Middletown transcript., 1912-04-06

Wha6 ts tt1 ne Asked eagerly
ly quiYered with what he believed to
be righteous indignation. He stepped
over to the other and looked hard at
him, his eyes blazing, his ruddy
cheeks redder than ever. The two
men confronted each other unfinch-
ingly for a moment, then Mr.. Maitland
touched bell button in the wall by
his side. Instantly the footman made
his appearance.
James" said the old man, his voice
shaking and his knees trembling with
passion, which he did not quite sue
ceed in controlling, despite a desper-
ate effort. "Show this-er-gentle-
man the door, Good morning, sir; our
first and last interview is over"
He bowed with ceremonious polite
ness as he spoke, becoming more and
more composed as he felt himself
mastering the situation. And Arm
strong, to do him justice, knew gen.
tleman when he saw him, and secretly
admired the older man and began to
feel touch of shame at his own rude
way of putting things.
beg pardon, sir" said the footman,
breaking the awkward silence, "but
here is telegram that has 5ust come,
sir"
There was nothing for Armstrong to
do or say. Indeed, having expressed
himself SO unrestrainedly to his rapid
ly-increasing regret, as the old man
took the telegram he turned away in
considerable discontinue. James bow
ing before him at the door opening
into the hall and following him as he
slowly passed out. Mr.. Stephen Matt
land mechanically and with great de-
liberation and with no premonition Of
evil tidings, tore open the yellow en-
velope and glanced at the dispatch.
Neither. the visitor nor the footman
had got out Of sight or hearing when
they heard the old man groan and
fall back helplessly into a chair. Both
men turned and ran back to the door,
for there was that in the exclamation
which gave rise to instant apprehen-
sion. Stephen Maitland now, as white
al death, sat collapsed in the chair
gasping for. breath, his hand on his
heart; the telegram lay open on the
floor. Armstrong recognized the Sc
riousness of the situation, and in
three steps was by the others side.
what is it?" he asked eagerly, his
hatred and resentment vanishing at
the sight Of the old mans ghastly,
stricken countenance.
Enid" gasped her father. 'T said
1 would rather see her-dead, butt
is not true-I-
James Armstrong was a man Of
prompt decision, without a moments
hesitation he picked up the telegram;
it was full Of explicitly, thus it read:
I'VE were encamped last week in
the mountains. Enid went down the
canon for days fishing alone. A sud-
den cloudburst filed the canon. wash
ed away the camp. Enid undoubted-
ly got caught in the torrent and was
drowned. We have found some of her
clothing, but not her body. Have
searched every foot Of the canon.
Think body has got into the lake, now
frozen, snow falling, mountains i'm
passable; will search for her in the
spring when the winter breaks. I am
following this telegram in person by
the first train. Would rather have
died thousand deaths than had this
happen. God help us.
GDOnEDT RF A TruT AMI
Armstrong read it, stared at it a
moment, frowning heavily, passed 1t
over to the footman and turned to the
stricken father.
odd man, l loved her." he said.
simply. Il love her still; I believe
that she loves me. They haven't
found her body, clothes mean moth
ing. Ill find her, I'll search the noun
tains untiPI do. Don't give way;
something tells me that she's alive,
and I'll find her."
'If you do" said the broken old
man, crushed by the swift and awful
response to his thoughtless exclama7
tion, "and she loves you, you shall
have her for your WIFE"
Tt doesn't need that to make me
find her" answered Armstrong grim
ly, "she is woman, lost in the noun
tains in the winter, alone. They
shouldn't have given up the search.
I'll find her as there Is a God above
me whether she's for me or not"
A good deal Of man, this James
Armstrong Of Colorado, in spite OF
many things in his past Of which he
thought SO little that he lacked the
grace to be ashamed Of them. Stephen
Maitland looked at him with GER
tain respect and a growing hope, as
he stood there in the library, stern,
resolute. strong.
Perhaps
iTO BE CoNrTTTrro