Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-11-16
CHAPTER XVI.
n RETURN.

AAte SNSAA ~ iSS SCNSIlIy. "
Curtiss and Marcia Lawrence must en-
dure their fate with such courage as
they could; must forget; at least, must
strive to soften owe into affection. How
would they regard each other, l Won
dered? Would the mere fact Of re-
vealed relationship alter their old feel
Ing, or would love survive to torture
them? They had in common no BROTH
erly n sisterly instincts or exper-
fences: they were unchanged: they
were still maid and lover, as they had
always been.
Of work at the office, the memory OF
Burr Curtfss and his fortunes gradually
became less vivid. until I began to hope
h a In time, 1t might really cease to
worry me.
But one morning, Mr.. Royce looked
The Unlbria reached Liverpool his
morning" he said, in a voice not
wholly steady. It's all over by this
time. wonder how they bore it?"
"Bravely, I've no doubt" I answered,
put 1 trembled at thought OF it. How
q n courage to tell
him?
He'll come home, l think" added
Mr.. Royce. pursuing his own thoughts.
n could hardly stay abroad to-
gether; their relationship, of course.
will always remain a secret
Inc ONCE boy entered n laid q
little envelope at his elbow. He tore
it open and read it's contents at a
glance.
TITS a cabs from Curtiss." he said,
II passed it over to me.
Oceanic delayed. engine break
down. I read. Reached Liverpool
five hours after Umbria. Missed Mar
ella but searching for her. Cable ARE
Hotel Adelphi."
Mr.. Royce sat for a drum
ming n%ervously upon his chair arm.
He hasn't II nance OF finding her
m q place like that" he said, at last.
Most probably she's gone on to Lon.
don."
"Or to some place on the continent.
There must be many places where
she'd feel at home.''
What would we better do? Shall
We write out the story ana mail Il to
Curtiss? He'll get it in a week"
II won't stay at Liverpool a week"
astray, and be opened by some one
who had no right to read it,"
We might cable a mere outline
point OF view had changed. Now that
knew the story. 1t seemed to me
that 1t was Marcia Lawrence's right
to decide step houid be taken
next. Once she had recovered her self
poise, she would see what course was
O~OSs oAia L was OC1 NlIdl SlI6 WOulO
be brave enough. strong enough. to
follow it unshrinlsina to the end.
Let us wait" 1 said. "A little de-
lay can do no harm; just as haste can
do no good"
Yes: l believe that's best" agreed
u Junior. Nothing we can do will
help them. They must work out the
problem for themselves
Besides" 1 added. I've a feeling
that Miss Lawrence will herself de-
eide to meet it squarely. She'll realize
that Curtiss has a right to know the
home again. ready to face him and
tell him everything. She'll see that
it's cowardly to stay away. Then
there's her mother-shell think of her
of her misery and loneliness. She
won't leave her to live by herself In
that great. gloomy house. We're safe
in leaving the future in her hands,
But in the days hat followed.
came to doubt more and more wheth-
er this policy was the best one. Had
l not been thinking too much of Miss
Lawrence. and too little OF client
Perhaps II he knew the secret, he
would no longer wish to pursue her;
he might prefer to wait. to give time
opportunity to heal the first rawness
Of the wound. Indeed, 1t was con-
loathing. In that case. 1t we're better
to ia he crisis over with at once:
to apply the knife before the sore had
q chance to harden or grow deeper
Such heroic action might effect 8
cure. But I kept these doubts to my.
Junior with them. I could see how hi
was suffering on his friends. behalf
I could guess his fear that SOM
dreadful tragedy would mark the end
The lays passed. and we heard III
more from Curtiss. not a word to tel
s,o knrry tho nnN0h hoA v~~vnAna~I
Godfrey came in to see me once OF
twice, but he had nothing new to tell;
n Of course I had nothing to tel
him. At last, he expressed the opin.
ion that we should solve thu
mystery: and as the public had for.
waste no more time upon it.
Another visitor I had one afternoon
when DR.. Schuyler's card was brough'
In to me. I ordered him shown in a
once. and as / shook hands with him
I noted that he seemed greyer ane
YES" he said. with a smile inter
preting my glance; its this troubl,
which has been weighing upon me. I'v,
tried to shake it off, but I can't"
sit down." I said. I'm glad t,
see you. And l wouldn't allow tn,
That's easy enough to say" he re-,
torted, with a little shake Of the head
but remember, Mr.. Lester. Mrs
Lawrence and her daughter were tw,
Of my dearest friends. And this trag
edy has wrecked their lives. IL Their,
any news?"
"None at all. except that Curtis
missed the Umbria 1t Liverpool. an,
has not been able to hnd Miss Law
renee"
Perhaps that was best
Tn inclined to think 30 myself
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