The Madison journal., 1913-07-05

which was yet 10 &,
their foolish talk whil- thay we~c G.
the beech, and Emilad s,.!y G = il
Her courage WAS az tta obh. Sha fe:'
that the buoycrc~ o' sr!-it thIt ha6 .
sustained d then beth i@"i-g - ni2h' /
of struggle could 7e"rr rsyiri, he !
wasted and disorCspi@ed body lying in /
Parson Thayer's hoIse-ker house. \ /
certain practical sense that was |
strong in her rose and questioned )
whether she had done everything that I,
could be done fer his welfare. She ,
thought so. Had she not even prayed.
with all her concentration of mind
and will? She heard again Susan
Stoddard's deep voice: mo irving
toward God is ever lost!" In spite OF
her unfaith, a sense of rest in a pow
er larger than herself came upon her
unawares. Danny, who had wandered
away, came back and sat down heavi-
ly on the edge of her skirt, close to
her. Good Danny!" she praised, pet
ting him to his hearts content.
1t was thus that Aleck Van Camp
found them, as he came over the stlle
from the house. His tones we're slow
er and more precise than ever. but his
face was drawn and marked with an1-
iety. He had a careful thought for
| Agatha. even In the face of his great
er trouble.
You have chosen a bad hour to
wander about, Miss Redmond. The
evening dews are heavy"
"Yes, I know; Danny and l were
Just going home Have you been into
the house?"
Yes, left Doctor Thayer there In
consultation with the other physician
that came today. They sent me OF.
Old Jim-well, you know as well as
| do. With your permission. I'm go
ing to stay the night. I'll bunk in the
hall, or anywhere. Don't think OF a
bed for me; I don't want one"
Tn glad you'll stay. 1t seems,
somehow, as II every one helps; that
ia, every one who cares for him"
Doctor Thayer thinks there will be
change tonight. though it is difficult
to tell. Jim's family have my tele
gram by this time, and they will get
my letter tomorrow, probably. Any
way, / shall wait until morning before
send another message"
, The tension of their thoughts was
! too sharp; they turned for relief tc
. the scene before them, stopping a
! the stile to look back at the steeplet
/ white church, standing under it
spreading balm-of-Gilead tree.
I 1T seems strange" said Agatha
> ito think that l sat out there unde
, that big tree as little girl. Every
= thing Is so different now"
8 "Ilion, then. was once your home?
Q No, never my home. though 1t wa
( once my mothers home. / used t
s visit here occasionally. years an
s years ago"
+" Aleck produced his quizzical grir
s "A gallant person would protest ths
7, that is incredible"
81 wasn't anging for gallantry
q Agatha replied wearily. II am tweI
d ty-six. and l haven't been here ce
" tainly since l was eight years oil
z Eighteen years are a good many"
3. ITO youth. yes," acquiesced Alec
e Which reminds me, by contrast
y the hermit; he vas so incredibly oil
3 II was he who unwittingly put me 9
le Jim's trail. He said that the owner I
* proprietor Of the Jeanne D'Arc WI
le dropped ashore On his island"
n Monsieur Chatelardf" cried Agath
a "I don't know his name"
I'd IF it was Monsieur Chatelart
ce Agatha paused, looking earnestly
Y. Aleck, "if 1t was he, 1t II the man VI
e, tricked me into his motor-car In Nc
he York, drugged me and carried Z
i'd aboard his yacht while was unco
- scioQs."
to Aeck turned q sharp. though u
h unaympathetic, gase upon Agatha.
ID. have told no one but Doctor Thay
er and he did not believe me. But 1t
quite true; the wreck saved me, pr
ID ably, from something worse. though
all don't know what"
rs II there had been skepticism
he Alexis face TOR an instant 1t had q
his appeared. Instead, there was dc
ed concern, as he considered the case
ch- Had you ever seen the man Cha
lie lard before?"
ap- Never to my knowledge"
ed Did he visit you ON board
Of yachtf"
he only once. / was put into
We charge of an old lady. Frenchwom
icy Madame sofie; evidently a trus
the chaperon, or nurse, or something
the that When l came to myself II
ent very luxurious cabin in the yacht.
lard old woman was talking to me
he French-a strange medley that ! CO
hus make nothing Of. When / was bel
its she questioned me about everyth
for saying Mon Dieu!' at every answ'
made. Then she left and was gon
her long time; and when she came b'
bed that man was with her. / learned
she erward that he was called Mons
his Chatelard. They both looked at
,ins arguing fiercely In such a fur
French that I could not underst
not more than half they said. I
II: looked as II they were appraising
the like an article for sale, but Mad
hat Sofie held out steadily, on some pt
osts axainst Monsieur Chatelard, and {
( to ly 1t appeared that she converted
est to her own point Of view. He
light away very angry ano ! oiu ho'
full him again, except al ais'ance'
AZ II