Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-07-20
CHAPTER ".
A MESSAGE.

guessed in a breath who she was,
and my heart went out to her in
instant pity. Yet n second glance told
me thai it vas not the shadow OF
this recent sorrow which lay across
her face. Time alone could grave
give to the eyes that look OF quiet
resignation. 10 the mouth tina curve
OF patient suffering; and only a deep
spiritual faith could preserve n
heighten the sweetness and ge%ntleness
of q c-ountenancc SO marked.
This is Mr.. Lester, Mrs. Lawrence
said our Junior, quickly. and placed a
chair for her. We've asked Mr.. Les
ter to help U.S. he added.
She closed the door behind her and
came forward as We rose, acknow-
Lodging the introduction with the
faintest OF bows.
Thank YOU" She sad. Lucy told
went on. a little tremulously. and !
was anxious to know il you a any
news"
Not yet. Mir. curtiss was just tell
ing Mr.. Lester"
Yes" she interrupted. Il saw how
him. IL l could"
MY dear Mrs. Lawrence" broke in
Curtiss. "you must think only of spar
ing YOURSELF"
Still" l suggested. its possible that
Mrs. Lawrence can help us a great
deal. if she WILL
She was holding herself admirably in
hand, and i thought her in much less
danger of breaking down than Curtiss
himself. Perhaps the old sorrow had
taught her low to hear the new one.
y shall be glad to help you all 1
cam" she said. and smiled d faint en-
couragement.
ut seemed brutal to question her
at such a time, but l saw it must be
done and / nerved myself to do it.
Mrs. Lawrence" l began, has any
possible explanation of your daughters
flight occurred to your"
No." she answered quickly, and
with an emphasis that rather startled
me. lit seems to me utterly unex-
p~lainable. Even yet, l can scarcely be-
lieve it,"
She left no message for you?"
Not Il word: she simply disap-
peared.
And you had no warning?"
"Warning" she repeated, facing
around upon me. MOI"
Nor suspected that there was any
thing amiss?"
Not for an instant
Since there was something amiss.
why did your daughter not confde in
you?"
II have asked mysei: the same ques-
ton. l am utterly unable to answer
it,"
"she was in the habit of coming to
you with her troubles"
always. There was the most per-
feet confidence between U.s."
And yet she concealed this?"
She did not conceal it," she pro-
tested. She could not have concealed
it from my eyes. ever a she wished
to. There was nothing to conceal.
There was absolutely nothing wrong
the last time / saw her.
And that VASE"
only a few minutes before she dis
appeared"
will you tell just what h~appened?'
1 suggested. as gently as i could.
Every detail you can remember"
She sat for a moment with COM
pressed lips, steadying herself.
There's very little to tell" she be-
gan. "She was quite her usual self
this morning, so far as I could see, and
very happy. Two or three OF her girl
friends anne In to see her for a mo-
ment. to talk over the final arrange
ments. and she was giving some direc-
tons about the decorations when
MI. Curtiss allied After he had
the house to see hat all was
right, and then started upstairs to
dress. Half an hour later, she came to
my room in her wedding gown to ask
low she n l had never seen
her looking more beautiful. Only per-
feet happiness can give such beauty to
a m / remember thinking what
a JOY it was to me that she had found
a maj whom she could love as ehe
loved"
A half-stiaed. choking sob from Cur
tiss interrupted her. She turned and
stretched out her hand to him. with a
gesture OF infinite affection.
II finished dressing" she continued,
and then went to Marcia's room, but
she wasn't there. Her maid said she'd
been called downstairs for a ONE
I came down. and found that the dec
orator had wanted her opinion OF the
final touches. She a left him, to 60
upstairs aguin, as he supposed. It was
then nearly half-past II. and the
bridesmaids began to arrive. sup
posed Marcia was in the grounds
somewhere. and sent two Of The SER
wants to look for her and to tell her It
was time to start for the church. They
came back saying she was not to be
found. Then I began to be alarmed,
! thinking that she had perhaps been
taken suddenly Ill. and We searched the
house and grounds systematically, but
found no trace OF her. AT last, Il
seemed just possible that she had gone
on to the church, and the bridesmaids
hurried into tho carriages and drove
away-but she wasn't there-only Burr
waiting for her"
She stopped with a sudden tremulous-