The Yale expositor., 1913-08-21


ly from the works, and why we're the
works themselves in full blast?
These questions he may have asked
himself and he may not. His atten-
tion was entirely centered on the
house he saw before him and on the
possible developments awaiting him
there Nothing else mattered. Brisk
-y he stepped out along the sandy
road. and after a turn or two which
led him quite away from the works
and its surrounding buildings, he
came out upon the highway and this
house.
1t was a low and unpretentious one,
and had but one distinguishing fea-
ture. The porch which hung we'll over
the doorstep was unique in shape and
gave an air of picturesqueness to an
otherwise simple exterior; pic
turesqueness which was much en-
hanced in it's effort by the background
of illimitable forest, which united the
! foreground of this pleasing picture
with the great chain of hills which
held the works and town in it's ample
| basin.
AS he approached the doorstep, his
mind involuntarily formed an anticip-
atory image OF the child whose first
stitches in embroidery were like a
fairy's weaving to the strong man who
worked in ore and possibly figured out
bridges. That she would prove to be
OF the ancient type, common among
working girls gifted with an imagina-
tion they have but scant opportunity
to exercise, he had little doubt.
He was therefore greatly taken
aback. when at his first step upon the
! porch, the door before him flew open
and he beheld in the dark recess be-
yond young woman of such bright
and blooming beauty that he hardly
noticed her expression OF extreme
anxiety, till she lifted her hand and
laid an admonitory finger softly on
her lip:
"Hush!" she whispered, with an
earnestness which reused him from
his absorption and restored him to the
full meaning of this encounter. There
is sickness in the house and we are
very anxious. Is your errand an i'm
portant one? If not" The falter-
ing break in the fresh. young voice,
the look she cast behind her into the
darkened interior, were eloquent with
the hope that he would recognize her
impatience and pass on.
And so he might have Gone-so he
would have done under all ordinary
circumstances. But If this was Doris
and he did not doubt the fact after
that first moment OF startled surprise
how dare he forego this opportunity
I brought him here.
With a slight stammer but other
wise giving no evidence OF the effect
made upon him by the passionate in
tensity with which she had\urged this
plea, he assured her that his errand
was important, but one so quickly
told that II would delay her but mo-
ment. But first" said he, with very
| natural caution, "let me make sure
that It Is to Miss Doris Scott am
speaking. My errand Is to her and
her only"
Without showing any surprise, per.
haps too engrossed in her own
thoughts TO feel any, she answered
with simple directness, Yes, am
Doris Scott" Whereupon he became
his most persuasive self. and pulling
out a folded paper from his pocket,
opened 1t and held 1t before her, with
these words:
Then will you be so good as to
glance at this letter and tell me IL the
person whose initials you will find at
the bottom happens to be in town at
the present moment?"
In some astonishment now, she
thrust before her, and recognizing the
o and the B of a well-known sigma
ture, she flashed look back at Sweet
water in which he read a confusion OF
emotions for which he was hardly pre-
pared.
"Ah," thought he, ITS coming. In
another moment l shall hear what
will repay me for the trials and disap-
pointments OF all these months"
But the moment passed and he had
heard nothing Instead. she dropped
her hands from the door-jamb and
gave such unmistakable evidences of
intended flight, that but one alterna-
tive remained to him; he became abb
rupt
Thrusting the paper still nearer. he
said, with an emphasis which could
not fail of making an impression,
Read 1t. Read the whole letter. You
will find your name there. This com
munication was addressed to Miss
Challoner, but"
Oh, now she found wordsl With a
low cry, she put out her hand In quick
entreaty. begging him to desist and
not speak that name on any pretext
or for any purpose. "He may rouse
and hear" she explained. with anoth.
er quick look behind her. The doc.
tor says that this is the critical day
He may become conscious any min
ute. II he should and we're to hear
that name, 1t might kill him."
"Hel" Sweetwater perked ND his