Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-07-21

| sible at present to proceed any further
along that line OF inquiry.
And what other line lay open? 1t
seemed To me that / a come TO an
impasse--a closed wgy-which barred
further progress.
/ sat silent a momen.. bordering the
problem. Perhaps Mrs. Lawrence held
the key to it, and l turned to look at
her. She was seemingly sunk in
reverie, and her lips moved from time
TO time, as though she were repeating
TO herself some fragmentary words.
She seemed more self-possessed In the
presence Of this catastrophe than one
would AVE expected. Perhaps she
knew where her daughter was; perhaps
Miss Lawrence had not really fled.
There was nothing to show that she
had left the house 1t seemed impossi-
BILE that a woman clad as she a been
could have fed, ia broad day, without
attracting someone's notice. But
whether she had fled or not, l reflected,
the mystery remained the same. Ger
! tainly, she had not appeared at the al
tar TO keep her promise TO Burr Cur
tiss.
Mrs. Lawrence" / asked. what
reason have you 10 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 been
abducted she retorted. Marcia Ia a
strong girl, and n single scream would
have alarmed the house"
That's true / agreed. your room
is near hers?"
Just across the hall"
The wish flashed into my brain TO
look through the house; perhaps j
should be able to arrange 1t.
There's ne pit or hole or trap or
anything of hat 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?'
l went on. remembering the fate OF the
bride in the old song.
No; besides, we've looked in them
all. We've searched everywhere-ev-
cry corner. She's not in the house--Im
quite sure Of that"
And yet you say she loved Mr.. Cur
tiss?'' r
Loved him de~votedly.'
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 q
est il. rose quickly and opened it. /
caught a glimpse, in the semi-dark-
ness OF the hall, of a woman in q
maids cap and apron. She gave her
| mistress q letter. whispering, as she
did SO, a swift sentence in her ear.
| heard Mrs. Lawrence's low ex-
clamation of surprise. as she held the
letter up 70 the light and read the
superscription. Then she turned swift
ly toward us, her face pale with emo
ton.
It's a note!' she cried. "A note
from Marcia. 1t will e~xplain!" and she
handed the envelope to Curtiss.
"A note?' he stammered. Addressed
to me?"
In Marcia's writing. Read it. II
will explain" she repeated.
He tool ii with trembling hand, went
to the window, and tore ii open. ]
saw his lips quivering as he read it; /
saw the white intensity with which
Mrs. Lawrence watched his face; l was
conscious, too, OF another presence In
the room, and / glanced around to see
that h maid stood leaning forward ~
the pen doorway, her eyes sparkling
with eagerness, her mouth working,
her hands clasping and unclasping con-
vulsiVely. There was something sin
lister In her dark, expressive face, in
her Notwithstanding almost OF ex-
ultlng, Of triumph
Curtiss crushed the letter in his hand
with a quick movement of despair, and
turned to us d~istraught, flushed, as
founded.
ut tells nothing" he faltered; moth
ing. It'll can't believe It.! Read
1t, Mr.. Lester" and he held the sheet
Of paper to ward me.
There were only a few lines upon it,
Dearest: / cannot be your wife
how shall / tell you? 1t is quite, quite
impossible. Oh, believe me, sweetheart
nothing but the certainty OF that could
keep me from / am fleeing; I
cannot see YOU, cannot speak to you;
there can be no explanation; only !
shall love you always! Is IL wrong to
write that now, I wonder? Please do
not attempt to follow me, to seek me
out; that will only mean sorrow for us
both-sorrow and shame. Perhaps
some day when the wound heals-will
It aver heal?-I can tell you, can bear
TO see you. But oh, not now!
Marcia Lawrence
Continued Next Week.
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