Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-04-23

state of mind about it, and several or
us tried to find it for him recok-
lect as we'll as If it were yesterday"
my own mind is perfect blank,
said Elinor, and then the butler
again opened the door. Il am
afraid" Elinor explained, that you
will have to excuse me. ! have an
appointment with my dressmaker.
She is going to alter something for
tonight, and l dare not keep her
waiting. Is that Nine. Pelisse, Rog-
ers?" she asked.
Yes, miss"
Good by, Major Melville" she
said.
"Oh," he returned, "but-but I
shall see you again!"
Some day, perhaps, but shall be
leaving London for few months.
Good-by," she cried, walking toward
the door.
"But, my dear child" said Agatha,
II am going to make Hugh stay and
let me give him some tea. Make
haste and dispatch Nine. Pelisse!
You will be back before he goes" On
returning after closing the door,
Hugh took up his position with his
back to the fireplace. Agatha did not
speak for few seconds. and then he
breathed a profoundly depressing
sigh:
"Of course" said Agatha, such
lapse of memory is very bad
sign"
WELL" he answered, II fancy 1t
is, though for that matter ! feel hall
disposed to envy her."
Now, I WONDER" she murmured.
whether you would thank me"
What for?" he inquired perfume
torily.
"If / convinced you that you have
made a great mistake. Because,
truly the rose was white! You
look" she added, with laugh. "as
IL you were not inclined to bless the
poor flower"
T-I imagined you were talking
about something else" he muttered.
But still, am convinced-in fact. l
would give any Odds"
"Will you mind excusing me
minute?" she cried. and once more
she left Hugh alone. While he stood
waiting in front of the fire Agatha
re-entered with small book In ono
hand, substantially bound in black
morocco.
Are you going to convince me BY
testifying on oath?" demanded
Hugh, with manifest astonishment.
II am going" said Agatha. ito
perform an extremely shabby trick.
/ can only hope that the end may be
thought to justify the means"
Opening the book in the middle,
she held it toward Hugh with .
rather theatrical gesture. so that he
could see a pressed, withered rose
bud which had been broken on at
the stalk.
you see," she cried. that 1t IL
white!"
It appeared to be volume OF Sc
lections of devotional character,
printed on India paper, and Ii
seemed to Hugh that there was
something intimate and secret about
1t, as IL there were kind Of sacrf
lege in showing it by the light of day.
A wave of emotion passed over him
as he took the pressed bud between
his thumb and forefinger:
Whose is the book?" he inquired.
''Elinor's."
What is Elinor's, pray?"
Turning guiltily, they beheld her
on the threshold, and then they saw
all the courage go out Of her.
"Oh-Agatha!" she cried re-
proachfully. darling forward and re-
gaining possession Of her book, al
though Hugh continued to hold the
crushed rosebud. But Agatha lost no
moment in quitting the room.
''Elinor stood with the book
pressed against her bosom. breath
ing quickly as she tried to look into
Hugh's face without wavering.
lis your memory re-awakening?"
he asked.
"very--very family" she fall
tered.
Because you must have helped to
look for the flower after ALI"
"Perhaps-perhaps. l may have
DONE" she said.
"And you found It," he suggest
ed, holding 1t between his finger and
thumb. as he drew nearer. You
thought it worth keeping"
''It made" she cried. ''a-conven-
lent book marker"
do you read the book often?" he
asked.
Every night OF my life"
"And-every night OF your life
during the last five years." he con-
tinued, you looked at the flower and
your thoughts have turned to"
"Oh, please. Hugh" she pleaded.
Every night your thoughts have
turned to the East"
Anyhow" she murmured, sure
" ones thoughts ought to be held
sacred" .
Not" he said. with a smile, "un-
less they were hallowed by charity.