Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-07-21
CHAPTER ".
A STRANGE MESSAGE.

l guessed in q breath who she was,
and my heart went out to her in
instant pity. Yet a second glance told
me that ii was not the Shadow Of
this recent sorrow which lay across
her face. Time alone could grave
those lines of calm endurance, could
give to the eyes hat look Of quiet
resignation, to the mouth that curve
Of patient suffering; and only a deep
spiritual faith could preserve and
heighten the sweetness and g~entleness
Of a countenance so marked.
This is Mr.. Lester. Mrs. Lawrence"
said u 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 said. Lucy told
me you had returned, Mr.. Royce" she
went on, a little TREMENDOUSLY, "and l
was anxious to know If you had any
news"
Not yet. Mr.. Curtiss was just tell
ing Mr.. Lester-"
Yes" she interrupted, II saw how
he was suffering and / wished to spare
him, il 1 could"
MY dear Mrs. Lawrence" broke in
Curtiss, you must think only of spar
ing yourself"
Still" 1 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 h old sorrow had
taught her how to bear the new one.
II shall be glad to help you all I
can" she said, and smiled a faint en-
couragement.
1T seemed brutal to question her
at such q time, but l saw it must be
done and / nerved myself to do it.
Mrs. Lawrence" l began, has any
possible explanation OF o II daughters
flight occurred to yOu?"
No she answered quickly, and
with an emphasis that rather startled
me. ut seems to me utterly uneX-
plainable. Even yet, l can scarcely be
lieve it,"
She left no message for your"
Not a word; she simply disap-
peared.
And you had no warming"
"Warning?" she repeated, facing
around uDon 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
your"
II have asked myself 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, even had she wished
to. There was nothing to conceal.
There was absolutely nothing wrong
the last time / saw her"
And that was?"
appeared"
will you tell just what happened?"
l suggested, as gently as l could.
Every detail you can remember"
She sat for a moment with COM
pressed lips, s~teadying herself.
There's very little to TELL" she be-
gan. She was quite her usual self
his morning, so far rs I could see, and
very happy. Two or three of her girl
friends came 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
Mr.. Curtiss called. After he had
gone, she made a last trip through
the house to see that ill was
right, and then started upstairs TO
dress. Half an hour later, she came to
my room In her wedding gown to ask
how she looked, and I had never seen
her looking more beautiful. Only per-
feet happiness can give such beauty to
a woman. I remember thinking what
a Joy 1t was to me that she had found
a maj whom she could love as she
loved"
A.half- stifed, choking sob from Cur
tiss interrupted her. She turned and
stretched put her hand to him, with a
gesture OF infinite affection.
IT finished dressing" h continued,
and then went to Marcia's room, but
she wasn't there. Her maid said she'd
been called downstairs for a moment.
I came down, and found that the dec
orator had wanted her opinion Of the
final touches. She had left him, to go
upstairs again, as he supposed. 1t was
then nearly half-past Il, Inc the
bridesmaids began to arrive. I sup
posed Marcia was in the grounds
somewhere, and SEM two OF the SER
wants to look for her and to tell her II
was time to start for the church. They
came back saying she was not TO be
found. Then / began to be alarmed,
IHlHhile lIldl oliO Tau pCL IopS DEGH
taken suddenly i'll, and we searched the
house and grounds systematically, but
found no trace of her. Al last, 1t
seemed Just possible hat she had gone
on to the church, and the bridesmaids
hurried into the carriages and drove
away-but she wasn't t~here--only Burr
waiting for her
She stopped with a sudden tremulous-
ness.
Thank you," I said. There's one
question / must ask, Mrs. Lawrence,
before ! can go TO work in~telligently.
You will pardon 1t. Had your daugh-
ter ever had any attachment previous
to this one?"
] saw Curtiss glance at her quickly.
That solution Of the problem had oc-
CURED to him. then. too!
Not the shadow of one answered
Mrs. Lawrence instantly. and perhaps
Ii was only my fancy that the accent
of sincerity was q trife forced. II have
been Marcia's companion and con
idante all her life, and / am sure that
no man ever distinctly interested her
until she met Mr.. Curtiss."
But she no doubt interested many
men," i suggested.
Yes, but with intention"
That only makes the case more des-
perate sometimes"