The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-12-07
CHAPTER XIV.

III came down the main street of
e. Mackinac. pausing here and
there to note the glow Of color in one
small booth after another, overlooking
with curtos. Despite the effort she
made to move lightly she was very
tired and dragged her heavy feet with
an effort.
She turned at the little street lead
ing down to the dock and went out to
meet the big lake steamer ploughing
up the straits from Chicago. Past the
landing place. on to the very end Of the
pier she went. then sat down, leaned
against dock support and closed her
tired eyes. When the steamer came
very near she languidly watched the
people lining the railing. Instantly
she marked one lean. anxious face
turned toward hers and with throb
of pity she lifted a hand and waved to
Hart Henderson. He was the first
man off the boat.
did you have a successful trip"
she asked.
II accomplished my purpose. Edith,
I saw some che today in the Lake
Shore private hospital"
IAN accident?'
mo. Nervous and physical break
down."
''Phil said he was going back to
the Limberlost."
"He went. He was there three
he hut e,+r r;
has an old letter in his hands that he
has handled until it is ragged. He held
1t up to me and said, You can see for
yourself that she says she will be we'll
and happy, but we can't know until we
see her again. and that may never be-
She may have gone too near that place
her father went down, some Of that
Limberlost gang may have found her
In the forest. She may lie dead in
some city morgue this instant waiting
for me to find her body"
Hart. for PHYS sake stop"'
II can't" cried Henderson desperate
~. II am forced to tell you. They are
fighting brain fever. He did go back
to the swamp and he prowled it night
and day. The days down there are hot
now, and the nights wet with dew and
cold. He paid no attention and forgot
his food. A fever started, and his uri-
Gle brought him home. They've never
had word from her or found a trace
of her. Mrs. Comstock thought she
had gone to O'More's at Grand Rapids,
50 when Phil got sick she telegraphed
there. They had been gone all SUMNER.
SO her mother is as anxious as Phil.' .
'The O'Mores are here" said Edith.
II haven't seen any Of them, because
I haven't gone out much in the few
days since we came, but this Is their
summer home"
Edith, they say at the hospital that
it will take careful nursing to save
Phil. He says he will stay there just
two days longer. The doctors say he
will kill himself when he goes. He is
sick man, Edith. His hands are
burning and shaky and his breath was
hot against my face"
why are you telling me?' It was a
cry OF acute anguish.
He thinks you know where she Is"
81 do not! haven't an idea!'
HE said it was something you said
to her that made her 60"
'That may be, but it doesn't prove
that know where she went"
Henderson looked across the water
and suffered keenly. At last he turned
to Edith and laid firm, strong hand
over hers.
Edith" he said. "do you realize how
serious this ISL"
II suppose do"
do you want as fine a fellow as
Phil driven any further? If he leaves
that hospital now and goes out to the
exposure and anxiety Of search for
her there will be tragedy that no aft
er regrets can avert. Edith, what did
you say to Miss Comstock that made
her run away from Philip
ri told her Phil was mine! That If
he were away from her an hour and
back In my presence he would be to
me as be always had been''
Edith. do you believe that now?"
The beautiful head barely moved in
negation. Henderson gathered both her
hands in one Of his and stretched an
arm across her shoulders to the post
to support her. She dragged her hands
from him and twisted them together.
mo! do not believe it now! 1
know it is not true! l killed bis love
for me. It is dead and gone forever.
Nothing will revive it-nothing In all
this world!"
She dropped back against his arm
exhausted. Henderson held her and
learned what suffering truly means.
He famed her with his hat, rubbed
her cold hands and murmured broken.
1ncoherent things. BY and by great
slow tears slipped from finder her
closed lids. but when she opened them
her eyes were dull and hard.
Henderson thrust his handkerchief
into her fingers and whispered. Edith,
the boat has been creeping up. It's
very near. Maybe some of our crowd
are on it. Hadn't we better get away
hny l>rR L