Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-06-30

~ SNSas Iitk VI TX NC1SpAtOtiG OStA.
The rattle of the knocker on the front
door always brought a quick chill Of
apprehension. Then they would look
at each other, inevitably with the same
question In their eyes. always with
an immediate lowering Of the lids.
There was not an hour in their days
and their nights in which they were
free from the feeling that the front
door was abou to open to admit their
son, and that he would stink in as If no
otner refuge was open to him..
Adam Carr certainly a laid the
foundation for a sublime revenge. The
most Machiavellian mind could not
80 complete as the one which chance
had put in his way. Barring the defec-
ITO OF Eric, the Blagdens might go to
the end OF their days without a single
instant OF immunity from the plague
that hung over their heads.
So long as they lived they would be
waiting for the some coming OF Chef
wynd.
Adams unhappy accomplice appre-
ciated all this. and yet could not break
he spell that had fallen upon him. He
was not blind to the suffering of his
uncle and aunt. In his hear he pitied
them. He found it easy to convince
himself that he had not committed
murder. His conscience was clear as
to that. Long hours of miserable re-
Election had brought s%urcease to his
own troubled mind. 1t was not the
thought OF Chetwynd that brought re-
morse to him. but the sight of these
by some miracle Of nature suddenly
had grown gentle and eonsiderate to-
ward him and his sister. All the time
he knew that he was but ar instrument
In the hands of fate, and fate in this
case was Adam Carr.
Sannn{~n@4 - -,~~S>-@I A~-, l4n~ 14
could maintain this dreadful silence. In
his heart. Eric was honest. He realized
that he was living part Of a great lie
and that h 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! II Adam Carr was i'm
placable, what Of Horace Blagden?
How could he hope for mercy at the
hands of this over tortured. Inundated
man? Horace Blagden would not rest
son.. and with him that inscrutable
friend and adviser. The Law would
clamp its jaws on both of them, and
that would be an end to 1t.
Eric 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
Nor was there any doubt in his mind
that he would prove ~steadfast and true
to the compact made at that time.
The conception Of the plan to harass
Horace Blagden came after that kindly
initial impulse. It was something that
leaped into. existence the m he
had time to think Of the possibilities
q fpnpdad nv tho ovfro ordinary nrnh1
nation of circumstances. Adam was q
man to think quickly. to see ar ahead.
It was his business, his trade his train
ing. That he should take advantage of
these tragic conditions was distressing.
appalling to Eric, but what could
might, at any time, betray him was a
thought that never entered his mind.
AS the days went by, he became more
and more reconciled to the situation,
tense and trying Is 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 or
not he. but Chetwynd himself, had put
the blight on the hearts of these two.
He eve 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 gone down
in a fair fight. It had been a duel!
The time was drawing near for his
for Cambridge. His uncle
had made all Of h 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
being rather skillfully hidden be-
meath the cloak of kindness.
And yet Eric was not quite sure OF
his uncle. There were times when he
caught the older man looking at him
with q strangely penetrating but far
brought himself up with a start. At
such times the young man was trou-
bled by the vague conviction that Mr..
Blagden was looking past him n into
the shadow beyond, as IL he was trying
to materialize the spirits that lurked
there In waiting. It was on these oc-
that the young man quailed
within himself. for 1t 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 on the second and
days, for weeks to come. It was some-
what Of q shock to him that Mr.. and
Mrs. Blagden were unwilling to share
their troubles with him. In fact. the
former 30 positively declared that his
sons name was not to be mentioned IN
the house he had dishoroned that the
minister wa for some time at q loss
how to proceed.
II he Wa not to speak Of Chetwynd.
IN the name OF heaven what wa he to
talk about? He had como 60 discuss
very d~lsconcerting not to be able to do