Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-11-26

and Hart Henderson Stands Guard.
ANY people looked. few fol
tM lowed. as Edith Carr slowly
III 3 came down the main street o,
o AIackinac. pausing here and
there 10 note the glow Of color in one
small booth after another. overfowinl
With curios. Despite the effort sh'
nude to move lightly she was very
tired and dragged her heavy feet will
an effort.
Size turned ut the little street lead
inc down TO the dock und went out tt
meet the big lake steamer ploughins
w the straits from Chicago. Past the
landing place. ON to the very end Of til.
pier she went. then sat down. leaned
against dock support ard closed he'
tired eyes. When the steamer cume
very near she languidly watched the
reople linlpg the railing. Instantly
she marked one lean. anxious face
turned toward hers and with throt
OF pity she lifted hand and waved te
Hart Henderson. He was the first
man OIL the boat
did you have successful trip?
she asked.
"I accomplished my purpose. Edith
I saw some one today In the Lake
Shore private hospital"
AN accidentf"
mo. Nervous and physical break
down"
"Phl said he was going back to
the Limberlost"
"He went he was there three
weeks. but the strain broke him. He
has an old letter in his hands that he
has handled until 1t Is ragged. He held
1t up to me and said. You can see fol
yourself that she says she will be well
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 stopr'
~ can't" cried Henderson desperate
ly. II am forced to tell you. They art
lighting brain fever. He did go bach
to the swamp and he prowled 1t nigh
and day. The days down there are ho
now. and the nights wet with dew an6
cold. He paid no attention and forgo
his food. A fever started. and bis un
Gle brought him home. They've nevel
had word from her or found trace
Of her. Mrs. Comstock thought she
had gone to O'More's ut Grand Rapids
so when Phil got sick she telegraphet
there. They had been gone all summer
so her mother IL as anxious as Phil"
"rhe O'Slores are here" said Edith
II haven't seen any Of them. because
/ haven't gone out much In the few
days since we came. but this Is theil
summer home"
Edith. they say at the hospital thai
1t will take careful nursing to save
Phil He says he will stay there jus,
two days longer. The doctors say he
will kill himself when he goes. he II
sick man. Edith. His hands are
burning and shaky and his breath was
hot against my face"
why are you telling mer It was q
cry Of acute anguish.
HE thinks you know where she Is"
~ do not! haven't an idea"
"He said II was something you said
to her that made her CO."
THAT may be. but It doesn't prove
that know where she went"
Henderson looked across the wateI
and suffered keenly. At last he turned
to Edith and laid n firm. strong hand
over hers.
Edith" he said, do you realize how
serious this isr'
II suppose I do"
do you want as fine a fellow al
Phil driven any further? II he leaves
that hospital now and goes out to thu
exposure and anxiety of q search FOL
her there will be tragedy that no AT
er regrets can avert. Edith. what die
you say to Miss Comstock that made
her run away from Philr'
~ told her Phil was mine! That u
he were away from her an hour and
back In my presence he would be tc
me as be always had BEEN.
Edith. do you believe that nowT
The beautiful head barely moved II
uegation. Henderson gathered both he'
hands In one of bis and stretched an
arm across her shoulders to the post
to support her. She dragged her hands
from him and twisted them together.
"No! do not believe 1t nowl !
know It IL 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 bis arm
exhausted. Henderson held her and
learned what suffering truly means
He famed her with his hat, rubbed
her cold hands and murmured broken
incoherent things. By and by great
slow tears slipped from under 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 bout has been creeping up. Its
very near. Maybe some OF our cSowo
are on Il. Hudnt We better get away
from here before 1t landsT
If Gun walk" she said. "Oh. an
70 dead tired. HartT'
"Yes. dear" said Henderson sooth'
insly. Just try to get past the land
Ing before the boat anchors. II ! only
dur ~ yout"
7 sgled through the waiting
mas. i directly opposite the land
ing there was a backward movement
In the happy. laughing crowd. the
gang plank came down with q slam
and people began hurrying from the
boat. Crowded against the nsh house
on the dock Henderson could only ad
vance u few steps at q time. he wal
straining every nerve to Drotect and
assist Edith.
Henderson shot q swift glance to
ward the bout. Terrence O'More Just
had stepped from the gangplank. Cd
corting a little daughter. 20 like him
1t was comical There followed a pic
ture not easy to describe. The AnGe
In the full flower Of her beauty. richly