The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-07-13
/ CHAPTER ~.
A STRANGE MESSAGE.

a STRANGE MESSAGE.
guessed in a breath who she was,
and my heart Went out to her in
instant pity. Yet a second glance told
~ that II was not the shadow OF
ms recent sorrow which lay across
those lines of calm endurance, could
give to the eyes that look of quiet
resignation, to the mouth that curve
OF patient suffering; and only a deer
spiritual faith could preserve and
nelghten the sweetness and gentleness
u q countenance SO marked.
is MIR. Lester. Mrs. Lawrence
chair for her. We've asked Mr.. Les
ter 10 help u.s." he added.
She closed the door behind her and
same forWar as we rose, acknow-
ledglng the introduction with the
faantest of bows.
Ihank YOU" she said. Lucy told
me you had returned, Mr.. Royce" she
VEN little TREMENDOUSLY, and ]
news"
Not yet. Mr.. Curtiss was just tell
ing Mr.. Lester.
Yes, h Interrupted. 81 saw how
ne was suffering n 1 wished to spare
him. II 1 could"
MY dear Mrs. Lawrence" broke in
ing yourself"
-stiil,' suggested, its possible that
MRS. Lawrence car help us a great
deal. If she will"
she was holding herself admirably in
mana, n l thought her in much less
Danger of breaking down than Curtiss
hlmsel Perhaps the old sorrow had
taught her how to Deal the new one.
1 shall be glad to help you all I
can, she said. and smiled a faint en-
couragenlent.
1T seemed brutal to question her
at such a time, but I saw it must be
done n l nerved myself to do it.
Mrs. Lawrence" | began, has any
possible explanation of your daughters
hight occurred to your"
NO she answered quickly, and
with an emphasis that rather startled
me. 1t seems to me utterly unex-
plainable. Even yet, l can scarcely be-
lieve it,"
She left no message for you?"
Not a word; she simply disap-
peared.
And o had no warning?"
Warning" she repeated, facing
around UPON me. mol"
Nor suspected hat there was any
thing amiss:"
Not for an instant"
since there was something amiss,
did your daughter not conide in
you"
II have asked myself the same cues
l am utterly unable to answer
She was in the habit of coming to
you with her troubles?"
Always. There was the most ner-
feet confidence between us"
And Yet she concealed this ?"
Sle dld not conceal 1T" she pro-
teS.ea. II could not have concealed
It from my eyes, ever had she wished
70. Ihere was nothing to conceal.
last time 1 saw her."
And that was?"
Only a few minutes before she dis
appeared"
Win you tell just what ~happened?"
suggested, as gently as / could
livery detail o AN remember"
She sat for a ONE with COM
pressed lips, s%teadying herself.
There's very little to tell" she be-
she was quite her usual self
MS morning, so far as I could see. and
cry happy. Two or three of her girl
lends came in to see her for a mo-
nent, to talk over the final arranae-
nents, and she was giving some direc-
ions about the decorations when
fr. Curtiss called. After he had
one, she made q last trip through
mousse to see that all was
and then started upstairs 10
ress. Half an hour later, she came to
room in her wedding gown TO ask
ow she looked, and I had never seen
er looking more beautiful. Only per
happiness can give such beauty to
woman. | remember thinking what
JOY 1t was to me that she had found
man whom she could love as she
A half-stihed. choking sob from Chr
So interrupted her. She turned and
cut her hand to him. with a
of infinite affection.
Il finished dressing she continued
ana then went to Marcta's room. bnt
he wasn't there. Her maid said shed
cen calied downstairs for a moment.
came down, and found that the dec
'ator had wanted her opinion Of the
lal touches, She had left him, to go
again, as he supposed. 1T was
nearly half-past IL. and thc
'ldesmaIds began to arrive. 1 sup
lsed Marcia was in the grounds
hae"heIe. and sent two Of the ser
lnts to loo for her and to tell her #
as time to start for the church. They 7,
me back saving she was not to be .
und. Then l began tt be alarmed
linking that she had perhaps beer
ken suddenly i'll, and we searched the !
use and grounds systematically, but
~ Trace VI Der. AT last If !
emed just possible that she had gone I
TO the church, and the bridesmaids {
lrried into the carriages and drove t
'ay-but h wasn't there-only B1rr a
aiting for her" L
She stopped with a sudden tremu1o,,s- r
go. =
Thank you" I said. There's one t
estlon | must ask, Mrs. Lawrence, V
rore l a go to work int%elligentIy S
u VIII pardon it. Had your daugh-
aver had any attachment previous +
this one?' Il
saw Curtiss glance at her quickly h
at solution of the problem had oc- h
rred to him. then, too! S
Not the shadow Of one answered it
$. Lawrence instantly, and perhaps "
was only my fancy that the accent a
was a tri11e forced. Il have Il
IN Marcia's companion and CON f.
ante all her life, and l am sure that bi
mar ever distinctly interested her x
I'll she met Mr.. Curtiss."
But she 40 doubt interested many
n" | suggested.
I es, but never with intention