The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-09

from within
Edith! Edith"
The living shouting for the dead! A
heart still warm sending forth its
longing to the pierced and pulseless
one, hidden in far-Of tomb! To
Sweetwater, who had seen Miss Chal-
ioner buried, this summons of dis
tracted love came with weird force.
Then the present regained its sway.
He heard her name again, and this
time it sounded less like call and
more like the welcoming cry of meet
Ing spirits. Was death to end this
separation? Had he found the true
o. B., only to behold another and final
seal fall upon this closely folded mys-
terry? In his fear of this possibility,
he caught at Doris hand as she was
about to bound away, and eagerly
asked:
When was Mr.. Brotherson taken
Ill? Tell me, entreat you; the exact
day and, if you can, the exact hour.
More depends upon this than you can
readily realize"
She wrenched her hand from his,
painting with impotence and a vague
alarm. But she answered him dis.
tinctly:
ION the twenty-fifth of last month,
just an hour after he was made mana
ger. He fell in faint at the works"
The day-the very day of Miss Chal
Nner's death!
"Had he heard-did you tell him
hen or afterwards what happened in
New York on that very date?"
mo, no, we have not told him. It
would have killed him-and may yet"
Edith: Edith" come again
through the hush, a hush 30 deep that
Sweetwater received the impression
that the house was empty save for pa
tient and nurse.
This discovery had its effect upon
him. Why should he subject this
! young and loving girl to further pain
He had already learned more than he
had expected to. The rest would come
| with time. But at the first intimation
he gave of leaving. she lost her alb
| stracted air and turned with absolute
eagerness towards him.
"One moment" said she. "You are
stranger and I do not know your
name or your purpose here. But
cannot let you go without begging you
not to mention to anyone IN this town
! that Mr.. Brotherson has any interest
! In the lady whose name we must not
speak. Do not repeat that delirious
cry you have heard or betray in any
! way our intense and fearful interest
| In this young lady's strange death.
You have shown me letter. Do not
! speak Of that letter, l entreat you.
Help us to retain our secret little
| longer. Only the doctor and myself
be lives. I had to tell the doctor, but
doctor reveals nothing. Promise that
! you will not either, at least till the
crisis is passed. It will help my IA
Their and it will help me; and we need
| all the help we can get"
Sweetwater allowed himself one
minute of thought, then he earnestly
| replied:
81 will keep your secret for today.
and longer, If possible"
Thank you," she cried; thank you.
thought saw kindness in your
face" And she again prepared to close
the door.
But Sweetwater had one more ques-
ton to ask. Pardon me-" said he, as
| he stepped down on the walk. you
say that this is critical day with
your patient. Is that why every one
| whom have seen so far wears such a
| look of anxiety?"
Eyes, yes" she cried, giving him
| one other glimpse of her lovely, agi
tated face. There's but one feeling
In town today. but one hope, and. as
believe, but one prayer. That the
man whom every one loves and every
one trusts may live to run these
| works."
Edith! Edith" rose in ceaseless
reiteration from within.
| But it rang but family now in the
ears of our detective. The door had
| fallen to, and Sweetwater's share in
the anxieties of that household was
over.
Slowly he moved away. He was in
a confused yet elated condition Of
mind. Here was food for thousand
new thoughts and contectures. AN Or
! lando Brotherson and an Oswald
Observation-Disclosures possibly, stran
gers possibly; but whether relatives
or strangers, both given to signine
their letters with their initials sim
ply; and both the acknowledged ad
| mirers of the deceased Miss Challon
er. But she had loved only one, ant
that one, Oswald. 1t was not difficult