The Lamar register., 1911-01-04


of the forest he felt like singing out
his rejoicing. He had never stopped
to ask himself what might be the end
of this passion that had overwhelmed
him; he lived only in the present, in
the knowledge that Marion was not
a wife, and that 1t was he whom fate
had chosen for her deliverance. He
reasoned nothing beyond the sweet
eyes that had called upon him, that
had burned their gratitude. their hope
and their despair upon his soul; moth
ing beyond the thought that she would
soon be free from the mysterious in
fuence of the Mormon king and that
for days and nights after that she
would be on the same ship with him.
He had emptied the pockets of the
coat he had given Neil and now he
brought forth the old letter which
Obadiah had rescued from the sands.
He read 1t over and over again as he
sat for a few moments in the cool of
the forest and there was no trouble
in his face now. 1t was from a girl.
He had known that girl. years ago. as
Neil knew Winnsome; in years of
wandering he had almost forgotten
her-until this letter came 1t had
brought many memories back to him
with shocking clearness. The old folk
were still in the little home under the
hill; they received his letters: they
received the money he sent them each
month-but they wanted him. The
girl wrote with merciless candor. He
had been away four years and 1t was
time for him to return. She told him
why. She wrote what they, in their
loving fear of infiicting pain. would
never have dared to say. At the end.
in a postscript, she had asked for his
congratulations on her approaching
marriage.
To Nathaniel this letter had been
torment. He saw the truth as he
had never seen 1t before-that his
place was back there in Vermont,
with his father and mother; and that
there was something unpleasant in
thinking of the girl as belonging to
| another. But now matters had
changed. The letter was a hope and
inspiration to him and he smoothed
| 1t out with tender care. What n refuge
that little home among the Vermont
hills would make for Marion, He
trembled at the thought and his heart
sang with the promise of it as he went
his way again through the thick
growth of the woods.
1t was half an hour before he came
out upon the beach. Eagerly he
scanned the sea. The Typhoon was
nowhere in sight and for an instant
the gladness that had been In his
heart gave place to a chilling fear. But
| the direction of the wind treasured
him. Casey had probably moved be
yond the jutting promontory. that
swung in the form of a cart wheel
from the. base of the point. that he
might Nave sea room in case o. some
thing worse than a stiff breeze. But
There was the small boat? With
Every step adding to his anxiety Ma
thaniel hurried along the narrow rim
| OF beach. He went to the very tir
Of the point which reached out like
the white forefnger OF a lady's hand
into the sea; he passed the spot where
he had lain concealed the preceding
day: his breath came faster and fast
err; he ran. and called softly. and al
last halted in the arch of the carl
breast. over all those miles OF sea
there was no sign of the sloop. From
end to end OF the point there was ne
boat. What did II mean? Breathless
ly he tore his way through the striI
Of forest on the promontory until al
Lake Michigan to the south lay before
his eyes. The Typhoon was gone
Was 1t possible that Casey had aban
doned hope OF Nathaniel's return ant
was already lying on st James with
shotted gun? The thought sent {
SILVER of despair through him. Fl,
passed to the opposite side of tn,
point and followed II foot by foot. bu
there was no sign of life. no distan
fash OF white that might have beer
the canvas of the sloop Typhoon.
There was only one thing for hin
to do-wait. So he went to his hidinl
place of the day before and watched
the sea with straining eyes. An houl
passed and his still aching vision saw
no sign of sail; two hours-and thu
sun was falling In binding glar'
l oftA th' "Aetohoih "'hdtAhtoo- n
last he sprang to his feet with a hope
less cry and stood for few moments
undecided. Should he wait until nigh
with the hope Of attracting the atten
ton OF Nell and joining him in hi
canoe or should he hasten In the di
rection of st. James? In the darkness
he might miss Neil. unless he KEEP
up a constant shouting, which woult
probably bring the Mormons dowi
upon him: If he went to St james
there was a possibility of reaching
Casey. He still had faith in OBADIAH
and he was sure that the old mar
would help him to reach his ship; hi
might even assist him In his schem,
of getting Marion from the island.
ITO BE CoNTINUEDJ
Didn't Like Course Dinners.
colored woman. native of tn,
south. had been working for a fla
dwelling family of moderate means II