The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-07-13

~ETGHE tHEE|aF [4e7Al.2MN
sihle at present to proceed any further
along that line of inquiry.
And what other line lay open? 1t
seemed to me that l had come2to an.
tmpasse-a closed way-which barred
further progress.
sat silent q moment, rendering the
problem. Perhaps Mrs. Lawrence held
me Key to it. n 1 turned to look at
ner. She vas seemingly sunk in
reverie, and her lips moved from time
70 Tune, as though she We're repeating
ln herself some fragnlcntary words,
sfe seemed more self-possessed in the
presence of this catastrophe than one
would nave expected. Perhaps she
Knew Where her daughter was; perhaps
MISS Lawrence had not really fed.
,Ihere was nothing to show that she
had left the house. It seemed impossi-
Die that a woman clad as she had been
could ave fled. in broad day, without
attracting someone's notice. But
whether she had fled or not, / reflected.
the mystery remained the same. Ger
fanny, n had not appeared at the al
tiss.
Mrs. Lawrence" l asked, what
reason have you to believe that your
daughter left the house?"
She started from her reverie, and sat
staring at me as though scarce under
standing.
Why" she said at last, what else
could she have done. She has disap-
peared-''
You're sure she isn't concealed
somewhere about the placer"
"~Concealed?" and she paled a little
under my eyes. oh, no; that's impos-
sible! We've searched everywhere!"
And you think she went of her own
free will?'
She could scarcely have peen
abducted" she retorted. Marcia is a
strong girl and IL single scream would
have alarmed the house."
"Fhat's rue agreed. Your room
is near hers?"
Just across the hail.
The wish flashed into my brain to
look through the house; perhaps I
should be able to arrange 1t.
There's no pit or hole or trap or
ANYTHING; of that sort into which she
could have fallen?"
oh, no; nothing of the sort"
Nor closet nor chest INTO which she
could have accidentally locked herself?"
bride in the old song.
NO; besides, we've looked In them
all. We've searched everywhere-ey-
cry corner. She's not in the house-Tm
quite sure of that"
And yet you say she loved Mr.. Cur
tiss 2"
Loved him devotedly."
Then what possible reason sould she
have for deserving him? Why should
She
A knock at the door interrupted me,
Mrs. Lawrence, who was sitting near
1t, rose quickly mt opened it. 1
a glimpse, in the semi-dark-
ness OF the hall, Of a woman in a
MAIDS cap and apron. She gave her
a letter, whispering, as she
did so. a swift sentence in her ear.
| heard Mrs. Lawrence's low ex-
Of surprise, as she held the
letter up to the light and read the
superscription. Then she turned swift
~ toward US, her face pale with emo
ton.
It's a motel" she cried. "a note
Marcia! 1t will explain!, and she
the envelope to Curtiss.
"A note?' he stammered. Addressed
to me?"
In Marcia's writing. Read it. It
will explain" she repeated.
He took it with trembling hand, went
% the window, and tore it open. 7
saw his lips quivering as he read it: 1
saw h white intensity with which
Mrs. Lawrence watched his face; l was
conscious, too, of another presence in
room, and / glanced around to see
nat the maid stood leaning forward in
ne open doorway her w sparkling
With eagerness, her mouth working
Ter hands clasping and unclasping con.
Eulsively. There was something sin
ster in her dark, expressive face. in
Ter Notwithstanding almost of ex-
lifting, of triumph
Curtiss crushed the letter in his hand
With a quick movement of despair and
urned to US distraught, flushed as /
ounded.
TT tells nothing" he faltered; moth
It'll can't believe it! Read
Mr.. Lester" and he held the sheet |
t paper to ward me.
There We're only a few lines upon it
Dearest: l cannot be your wife
shall I tell you? 1t is quite. quite
impossible. Oh, believe me, sweetheart
.othing but the certainty OF that could
.eep ME from you. l am fleeing. T
see you, cannot speak to YOU:
here can be no explanation: only
hall low o always! Is it wrong to
rite that now, I wonder? Please do
OF attempt to follow me, to seek me
ut; that will only mean sorrow for ux
and shame. Perhaps
ome day when the wound heals-will
ever heal?-I car tell you, a bear
, see You. But oh, not now!
Marcia lawrence"
NJ