The Springfield herald., 1913-05-16

which was yet to come. She realized
their foolish talk while they were on
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
Parson Thayers house-her house. A
certain practical sense that was
strong in her rose and questioned
whether she had done everything that
could be done for his welfare. She
thought 30. 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 II ever lost!" In spite Of
her unfaith. q 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.
It was thus that Aleck Van Camp
found them, ~ he GAME oyer the stile
from the house. His tones were slow.
er and moro precise than ever, but his
face was drawn and marked with anx.
iety. He had q 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 gatpg homo. Have you been into
the A0uss?"
Yes. 1 left Doctor Thayer there in
consultation with the other physician
that came today. They sent me OF.
Old Jim-well, you know as we'll as
do. With your permission. I'm 60
ing to stay the night. I'll bunk In the
hall. or anywhere. Don't think of a
bed for me; don't want one."
I'm glad you'll stay. 1t seems.
somehow. a. II every one helps; that
Is. 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
I sspd another message"
The tension of their thoughts was
too sharp: they turned for relief to
the scene before them, stopping at
the stile to look back at the steepled
white church. standing under its
spreading balm-of- Gilead tree.
At~
ito think that 1 sat out there under
that big tree as little girl Every
thing is SO different now"
"1lion. then, was once your home ?"
mo. never my home. though 1t was
once my mothers home. used to
visit here occasionally, years and
years ago"
Aleck produced his quizzical grin.
"A gallant person would protest that
that is incredible"
II wasn't angling for gallantry,"
Agatha replied wearily. 81 am twen-
ty-six, and I haven't been here GER
tainly since I was eight years old.
Eighteen years are good many"
ITO youth, yes" acquiesced Aleck.
(which reminds me, by contrast, of
the hermit; he was so incredibly old.
1t was he who unwittingly put me on
Jim's trail. He said that the owner or
proprietor of the Jeanne D'Arc was
dropped ashore on his island"
Monsieur Chatelard?" cried Agatha.
II don't know his name"
'If 1t was Monsieur Chatelard,"
Agatha paused, looking earnestly at
Aleck. "if it was he, 1t is the man who
tricked me into his motor-car in New
York. drugged me and carried me
aboard his yacht while l was uncon-
scious."
Aleck turned sharp, though not
unsympathettc, gaze upon Agatha. II
have told no one but Doctor Thayer,
and he did not believe me. But 1t is
quite true; the wreck saved me, prob
ably, from something worse, though I
don't know what"
II there had been skepticism on
Alexis face for an instant 1t had dis
appeared. Instead. there was deep
concern. as he considered the case.
Had you ever seen the man Chate-
lard before?"
Never to my knowledge"
Did he visit you on board the
yacht7"
Only once. was put into the
charge of an old lady, Frenchwoman,
Madame Sole; evidently a trusted
chaperon. or nurse. or something like
that. When l came to myself in a
very luxurious cabin in the yacht, this
old woman was talking to me in
French-a strange medley that could
make nothing of. When I was better
she questioned me about everything,
saying Mon Dieu! at every answer I
made. Then she left and was gone a
long time; and when she came back.
that man was with her. learned aft
erward that he was called Monsieur
Chatelard. They both looked at me.
arguing f1ercely in such a furious
French that l could not understand
more than half they said. They
looked as II they were appraising me,
like an article for sale. but Madame
Soae held out steadily. on some point.
against Monsieur Chatelard, and final
ly It appeared that she converted him
to her own point Of view. He went
away very angry, and I did not see
him again. except at a distance, until
the night of the wreck"
did you find out where they were