Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-10-20

quaint q place as you would see in q
days journey through old New Eng
land.
Mary. flushed and suddenly shy, rat
tied h .knocker after a rather tfmtd
fashion. The door was opened at once,
to her great surprise. She a been
watching h closed shutter in the an
cient peep hole as If con-
fidently expecting to see 1t slide back
to reveal a gruesome. questioning eye.
John Payson himself opened the door.
A certain, haggard, tired expression
left his face as II by magic. If h had
been less absorbed in her own feelings.
she would have noticed something more
h surprise in the eyes Of her lover.
Why Nary" he exclaimed. throw
ing the door wide open. VIVA has hap
pened? Has anything gone wrong with
Eric?"
Hasn't he been here? You have not
seen him?" she inquired a%nxiously.
He had not asked her to enter, but
stood before her. blocking the doorway.
Il have not seen him." he said. a
avsha h has happsnea IN r e1s me' an Gen
I be of n service to him?"
May 1 not come in, Jack?" she asked
suddenly struck by the odd look In his
eyes,. A swift %premonition of disaster
came over her. He was SO palpably i'll
at east and confused; he was keping
OdCA HUH 1OA.. why 0O
you look at me so queerly? Oh. Jack,
h~e-he-hasn't tried to" She was ter
rified. h ugly suspicion could not be
put into words.
He made haste to reassure her. II
have not seen him. My mother says
away" He hesitated for a moment and
the went on. his a CHASTITY white.
II would ask you, to come in, Mary,
but something terrible has happened
here. You would better go on to ERIC
and leave me to look after"
Not your mother, Jack?" she cried,
staring.
His eyes fell. For a moment his lips
worked painfully. then became rigid.
When he looked up again the utmost
desolation lay in his eyes.
mo. Mary. My father" he said e v
ely.
She peered intently Into his eyes. Her
brain was absolutely clear.
"You-you mean" Every vestige OF
color had fled from her face.
He did not permit his gaze to waver
nor his face to change expression. His
voice fell to a dull monotone.
MY father did not go down with the
Lanigan. He lies there on my bed,
stricken. helpless, perhaps dying. That
Is all, Mary. Why ask me to say more?"
She leaned against the trellis, trem-
bling in every limb.
1T is true. then" she whispered DULY.
HI Is In there" said he, with logged
acQuiescence.
Adam Carr"
my father"
They stood there for a long time,
looking into each others eyes, the mis-
cry deepening in their faces. He turned
away at last.
!. You'd Eo,I better 60 way now. Mary"
tell him h a he won't ave to loo me
up. 1t is all over. He was right. / am
not worthy. But good heaven, Mary,
] did not know-I did not know! 1
thought l was as good as any man liv-3
ing. and had the right to love as other
men love. But. go, for Gods sake, go!
I cannot bear to have you hear"
She advanced. her trembling hands
pressed to her breast. her eyes dark
with pain and understanding.
Let me come In" The mur1nured
family. There Is something that I
must say to you. I came here to ask
is in great trouble. Let me-"
He stood aside. making way for her
to pass. The despair in his face gave
way to a look Of genuine concern and
anxiety.
I'm trouble? What can I do for him:
Let me set about 1t at once. Perhaps
I can serve him before he learns the
full truth concerning me. After he
knows. 1t will be too late. He would
not accept my friendship. Ash me to
die for you-or for Eric, II that will
help you,,,and I will do it gladly. Yes.
She walked into the parlor. Through
her whirlinR brain the lines of that
rare old bit of rhyme: "Will you walk
into. my parlor. said the spider to the
fly" Somehow. she felt that entangle-
inert awaited her in the dim, shadowy
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