River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-27

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 Thayer's 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 go. Had she not even prayed,
with all her concentration of mind
and will? She heard again Susan
Stoddard's deep voice: No striving
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 stile
from the house. His tones were slow
er and more precise than ever, but his
face was drawn and marked with anx-
iety. He had a careful thought for
Agatha, even In the face of his great
er trouble.
''You have chosen bad hour to
wander about, Miss Redmond. The
evening dews are heavy"
Eyes, l know; Danny and / were
just going home. Have you been into
the house?'
Eyes, left Doctor Thayer there in
consultation with the other physician
that came today They sent me Off
Old Jim-well, you know as well 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; L don't want one"
I'm glad you'll stay. 1t seems
somehow, as if 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
send 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.
cit seems strange" said Agatha
"to think that sat out there under
that big tree as little girl. Every
thing is SO different now."S
"Ilion, then, was once your homer
mo, never my home, though it was
once my mothers home. | used tc
visit here occasionally. years and
years ago."
Aleck produced his quiZZical grin
"a gallant person would protest thai
that is incredible"
81 wasn't angling for gallantry,
Agatha replied YEARLY. Il am TWEEN
ty-six, and I haven't been here Ger
tainly since I was eight years old
Eighteen years are a 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 or
Jim's trail. He said that the owner OF
proprietor of the Jeanne Dare was
dropped ashore on his island"
Monsieur Chatelard?" cried Agatha
II don't know his NAME"
'If it was Monsieur Chatelard,
Agatha paused, looking earnestly a
Aleck, "if it was he, it is the man who
tricked me into his motor-car in New
York, drugged me and carried ms
aboard his yacht while was uncon
scious.'
Aleck turned a sharp, though no
unsympathetic, gaze upon Agatha. 6
have told no one but Doctor Thayer
| and he did not believe me. But it Il
quite true; the wreck saved me, prob
ably, from something worse, though
don't know what"
If there had been skepticism OF
Alexis face for an instant it had dis
appeared. Instead, there was dee
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 tn
yacht?"
"Only once. ! was put into tn
charge of an old lady, a Frenchwomar
Madame Sofie; evidently a truste
chaperon, or nurse, or something lik
that. When l came to myself in
very luxurious cabin in the yacht, thi
old woman was talking to me il
French-a strange medley that / coul
make nothing of. When | was bette
she questioned me about everything
saying Mon Dieu!' at every answer
made. Then she left and was gone
long time; and when she came bacl
that man was with her. / learned af
erward that he was called Monsieu
Chatelard. They both looked at m,
arguing fiercely in such furiou
French that / could not understan
more than half they said The
looked as if they were appraising m,
like an article for sale, but Madam
Sofie held out steadily, on some poin
against Monsieur Chatelard, and fna
ly it appeared that she converted hill
to her own point Of view. He wer
away very angry, and I did not Sc
him again, except at distance, unit
the night of the wreck.
| did Won find out where they weI
|
r rat