The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-07-29

ACAN III AOOAus huAEylh8 ~ uROh Nnp
drenched lawn, where the leaves Of the
preceding autumn still lay dank and
brown beneath stark and leafless trees
TO which the hfsath OF spring had not
yet come. III stoeped al the lower
gate to look back at n grey house he
had left
How sr all and insignificant II was,
and how desolate! The Giants Castlei
He had a sudden feeling OF pity for II.
IT represented all that was big In Cor
NTH, and yet how IL had shrunk since
he had last looked upon IL.
And IL was still called the Giants
Castle by imaginative small folk, and
was a dreadful place where ogres
livedI
II don't wonder that Mary left It."
he said, half aloud, the bleakness OK
the view wringing the confession from
his soul
He was half an hour ahead OF time at
Jabez Cars cottage. The old man,
as dry and shriyeled as a butternut
hull" greeted him with great Joy and
q new garrulousness that proclaimed
his 80 odd years in a way pitifully
plain. The old man was not long in
getting to the subject that pleased him
best to discuss-the great religious up
heaval In Corinth's First Congregation
az church: He had views on the sub
1ect, and he vented them with many a
joyous cackle. Jabez had not been in
SIDE the doors Of a church In so years,
ana he had no settled ideas as TO reli-
glon aside from a vague recognition OF
n Holy Trinity, yet to have heard him
on this wet March morning as he a
close upon the little stove in his cot
a you might have thought hat the
burden Of all Christianity rested upon
his shoulders.
Eric sat by the tiny window, watch
ing he lane. At last he started up and
his eyes narrowed. Adam Carr, had he
been present, would have noted the
sudden %clenching Of his hands and the
squaring OF the Jaw.
John Payson was coming through the
gate, a strong we'll put up figure Of q
man, trinity dressed and brisk.
Ignoring Jabez. who was in the midst
OF an eloquent appeal to God to witness
his absolute lack OF prejudice In the
Blagden-Presbrey controversy, Mid
thorne flung open IT, door and strobe
out Into the open. He wanted to meet
his man where 1t was wide and free.
Payson came on his eyes expressing
recognition, but not h faintest sign OF
confidence.
Eric stopped short and was staring
hard at the face OF the newcomer, fas-
cinated by what he saw there. For
weeks he had been trying to recall
something he had overlooked in John
OSs 4No" lit III lie
had always missed recognizing forced
itself upon him with such q positive
clearness that he was shocked beyond
expression.
The clean cut. aggressive face of the
young man was singularly like that Of
Adam Carr, with the distinction that II
was not so coarsely moulded, and far
from sinister. The grey eyes were set
far back in the head and the cheek
bones were high and broad as in the
case OF Adam Carr. The lower part Of
the face was not so broad nor so reso-
lutte, but still there was a singular re-
semblance to the jaw and the chin Of
the detective. Payeon's countenance
was frank and open, full of power and
virtlity. while Adams was heavy, ex-
presstonless, almost sphinxlike in its
~immobility. The resemblance, startling
as 1t was, ended with the face. The
younger man was tall, supple, graceful;
Adam was stocky. Samsonian.
Eric had not seen the ex-teller in five
or six years. but he was able, In this
instant, to call up vague, haunting i'm
pressions that had always puzzled him
when he met him face to face. He had
never known him well. Payson was
older than he by half a dozen years.
Observing the peculiar look in Mid
thorne's eyes, Payson stopped when
narrowed slightly.
Am I an object OF curiosity to YOU.
Mr.. Midthorne?" he asked quietly. Eric
started. The tone, the absence of in
Election, the very manner of putting the
question was so familiar to him that
he experienced the actual sensation Of
awe
Yes" he replied levelly; IAN object
Of great curiosity"
Perhaps, animosity?"
Yes, distinctly So"
sincerely sorry for that, Eric.
I hope to overcome that feeling NAV
! ask: why this aversion? ?"
Eric surveyed him coldly. IT don't
believe 1t is necessary for me to answer
that question"
Permit me to disagree with you. II
harsh opinion Of me. / desire to know
what 1t Is and where I stand before
taking up h question that means so
much to both Of u.s."
w can settle that, Mr.. Payson.
without exchanging condolences" said
Eric. white to the lips. you have act
ed, like an Internal scoundrel In entic-
ing my"
Pardon me-" interrupted the other.
II did not come to insult you nor to
be insulted by you. Scoundrel Is a
hard word. 1 will not ask you to re-
call 1t now, but I'll expect you to do
Ii some day. You"
Has Adam Carr told you what I in
tend to do to you II you do not keep
away from my sister" demanded Eric
hotly, ignoring the aunt.