The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-07-25
CHAPTER XXI.
THEN TIE MIRACLE WAS
WROUGHT.

THEN TIE MIRACLE WAS
WROUGHT.
When Colonel Harris once more ar.
rived at the Langham he found Luke
ana Louisa comfortably installed Ii
front of the private fire in the private
sitting room up stairs. She was lean
ing BACK against the cushions, her head
resting in her hand, he at the foot OF
the sofa, his hands encircling one knee
gazing now and h into the fire, now
n then into her face.
Not troubled creatures these. not maj
n woman fighting a battle against
life, against the world, for honor, for
peace, n for love; not souls racked
by painful memories of the past or
grim dread of the future: only two
very ordinary human beings, with a life
behind them of serene contentment. so
cial duties worthily performed, a
smooth lake wherein not a ripple of
sorrow or disgrace ever dared to mar
the shiny surface.
And the ruling passion strong in
death was stronger still in face of this
new life to be led: the life of tomorrow,
tuli OF the unknown, the ugly, the sor-
dld ana mean, full of nameless dangers
and OF possible disgrace. The puppets
were stu dancing, moved by the invis-
lble strings held by the hand of the i'm
placable giant called Conventions: thew
danced even as though no gaping and
raVenous lions, no Bulls of Bashan,
were there to see. Even before each
other they hid the secret mysteries Of
their hearts; he his overwhelming pas
sion for her, she her dread for his i'm
mediate future.
They had not forborne to talk of
Philip de Moutford's death; they
would not have admitted that there
was anything there that could not be
discussed with perfect Indifference
she, reclining against the cushions, and
ne in immaculate morning coat with
halr smoothly brushed, and speckless
lie and linen, talking Of things which
meant life or death for them both
he mad told her all he knew, his visit
TO Philip at the Veterans club. his
quarrel with him, the hatred which he
pore to the man that was dead. He
made no secret of the police officers
questionings, nor of DR.. wington'
extraordinary attitude.
one would think those fellows had
a suspicion that I had Phil
lp," he said quite lightly.
And her face never moved whilst she
listened to these details, analyzing
them In her mind, comparing them
with those at which the morning pa
pers had limited the clues and
startling DEVELOPMENTS" to obtain
conhrmatlon Of which her father had
gone out to seek Sir Thomas Ryder.
Luke de Mountford would no more
nave dreamed of telling Louisa of the
lark suspicious which really threat
him, h he would have laid bare
before her some hideous wound, if he
happened to be suffering from one.
rhe police officers insolence and the
ioctors easy contempt had sounded al
tote OF warning of what was imminent,
out beyond that he had no fear. Why
he have? And having none.
worry Lou with plants that might
igitate her?
Remember that he individually was
lutte convinced that Philips murderer
you'd soon be ~discovertd. He too had
cad his morning paper, and knew as
veil as anybody hat for the momen
suspicion rested upon him. Seek whom
he crime will benefit was q. phrase
RELY used in the press this morning.
But 1t was only a question of time:
IN unpleasant phase to be trayersed.
'ome mud that presently would have
o be brushed off. No use to worry
with it. Fortunately she took
t lightly, too. She was far too sem
IDLE to attach Importance to such non
ense.
Nevertheless mud thrown in such
oundiess PERCUSSION was apt to hurt
'ery considerably. Luke had to set his |
eeth this morning When he perused the |
and even now there was in him
sensation OF having been bruised all
,ver, after his second interview with |
rravers, n his talk with DR.. Newing- |
In the library. Louisa did him good. !
she was calm and sensible and a WON
n of the world. She never puzzled
luke, nor had she that vague longing
o be misunderstood, the peculiar at
ribute of the woman of today. In
ace of her serenity he almost despised
for the intensity of his own
'assion. She was 30 pure, so womanly
n her andnrToocS a ri s~1 still she vuou
hardly conscious of passion. But she
new that he was in pain-morally n
mentally In pain-and that worse was
ret to come: and she, the commonplace,
girl, brought forth her full
lrray of calm and Of trtviality, check
ush OF passion in him, for passion
but torture him now, when his
very soul was troubled and every nerve
m the jar.
And thus Colonel Harris found
hem.
when he entered, Louisa was re-
counting to Luke the menu of last
dinner.
And Homard a la Danoise was a
perfect dream" h was saying. 81
suppose it would not be etiquet to ask
her excellency for the recipe"
Luke rose as the colonel entered and
passed his hand across the back OF
lis smooth head, a gesture peculiarly
English and peculiarly his own. The
,lder man was undoubtedly the most
of the three.
its q damnable business, this" he
as soon as he had shaken Luke by
he hand and thrown off hat and coat,
Does Sir Thomas Ryder" asked
lightly, "also think tina + have
Philip?,
He knew where Colonel Harris had
been. Louisa had not thought Of keep
ing this from him.
a %sr z fo0f" retorted the colonel
It was tantamount to an avowal.
Luke never finshed: he even contrived
smile. Louisa sat up very straight,