Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-06-03

the table, Martha came in to say that
udge Bright was waiting to speak
with Mr.. Blagden at the telephone.
Their uncle closed tho library door
when he went into that room to an
SWer, the call.
Eric's reception by his shy, unprac-
llced sweetheart swept away all doubts
and misgivings, II restored him in
large measure to the state Of bliss he
mad developed the day before. His re-
llef was so great that he quite forgot
his fears.
Stlll, when he left her after an hour
IN the garden, he vas to experience "A
ecided unpleasant shock on finding
Judge Bright and Adam Carr seated
together on the front porch. AS he
passed them, they greeted him cheerily.
put he was conscious of the fact that
their gaze followed him as long as he
was in sight. So vivid was this inn
preston that in order to escape the
scrutiny he turned into a side street
when but a block from the house.
He carried ii message from Joan to
Mary. Ellis sister was to go out for a
long drive with Joan in the Brights'
phaetor that afternoon, when the two
or them We're to talk over the SinnoX
school project. There wa additional
consolation for him in Joan's news that
her father had called up Mr.. Blagden
during the morning to inquire when he
~'SHh ~ Hiih Oi CT iIdLleE VI import
ance. She was sure that it had to do
with the school project, for he had
promised her at breakfast that he
would take it up with Mr.. Blagden at
the first opportunity. Her father was
to call al the bank on the following
day, Mr.. Blagden setting the time. SO,
she was sure, it would be all right.
She did not see Chetwynd when he
called the evening before.
mat afternoon Eric, more or less at
peace with himself. if not with the
world, took his hooks and sought the
quiet solitude of Buds Rock, a shady,
obscure spot overlooking Stone Wall,
and not far removed from the unfre-
quented outer road which skirted the
coast. The main travelled highway was
farther inland by a mile or more. But
few travellers used the narrow, aban-
doned road along the cliff.
Buds Rock itself was in the heart of
a miniature wilderness. 1t lay black
and dank, moss covered and dripping,
at the edge of the woodland. almost
completely hidden by the thick under
brush and trees that surrounded it.
Here 1T was always cool and shady. At
the base of the huge boulder there was
a tiny plaza Of vividly green grass,
smooth and soft, and sweet with the
smell OF earth. Through the trees
ahead, one had a clear view of the sea
beyond the rugged, broken line of the
cliffs, on Which no vegetation appeared.
A quarter of a mile away, the surf
drummed nofsily against the obstinate
wall of rock, while down upon the bleak
intervening space the sun sent his rays
with such scorching intensity that if
one crossed the rocks at midday it was
at the risk of blistering the soles of his
shoe clad feet.
before Eric had come upon this
tiny plaza, and it always had been a
t1SOrltn iHllnp rl1arn fn,, him, IJn xyN,,t
there to read, or to dream, or to think.
Times there We're when his thoughts
and dreams We're unpleasant ones. full
or bitterness n resentment toward
those who badgered him, but more oft
en- h not he found solace at the foot
of Buds Rock. Nc one disturbed him
in this lonely nook. 1t was quite as if
1t We're q domain of his own.
"A little to the left OF the rock, a
deep, thin ravine slashed through the
rocks and descended by %tortuous wrig-
giles to the sea itself. He had gone
like going into a tomb. At high tide it
would have been a tomb for anyone
who ventured.
On this particular afternoon, Eric
was strangely oppressed by the dreary
waste of rock and water before him.
He held faithfully to the work in hand.
but there We're moments When he found
himself contemplating the unattractive
vista with something like dread in his
heart. Never before had he felt this
way in looking at the familiar, though
unlovely tract. Somehow, he was con-
sclous of a strange dread in being alone
there. More than once he had wished
that Mary We're there to keep him COM
| pany. Mary. or-blissful alternative
another whom he knew.
He had the sensation, now and again,
that the sea was making ready to leap
over the lofty wall. to rush at him
while he sat there helpless with his
back against the face of Buds Rock.
Then there was the grewsome feeling
that up through the moaning ravine, a
Shiny monster from the deep was
crawling slowly but surely. bent on
c%runching him in its mighty jaws.
More than once, hearing a rustling
sound near by. he had cast a quick
glance in the direction of the ominous
slit in the ~earth-never ominous till
now, however.
He ooked at his watch at 5 o'clock.
With a start of relief. he realized it
was time to go home. Mary would
have returned from her drive with
Joan. She would have much to tell
him. He gathered up his notes and
books, and rose to stretch himself.
As he came to his feet, he saw Chef
wynd Blagfen standing on the rickety
bridge that spanned the ravine. SO
ISAAhS VI bCipW Duu . ISOCh. Ills
back was toward Eric, and he appeared
to he Watching the road ii the direction
of Todville. His tall, herculean frame
leaned against the rail of the bridge,
and his arms We're folded across his
chest.
In considerable wonder and no little
dismay. Eric watched him in silence,
not with the intent of spying upon him,
blu because he could not make up his
mind to venture forth and accost him
In this lonely spot. The presentiment
of evil was still uppermost In his, mind.
This. then, was the physical proof Of
impending danger: for something told
him that Chetwynd p%ersonified the
ominous thing that the ravine was to
produce. after all.
How long had his cousin been stand
ing on the bridge? Where had he
come from, nj for whom was he in
waiting? Adam Carl! He was to meet
Adam there. having failed him the day
before. That was it. But, that being
the case, why had he failed to see Eric,
as on the previous occasion? His eyes
q been sharp enough yesterday: why
We're they dull otoday??
Eric Ooled about for a way to leave
his nook without disturbing the watch
err below. Unfortunately, there was no
means OF reaching the road except by
way OF h path leading almost to the
| bridge itself. He realized that In all