
| follow it unshrinking TO the end.
! Let us watt | said. "A little de-
lay can do no harm; just as haste car
/ do no good"
Yes; I believe that's best" agreed
our Junior. Nothing we can do viii
help them. They must work out the
| problem for themselves"
! Besides" | added, I've feeling
| that Miss Lawrence will herself de-
tide to meet II squarely. She'll realize
That Curtiss has right to know the
Itory. / believe that she'll soon come
| home again, ready to face him ant
Tell him everything. She'll see thai
| there's her mother--she'll think of hel
of her misery and loneliness. She
won't leave her to live by herself IL
that great. gloomy house. We're safe
| In leaving the future In her hands,
But IN tie days that followed.
came to doubt more and more wheth'
er this policy was the best one. Had
L
| Lawrence and too little of our client
| Perhaps IL he knew the secret, III
| would no longer wish to pursue her
he might prefer to wait, to give time
| opportunity to heal the first rawnes!
of the wound Indeed, 1t was con
| ceivabie that love might change Il
| loathing. In that case, 1t were better
| TO have the crisis over with at once
to apply the knife before the sore hat
chance to harden or grow deeper
| Such heroic action might effect {
cure. But l kept these doubts to my
self: there was no use disturbing oul
| junior with them. I could see how III
| was suffering on his friends behalf
| could guess his fear that some
dreadful tragedy would mark the end
| The days passed, and we heard n,
more from Curtiss, not word to tel
us how the search had progressed
| Godfrey came in to see me once o.
and of course l had nothing to tel
him. At last. he expressed the opin
| ion that we should never solve thu
mystery; and as the public had for
gotten it long since, he decided t
waste no more time upon it.
| Another visitor I had one afternoon
, when DR.. Schuyler's card was brough
in to me. l ordered him shown In a
once, and as / shook hands with him
/ noted that he seemed greyer ant
older than when / had seen him last
Yes" he said, with smile inter
preting my glance; it's this trouble
which has been weighing upon me. w
tried to shake it off, but l can't"
"Sit down." | said. I'm glad t
see you. And | wouldn't allow TIN
affair TO worry me, IL l were YOU"
That's easy enough to say" he re
torted, with a little shake Of the head
But remember, Mr.. Lester. Mrs
Lawrence and her daughter were tw'
of my dearest friends. And this trag
edy has wrecked their lives Is Their
| any news?"
| '.None at all. except that Curtis
missed the Umbria at Liverpool. ant
has not been able to find Miss Law
renee"
| Perhaps that was best"
I'm inclined TO think so myself,
| ! agreed
| There's one thing. though" he addet
suddenly. "Curtiss has no reason to b.
| ashamed of his birth
| / looked at him with quick interest
Then you've discovered"
L Int tap tyb A "A rTfaI Ma n