The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-07-11

the beach, and smiled sadly over It,
Her courage was at the ebb. She. felt
that the buoyancy of spirit that had
sustained them both during the night
of struggle could never revisit the
wasted and disorganized body lying IN i
Parson Thayers house-her house.
certain practical sense that was
strong in her rose and questioned
whether she had done everything that
could be done for his welfare. sne
thought 80. Had she not even prayed,
with all her concentration OF MIND
and will? She heard again Susan
Stoddard's deep voice: mo striving
toward God Is ever lost" In spite OF
her unfaith, sense Of rest IN pow
er larger than herself came upon her
unawares. Danny, who had wandered
away, came back and sat down heavl'
ly on the edge Of her skirt, close 10
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 were SLOW
er and more precise than ever. but MS
face was drawn and marked with anx'
| iety. He had careful thought for
Agatha, even In the face Of his great
er trouble.
"You have chosen a bad hour to
wander about, Miss Redmond. Inc
evening dews are heavy"
Eyes, | know; Danny and / 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 OH
Old Jim-well, you know as well al
do. With your permission, I'm 60
, ing to stay the night. III bunk in the
hall, or anywhere. Don't think OF
bed for me; I don't want one."
I'm glad you'll stay. 1t seems
:, somehow, as If every one helps; ina
is, every one who cares for him"
Doctor Thayer thinks there will b
a change tonight, though 1t is diiflcu'
q to tell. Jim's family have my tell
gram by this time, and they will &c
O my letter tomorrow, probably. An!
4 way, shall wait until morning befor
send another message"
q. The tension of their thoughts wa
q too sharp; they turned for relief
% the scene before them, stopping
h the stile to look back at the steeple
70 white church, standing under Il
spreading balm-of.Gi tree.
r. "It seems strange" said Agath
~ "to think that | sat out there und'
"a that big tree as a little girl. Ever
in thing is so different now"
%. "Ilion. then, was once your home
Il. "No, never my home, though 1t w
ia once my mothers home. ] used
or visit here occasionally. years al
rs. years ago."
m Aleck produced his quizzical or
"A gallant person would protest tn
he that is incredible"
M 81 wasn't angling for gallantr,
on Agatha replied YEARLY. Il am tw'
nm ty-six. and l haven't been here C
a tainly since was eight years o
Eighteen years are good many"
,ed ITO youth, yes," acquiesced Ale
.ro (which reminds me, by contrast,
10 the hermit; he was SO incredibly {
I'm. It was he who unwittingly put me
oa Jim's trail. He said that the owner
too proprietor of the Jeanne D'Arc
not dropped ashore on his island"
10 Monsieur Chatelard?" cried Agat
no 81 don't know his name"
~ III 1t was Monsieur Chatelal
va Agatha paused. looking earnestly
,av Aleck. IF it was he, 1t is the man
tricked me into his motor.car In \
oso York, drugged me and carried
sna aboard his yacht while I was un'
low scfous."
ring Aleck turned a sharp, though
ing. unsympathetic. gaze upon Agatha.
ahle have told no one but Doctor Tha
nv and he did not believe me. But
res quite true; the wreck saved me.
anne ably. from something worse, thou
,ack don't know what"
side II there had been skepticism
alan. Alexis face for an instant 1t had
as appeared. Instead, there was
dead concern, as he considered the cal
ance Had you ever seen the man CT
ster. lard before?"
title Never to my knowledge"
she "Did he visit you on board
tand yacht?'
mas. only once. was put into
" to charge of an old lady, Frenchwo
much. Madame Sofie; evidently tn
aced. chaperon, or nurse, or something
loser that When came to myself
lead cad, o. ySz'z;S,fessy So
na,,s SSEx-A> TsEwSsyraSTs "a <