The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-08-03


turned this question over and over In
my mind, staring refectively at tn.
iisnted window before me. ii seemed
10 me more and more probable that
had already reached the end of my
search. The fugitive must have escaped
py some avenue screened from tn.
public gaze, else she would surely have
peen noticed. She must have known
place Of refuge before she started
woman OF her self poise would not
rush wildly forth with no goal in view
Ana, lastly, that goal must have beer
close at hand, or she could not hay.
escaped discovery.
The house before re answered al
OF these conditions. but how could j
make certain that Miss Lawrence was
really there? Suppose I burst In upor
her. what could say? could not ask
her to tell me the story-indeed l would
not even know her II I met her face tc
race. l must See the photograph. first
which Curtiss had promised to leave
for me at the hotel.
Besides, l asked myself-and in thi.
matter. l confess, / was very willing
70 De convinced-would II not be wiser
more merciful, to wait till morning, till
the first shock was past, till she had
time to rally little, to get her calm
ness back? Then, I could dare to APP
proach her. to show her how she had
wronged Burr Curtise, to persuade her
TO see him. 1t were better for both
her and Curtiss that they should not
meet for day or two; they would have
need OF all their courage; all their self
control. for that meeting must reveal
secret which IL chilled me to think
or. At least. would try to force no
entrance to the cottage now. I shrank
from any show of violence. Curtiss
would countenance nothing of that sort
To approach the cottage now, while
the maid was wit lin, would be a tacti-
cal error--would be to court failure
She could easily prevent my seeing her
mistress-she would, no doubt shut the
door in my face. Why should I show
her that l suspected Miss Lawrence's
place OF refuge? Why put her on her
guard and urge the fugitive to farther
flight? How much wiser to wait until
the maid was absent, till could make
sure of seeing Miss Lawrence, and
then calmly and clearly lay the case
before her. Yes, decidedly, I would
wait. l even found 1t in my heart to
regret that I had already showed the
maid so much Of my suspicious. I
would better have kept them to myself.
Convinced by this last argument, I
made my way back to the street and
as | passed the Lawrence grounds I
was impressed again by their extent
and excellent order. At the front gate
curious crowd still fingered staring
at the silent darkened house. whose
drawn blinds gave no hint OF life with
in, or listening to the knowing gossip
Of three or four alert young fellows
whom recognized as reporters. There
was still policeman there, and he was
quite willing to be drawn into talk
To tell all he knew, and much that he
cid not know.
Who lives in that cottage back yon-
DER asked, after an unimportant
question or two.
9Th Kingdom sisters" he answered.
The youngest one works in the Law
renee house--a maid or something"
The crowd had collected about us
and was listening with ears intent; |
caught quick glitter Of interest in
the eyes OF the reporters; so | ended
the talk abruptly by asking the way to
the Sheridan house.
Right down the street. sir" he said.
You can't miss ia big square build
ing on the corner"
AS / thanked him and turned away, I
caught the cry of newsboys down the
street, and in & moment they were
among the crowd and We're selling their
papers right and left. Both the Leader
and the Journal, stirred to unusual en-
,erprisc by the days events, had evil
IDENTIFY made use OF the largest and
blacklist type az their command to add
emphasis to their headlines. l bought
copies Of both papers, and hurried on
to the Sheridan. for I was becoming
disagreeably conscious that had eaten
no lunch that day. l found the hotel
without difficulty and after registering,
sat down in the Office and opened the
papers. The reporters, no doubt, would
save me lot of trouble,
The scene at the church had been
even more sensational than I had pic
tured 1t, for evidently the Lawrences
were more important family socially
than I had imagined, and the list OF
guests had been correspondingly large.
They had gathered. had gossiped, had
the decorations and criticised
each others gowns; a murmur Of salts
faction had greeted the whispered an
that the groom and his
best man were waiting in the study;
the organist played a selection or two
and then stopped, expectant, ready to
begin the wedding march. The ring
ing OF bells and blowing of whistles an
nounced the noon hour, but the bride
had not arrived. Then, from some
where. came the sudden whisper that
the crowd as two carriages
drew up at the church door. Heads
were craned and a sigh Of relief ran
around as the bridesmaids were seen
to alight. But where was the bride?
There was no bride! The bride had
Uneasiness changed TO wonder, won
der to establishment, as the details
were gradually CLEANED from the ex-
of the excited young wom-
en-; tongues began to wag, innocently
at first. then, inevitably, with a touch
Of malice, for the brides action had
been q direct affront to all these peo-
pie. Many OF them, usually well bred
waited In the hope of catching a
glimpse of the groom's face as he hur-
ried away. Both he and Mrs. Law
renee had been protected from the re-
porters. but the decorator and some OF
the Lawrence servants had evidently
made the most of their opportunities,
for the papers had the details OF the
substantially as l had
learned them. And nobody had been
found who had seen the bride leave the
house, or had caught glimpse Of her
during her flight.
That was the gist OF the information
in the papers. Both of them
gave space to much speculation as to
the reason for this remarkable event,
but plainly both were wholly at