Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-08-01
CHAPTER XXI.
THEN THE MIRACLE WAS
WROUGHT


When Colonel Harris once more ar
rived at the Langham he found Luke
and Louisa comfortably installed in
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 then into the fire, now
and then into her face.
Not troubled creatures these, not man
and woman fighting a battle against
life. against h world. for honor, for
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,
full of the unknown, the ugly, h sor-
did and mean. full of nameless dangers
and Of possible disgrace. The puppets
were still dancing. moved by the invis-
ible strings held by the han of the i'm
placable giant called Conventions: they
danced even as though no gaping and
ravenous lions. 10 Bulls of Bashan,
We're 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 hat there
was anything there that could not be
discussed with perfect Indifference
she, reclining against the cushions. and
he in immaculate morning coat, with
hair smoothly brushed, and speckless
tie and linen, talking Of things which
meant life or death for them both.
He q told her all he knew. his visit
to Philip at the Veterans club. his
bore to the man that was dead. He
made no secret of h police officers
QuestfOnings. nor of DIR. Newington's
extraordinary attitude.
One would think those fellows had
a suspicion that I had murdered Phil
ip," he said quite lightly.
And her q w moved whilst she
listened to these details, Analysing
them In 1er mind. comparing them
with those at which the morning pa
pers had limited the Clues" and
startling developments" to obtain
confirmation OF which her father had
gone out to seek Sir Thomas Ryder.
Luke de Mountford would no more
have dreamed Of telling Louisa Of the
dark suspicious which really threat
ened him, than he would nave laid bare
before her some hideous wound. If he
happened to be suffering from n
The police officers insolence and the
doctors easy contempt had sounded a
note Of warning OF what was imminent,
but beyond that he had no fear. Why
should he have? And having none,
why worry Lou with plants that might
agitate her?
Remember that he individually was
r,iAnfnN~vveN1NoA Ako< T1hA1{nsa vn,pS1oWoN
would s0On be discovered. He too had
read his morning paper, and knew as
we'll az anybody that for the moment
suspicion rested upon him. Seek whom
the crime will benefit," wat q phrase
freely used In the press this morning.
an UNPLEASANT phase to be ~traversed,
some mud that presently would have
to be- brushed OF. No use to worry
Louisa with It. Fortunately she o
1t lightly, too She was far too sen
sible to attach importance to such non
sensc.
Nevertheless mud thrown In such
boundless pr0fusion was apt to hurt
very considerably. Luke had to set his
teeth thl9 morning when he peru0ed the
Times and even now there was In him
9 sensation Of having been bruised all
over. after his second Interview With
ton In the lf6rary. LoufSI ara him good.
She was calm Ind sensible md q WON.
an OF the world. She never pu1xacd
Luke nor had she that vagne.longing
q be. mlsunderstood,. the peculiar At
trtnute % the woman OF today. sfn
himseaf ~ the intensity Sc ~ own
passion ohe wdt - pure, % womanly
n Ter ee~ndhsnenasMa 4~iylse<tll. che vas
hardly conoC1oQ4 OF passion. Hut ohA
knew enas 10 was In pain-moraily and