Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-08-21


These questions he may have asked
himself and he may not. His atten-
ton was entirely conferred on the
house he saw before him and on the
possible developments awaiting him
there. Nothing else mattered. Brisk
ly he stepped out along the sandy
road, and after 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 low and unpretentious one,
and had but one distinguishing fea-
ture. The porch which hung well over
the doorstep was unique in shape and
gave an air Of picturesqueness to an
otherwise simple exterior; pic
turesqueness which was much en-
HANGED 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 magma
ton 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 few 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
POh taAib WV IL INV u0 ldLlcI-
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. Buff this was Doris
and he did not doubt the fact after
that first moment OF startled surprise
how dare he forego this opportunity
of settling the question which had
brought him here.
With 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 it would delay her but mo-
ment. But first" said he, with very
natural caution, "let me make sure
that 1t is to Miss Doris Scott I 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 folded paper from his pocket,
opened it and held it before her, with
these words:
Then will you be so good as to
glance at this letter and tell me if the
person whose initials you will find at
the bottom happens be in town at
the present moment?'
In some establishment now, she
glanced down at the sheet thusIboldly
thrust before her, and recognizing the
0 and the B of a well-known sigma
ture, she flashed look back at Sweet
water in which he read confusion of
emotions for which he was hardly pre-
pared.
"Ah," thought he, "it's coming. In
another moment | 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 it. Read the whole letter. You
will find your name there. This com
munication was addressed to Miss
Challoner, but"
oh. now she found words! 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 1.-THE doc
tor says that this is the critical day.
He may become conscious any min
ute. II he should and were to hear
that name, it might kill him."
"5ei" Sweetwater perked up his