The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-06-03
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when her brother announced that he
was going over to Joan's.
Moreover, just as they were leaving
the table, Martha came in to say that
Judge Bright was waiting to speak
with Mr.. Blagden at the telephone.
Their uncle closed the library door
when he wen into that room to an
swer the call.
Eric's reception by his shy, unprac-
tiCed sweetheart swept away ali doubts
and m~isgivings, and restored him In
large measure to the state OF bliss he
had developed the day before. His re-
lief was so great that he quite forgot
his fears.
Still, when he left her after an hour
in the garden, he was to experience a
decidedly unpleasant shock on finding
Judge Bright and Adam Carr seated
together on the front porch. As he
passed them, they greeted him cheerily,
but he was conscious OF the fact that
their gaze followed him as long as he
was in sight. So vivid was this i'm
preston that in order to escape the
scrutiny he turned into a side street
when but a block from the house.
He carried a message from Joan 10
Mary. His sister was to go out for a
long drive with Joan in the Brights'
phaeton that afternoon, when the two
Of them were to talk over the Sinnox
SCAOOl pIOJCSG. 1hCEC WdS duullAOiidi
consolation for him in Joan's news that
her father had called up Mr.. Blagden
during the morning to inquire when he
could see him on a matter Of import
ance. She was sure that Ii 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 OF the following
day, Mr.. Blagden setting the time. So,
she was sure, ii would be all right.
She did not see Chetwynd when he
called the evening before.
That afternoon Eric, more or less at
peace with himself, II not with the
world, took his books 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 OK the woodland, almost
completely hidden by the thick under
brush n trees that surrounded It
Here II was always cool n shady. AT
the base OF the huge boulder there was
a tiny plaza OF vividly green grass,
smooth and soft, n sweet with the
smell Of earth. Through the trees
ahead, n had q 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 noisily against the obstinate
wall OF rock. while down upon the bleak
intervening space the sun SEM his rays
with such s~corching intensity that II
one crossed the rocks at midday IL was
at the risk Of blistering the soles OF his
shoe clad feet. "
Years before Eric had come upon this
tiny plaza, and it always had been a
favorite idling place for him. He went
there to read, or to dream, or to think.
Times there were when his thoughts
and dreams were unpleasant ones, full
of bitterness and resentment toward
those who badgered him, but more oft
en- than not ne found solace at the foot
OF Buds Rock. No disturbed him
in this lonely nook. It was quite as II
1t were a domain Of his own.
A little to the left of the rock, q
deep. thin ravine slashed through the
rocks and descended by %tortuous wrig-
giles to the sea itself. He had gone
down there at low tide, and IL was
like going into a tomb. At high tide 1t
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 were 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
u%nloVely tract. Somehow, he was con-
scious OF a strange dread in being alone
there. More than once he had wished
that Mary were 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, q
Shiny monster from the deep was
crawling slowly but surely, bent on
More than once, hearing a rustling
sound ear by, he had cast a quick
glance in the direction Of the ominous
slit in the e~arth-never ominous till
now, however.
He looked at his watch at 5. o'clock,
with a start of relief. he realized II
was time To go home. Mary would
AAA VIC = v AOA -
Joan. She would have much to tel
him. He gathered up his notes and
books, and rose to stretch himself, a
As he came to his feet, he saw Chef
wynd Blagden standing on the rickety
bridge that SPAWNED the ravine, SO
yards or more below Buds Rock. His
back was toward Eric. and he appeared
to be watching the road In the direction
OF Todville. His tall. herculean frame
leaned against the rail of the bridge
and his arms were folded across his
chest.
In considerable wonder and no little
dismay, Eric. watched him in silence
not with the intent OF spying upon him
but because he could not make up his
mind to venture forth and accost hin
In this lonely srot. 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 personified the
ominous thing that the ravfne was tt
produce, after all.
How long had his cousin been stand
ing on the bridge? Where had ht
come from, and for whom vas he IN
waiting? Adam Carr! He was to meet
Adam there, having failed him the day
before. That was II. But, that beine
the . why had he failed to see Eric
as on the previous occasion? His eyes
had been sharp enough yesterday why
were they dull today??
Eric looked about for a way to leave
Il hio uanIr x,ytkha,,k 5t,k,,rhtnr the watch.