The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-21

at east and confused he war keping
something back from her. why do
you look at me so aueerly? Oh, Jack,
he-he-hasn't tried to- She was ter
rified. The ugly suspicion could n q be
put into words.
He made haste to reassure her. 81
have not seen him. My mother says
he was here last night. when I was
away. He hesitated for a moment and
then went on, his face CHASTITY white.
Il would ask you to come in, Mary,
but something terrible has happeneS
here. You would better go on to Eric
and leave me to look after
Not your mother, Jack 2" h 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 lev
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 n1ore?"
She leaned against the ~trellis, trem-
bling in every limb.
1t is true. then" she whispered DULY.
He is in there" said he, with logged
acquiescence.
Adam Carp"
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 better go away now, Mary"
he said gently. When you see Eric,
tell him that he won't have to look me-
up. 1t Is all over. He was right. / am
not worthy. But good heaven, Mary,
j did not Know did not know! I
thought l was as good as any man liv-
ing, and had the right to love as other
men love. But, GO, for Gods sake, go!
l 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" she murmured
family. There is something that I
o to help Erie, to be his friend. He
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.
In trouble? What can 1 do for him?
Let me set about it at once. Perhaps
/ car serve him before he learns the
full truth concerning me. After he
knows, 1t will be too late. He would
not accept my friendship. Ask me to
die for you-or for Eric, If that will
help you-and L will do it gladly. Yes,
j%oyfully."
She walked into the parlor. Through
her whirling brain ran the Lines of that
rare old bit of rhyme: will you walk
into my parlor, said the spider to the
lily. somehow. she felt that entangle-
meHt awaited her in the dim, shadowy
room-something h would never be
able to escape from. She had never
been inside the Widow Payson's home
before. Always, in her minds eye, she
had pictured it as plain, poor and stiff
ly .p~uritanical. Perhaps it had been all
this another day, but now there We're
signs of coziness, even luxury in a
small way. Her son had not ~prospered
without the thought of her back of all
his gains. There were handsome rugs
on the floor; quaint old pieces of fur
niture. attractive pictures, cheerful
a paper, rich window hangings and
portieres. A tall walnut bookcase stood
over against the wall, filled with vol
umes. The girl was dimly conscious CT
a feeling of relief. If the room hao
looked like other parlors she had seer
in Corinth. the sense of desolatior
would have been complete; she woul5
have lost heart.
He closed the door gently, even care
fully. She turned to look at him. He
was peering fixedly at the drawn cur
tains of the door that opened into the
room beyond: the attitude of one listen
Ing. The odor of a familiar and potent
drug was family distinguishable. The
girl experienced a queer feeling of dir
illness, of nausea
Where Ia your mother?" she asked
abruptly.
He drew up a chair for her, but she
remained standing.
In Herewith him" he replied
passing his hand over his brow. 1.-The
doctor is there, too. But tell me, Mary,
what is up with Eric? What is it you
want me to do?'
He made no effort to embrace her,
not even the attempt to take her hand
In his. The omission was significant.
She was staring at him, a swiftly
passing expression Of doubt and won
in her yes Hasn't Mr.. Ad-your-l
mean, hasn't Mr.. Carr told you any
thing?" she asked. She fell into his
way of speaking in hushed tones. He
shook his head, and waited for her tc
go on. Her gaze involuntarily went to
the curtafned door. HE can keep q
secret" she murmured.
II ON afraid he is beyond the tell
ing of secrets" was his grim conclu-
sion.