Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-08-11
beside which 4 woman.s happiness and

| beside which a woman's happiness and
reputation had seemed q little thing.
Before / could hope to make any fur
Their progress In that direction. I real
ICED that / needed to know more Of the
family-of its history and social stand
ing. Besides, I must be armed cap-a-
pie before / went to that interview
which I had determined to seek, in the
morning, with Marcia Lawrence.
Beg pardon, sir" said a voice at my
elbow, and looking up, I saw the hotel
clerk standing there. This is Mr.. Les
ter, isn't it?"
Yes 1 answered.
II have a package here for you," he
went on, and handed me a square en-
velope. 1T vas left here for you this
afternoon"
"Oh, yes" / said; thank YOU" and
! slipped the envelope into my pocket.
You've had rather an exciting time
here today" I added.
You mean the wedding tina didn't
come off 2" he asked. smiling. "It has
torn the town wide open, and no mis-
take"
$50 I judged from h papers. The
Lawrences are pretty prominent, aren't
they2"
Yes; top-notchers; especially IN
church circles. III bet DR.. Schuyler is
all broken up"
DIR. Schuyler"
Pastor of their church-First Pres
byterian-that big church just down
the street yonder. They've been great
pets of his"
He was to have performed the cere-
mony?"
Sure. They wouldn't have had any
body else. Nice old fellow, too. Be-
sides, he's been their pastor for years."
Here was the source / had been look
ing for-the source from which l might
draw detailed and accurate intorma-
ton, If I could only reach 1t.
II suppose that house next to the
church is the parsonage" I ventured.
/ had never seen the church, but 1t
seemed a safe shot.
Yes; the one this side OF t."
/ nodded.
II thought SO. Thank you for giving
me the package" / added, and glanced
at my watch and rose.
"Oh. that's all right, sir" he an
swered, and turned away to his desk.
AS for me, l lost no time in starting
out upon my errand. l would see DR..
Schuyler would put the case before
him, and ask his help. 1t was nearly
s o'clock, doubtless well past his dinner
hour. and I resolved to seek the inter-
view at once.
Lights had sprung up along the
street, casting long shadows under the
trees which edged either side. The win
dows of the houses cleaned through
the darkness, and here n there, where
the blinds had not been drawn, I
caught glimpses Of families gathered
eagerly bent. From he dim verandas,
/ heard this murmur OF excited gossip
and I knew too well what 1t was all
about. Tonight, this city, from end to
end, could have but q single all-ab-
sorbing subject to discuSs-to wonder
at and chatter over with hat insatia-
BILE curiosity which we inherit from the
monkeys.
But I a not far to go. The tall,
straight spire of q church told me
that / had reached my destination, and
I turned in at the gate of a house
which was Enthusiastically the parson-
age. The maid who took my card at
the door returned In a moment to say
that DR.. Schuyler was in his study and
would see me. I followed her and
found the clergyman seated beside a
table upon which were lying the eve-
ming papers. A glance at them showed
me what he had been reading, and his
perturbed face bespoke great inward
agitation. He was q small man OF per-
haps so years, with snow-white hair
and beard and a delicate, intellectual
I1S dIOSc W ElCGL iilCt my CdIG
still In his fingers, and then motioned
me to a chair.
"Candidly, Mr.. Lester he said, 1T
was half inclined to excuse myself.
This has been a trying day for me.
But / saw that you had come from
New York"
Yves, and on an errand which, / fear,
may not be very welcome to you, DR..
Schuyler"
Not connected with the d~eplorable
affair OF today, ] hopper"
Eyes, sir; connected with that"
But and he glanced again at my
card apprehensively, you are not a.
reRR88EgterG ,.,.bea az oon ...,,u
guess how they've been ~harassing you.
I'm acting for Mr.. Curtiss," I added,
resolving quickly that the best thing I
could do was to tell him the whole
story so far as / knew 1t, which I did,
as briefly as possible. He heard me to
the end with intent, interested face.
II think you'll agree with me, DR..
Schuyler / concluded, that my client
is quite right In deciding to demand an
explanation"
yes" he added, after a moments
thought, IT suppose he is-I'm sure he
is. It's the most extraordinary thing
/ ever heard of-and the most deplora-
BILE. Until this moment, / had hoped
that they had gone away 10 get mar
ried elsewhere"
"Hoped?" / asked.
Yes, hoped. I've seen them togeth-
err, Mr.. Lester, and 1t seemed to me an
ideal attachment. I can conceive Of
| nothing which could keep them apart.
Has any explanation of 1t occurred to
you?"