Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-07-01

by some miracle of nature suddenly
mad grown gentle n eonsiderate to-
ward him and his sister. All the time
ne knew that he was but an instrument
in the hands of fate, and fate in this
case was Adam Carr.
Sometimes he wondered how long he
could maintain this dreadful silence. In
ms heart, Eric was honest. He realized
that he was living part of a great lie
and that the time was bound to come
when he would burst the bonds that
held him and lay the truth before the
world. There were moments. indeed,
when he felt confession rushing up to
his lips, but always it was stayed by
the stronger sensation of fear-fear OF
the scaffold! If Adam Carr was inn
p~lacable, What of Horace Blagden!
How could he hope for mercy at the
hands of this over tortured. Inundated
man? Horace Blagden would not rest
until he had crushed the SLAYER of his
son, and with him that ~inscrutablt
friend n adviser. The law would
clamp its jaws on both of them, n
that would be an end to 1t.
Erie was not insensible to the fact
that Adam Carr, in the beginning, had
been actuated by a feeling of friend
ship. He did not question the sincerity
of the man motives on that vital day.
Nor was there n doubt in his mind
that he would prove steadfast and true
to the compact made at that time
The conception Of xthe plan to haras:
Horace Blagden came after that kindly
initial impulse. 1t was something that
leaped into existence the ome ne
had time to think of the possibilities
afforded by the extraordinary combi-
nation of circumstances Adam was a
mar to hin quickly. to see far ahead
1t was his business, his trade his train.
ing. That he should take advantage OF
these tragic conditions was distressing
even appalling to Eric, but what coult
he do in the premises. That Adam
might, at any time, betray him was :
thought that never entered his mind.
AS the days went by, he became more
and more %reconciled to the situation
tense and trying as it was. He was not
happy. The shadow was always pres
ent. And yet there was never a time
when he could not look his uncle OF
aunt in the eye and say to himself that
not he. but Chetwynd himself, had put
the blight on the hearts OF these two.
He never thought of Mary without ex-
|periencing a thrill Of relief, almost
gladness, that he had a hand, with fate,
in destroying the wretch who would
have despoiled her of all that was pure
and sweet.
After all, Chetwynd had one down
In a fair fight. 1t had been a duel!
The time was drawing near for his
departure for Cambridge. His uncle
had made all of the arrangements for
his winter. He was to be pleasantly
situated amidst such surroundings as
only a Blagden could command. If
there remained any of the Old bitter
ness in the heart of Horace Blagden, 1t
was being rather skillfully hidden be-
meath the cloak of kindness,
n yet Eric was not quite sure OF
his uncle. There were times when he
caught the older man looking at him
with a strangely penetrating but far
away gaze. from which he usually
brought himself up with a start. Al
such times the young man was trou-
bled by the agu conviction that Mr..
Blagden was looking past him and into
the shadow beyond, as If he was trying
to materialize the spirits that lnrked
there in waiting. 1t was on these oc-
casions that the young man quailed
within himself, for it seemed to him
that his uncle was actually projecting
his mind into direct communication
with the spirit of his absent son.
Needless to say, Mr.. Presbrey. not at
all discouraged by the rebuff of that
first day, called on the second, and
thereafter every day, including Sun
days, for weeks to come. 1t was some
what of a shock TO him that Mr.. and
Mrs. Blagden We're unwilling to share
their troubles with him. In fact. the
former so positively declared that his
sons name was not to be mentioned III
the house he had dishoroned that the
minister was for some time at a loss
how to proceed.
If he was not to speak of ChetWynd,
in the name of heaven what was he to
talk about2 He had come to discuss
the cruel pain they suffered. 1t was
very disconcerting not to be able to do
so. To be compelled to fall back upon
church finances in the face of such an
opportunity as this. was not what he
had bargained for, and yet that is pre-
ciselylwhat he had to 10.
Moreover, to his great amaZement,
the Blaedens plainly resented a hum
Bile desire on his part to do a little more
good in the world by offering to devote
an hour or two to Eric n Mary. who,
he supposed, We're liable to neglect in
this hour of tribulation.
II think, Presbrey,' said Horace
evenly. that We've been a trifle mawk.
ish.'
"Mawkish?" gasped Mr.. P%resbrey.
"Perhaps that isn't the word" ex.
planned the other. IT should have said
| we've preached at them until there's
really nothing left for us to say."
you mean, that our duty to them
has already been fulfilled?"
II believe they are quite capable OF
thinking for themselves"
Mr.. Presbrey stared. IT trust. Mr..
Blagden. you do not contemplate-er-
! mean YOU surely do not mean to say
| that you are now Indifferent to their
/ spiritual needs and welfare"
(CootinueG next week.