The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-07-13
CHAPTER ".
A STRANGE MESSAGE.

instant ply. let second glance tolu
me that it 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 that look OF quiet
resignation, to the mouth that curve
Of patient suffering; and only a deer
spiritual faith could preserve and
heighten the sweetness and geutleness
or countenance so marked.
This is Mr.. Lester. Mrs. Lawrence
said our junior. quickly, and placed a
chair for her. We've asked Mr.. Les
ter 90 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, land
news
Not yet. Mr.. Curtiss was just tell
ing Mr.. Lester"
Yes" she interrupted. Il saw how
he was suffering and 1 wished to spare
him, IL could"
MY dear Mrs. Lawrence" broke In
Curtiss. you must think only Of spar
ing yourself"
still" suggested, Its possible that
Mrs. Lawrence can help US a great
deal, II she will"
She was holding herself admirably in
hand. and thought her in much less
danger OF breaking down than Curtiss
himself. Perhaps the old sorrow had
taught her how to bear the new one.
Il shall be glad to help you all ]
cam" she said, and smiled a faint en-
enlargement
1T seemed brutal to question her
at such time, but ! saw ii must be
done and / nerved myself to do it.
Mrs. Lawrence" began, has any
possible explanation Of your daughter
flight occurred to your"
NO" she answered quickly, and
with an emphasis that rather startled
me. 1T seems to me utterly unex-
plainable. Even yet, can scarcely be-
,ieve it,"
She left no message for your"
Not word; she simply disap-
peared
And you had no warming"
Warming" 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 confide in
you?"
II have asked myself the same cues
ton. / 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 l saw her."
And that was?"
only few minutes before she dis
appeared"
viii you tell just whct happened %
/ suggested, as gently as l 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 1 could see, and
very happy. Two or three Of her girl
friends came in to see her for a mo
ments, and she was giving some direc-
lions about the decorations when
Mr. Curtiss called. After he had
gone, she made last trip through
the house to see that all 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 / had never seen
her looking more beautiful. Only per-
feet happiness can give such beauty to
a woman. I remember thinking what
n Joy 1t was to me that she had found
a man whom she could love as she
loved"
A half-stihed. choking sob from Cur
tiss interrupted her. She turned and
etr p,,f har "a nd IN xrit
gesture Of infinite affection.
II finished dressing" she continued.
land then went to Marcia's room, but
she wasn't there. Her maid said she'd
been called downstairs for a moment
| 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, and the
bridesmaids began to arrive. 1 sup
posed Marcia was in the grounds
somewhere. and sent two OF the ser
wants to look for her and to tell her il
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 i'll, and we searched the
house and grounds Systematically, but
found no trace Of her. At last, IL
seemed just possible that she had gone
en- to the church, and the bridesmaids
hurried into the carriages and drove
away--but she wasn't there-only Burr
waiting for her."
She stopped with sudden tremulous-
ness.
Thank, you." said. There's one
question I must ask, Mrs. Lawrence,
before / can go to work intelligently.
You will pardon 1t. Had your daugh-
ter ever had any attachment previous
to this one?"
I saw Curtiss glance at her quickly.
That solution Of the problem had &C.
Cured to him. then. too!
mot the shadow Of one" answered
Mrs. Lawrence instantly. and perhaps
it was only my fancy that the accent
Of sincerity was trifle forced. Il have
been Marcia's companion and con-
fidante 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," l suggested.
Yes, but never with intention
THAT only makes the case more des-
perate sometimes"
II don't believe there were any des-
perate cases. You will remember she
added, that we lived much abroad,
and so had few intimate acquaintances
Besides, Marcia overwhelmingly
patriotic. She ofen said she would
marry only an American-and an