The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-01-07

W ~ y
without much preamble he informed
her that he knew everything. More.
over. Mr.. Booth was in possession OF
all the facts and was even then on the
point of starting for Europe to see her.
or course, his letter had failed to
reach her in time. There was quite a
tragic scene in the seclusion of that
remote little office. during which Mr..
Carroll wiped his eyes and blew his
nose more than once, after which he
took it upon himself to dispatch a mes
senger to Sara with the word that he
and Miss Castleton would present
themselves within half an hour after
his note had been delivered.
The meeting between Sara and Het-
ty was affecting. Almost i'm
mediately the former began to show
the most singular signs of improve
ment. She laughed and cried and JOY
ously announced to the protesting
nurse that she was feeling quite well
again! And, in truth, she got up from
the couch on which she reclined and
insisted OF being dressed for dinner.
In another room the amazed nurse was
frantically appealing to Mr.. Carroll to
let her send for the doctor, only TO be
c~onfounded by his urbane announce
ment that Mrs. Wrandall was as right
as a string" and, please God. she
wouldn't need the services Of doctor or
nurse again for years to come. Then
he asked the nurse If she had ever
heard of a disease called nostalgia"
She said she had heard of home
sickness"
We'll. that's what allied Mrs. Wran-
DALI" he said. Miss Castlston is the
cure"
Booth came the next morning.
. . Even as she lay passive in his
arms, Hetty denied him. Her arms
were around his neck as she miserably
whispered that she could not, would
not be his wife, Notwithstanding her
love for him and his readiness to &C.
cept her as she was. She was obdurate,
lovingly, tenderly obdurate. He would
have despaired but for Sara, to whom
he afterwards appealed.
Wait" was all that Sara had said,
but he took heart. He was beginning
to look upon her as q %sorceress. A
week ago he had felt sorry for her;
his heart had been touched by her
transparent misery. To-day he saw
her in another light altogether; as the
determined, resourceful, calculating
woman who, having failed to attain a
certain end, was now Intensely, keenly
interested in the development Of an.
other of a totally different nature. He
could not feel sorry for her today.
Hetty deliberately had placed her.
self in their hands, withdrawing from
the conference shortly before Vivian's
arrival to give herself over to gloomy
~conjectures as to the future, not only
for herself, but for the man she loved
and the woman she worshiped with
something of the fidelity of a beaten
dog.
At a later conference participated In
by Sara. Booth and Mr.. Carroll, the old
lawyer spoke plainly.
Now are you both willing to give
serious consideration to the plan | pro
pose? Take TINA to think it over. No
harm will come to Miss Castleton, |
am confident. There will be a nine
days sensation, but, after all, II is the
best thing for everybody. You pro-
pose living abroad, Booth. so what are
the odds if"
Il shan't live abroad unless Hetty
reconsiders her decision to not marry
me-" said the young man dismally.
Cad, Sara, you must convince her
that | love her better than"
Il think she knows all that, Bran
don. AS said before, wait! And now,
Mr.. Carroll, | have this to say to your
suggestion: for one am relentlesSly
opposed to the plan you advocate.
There is no occasion for this matter to
go to the public. A trial, you say,
would be a mere formality. | am not
so sure Of that. Why put poor Hetty's
head in the lions mouth at this late
stage, after l have protected her so
carefully all these months? Why, take
the risk? We know she is innocent.
Isn't 1t enough that we acQuit her in
our hearts? No, / cannot consent, and
l hold both OF you TO your promises"
There is nothing more l can say,
my dear Sara" said Carroll, shaking
his head glcomily, except to urge you
to think it over very seriously. Re-
member, II may mean a great deal to
her-and to our eager young friend
here. Years from now, like a bolt from
the sky, the truth may come out in
some way. Think Of what il would
mean then"
Sara regarded him steadily. There
are but four people who know the
TRUTH" she said slowly. 1T isn't like
ly that Hetty or Brandon will tell the
Professional honor forbids your
doing so. That leaves me as the sole
peril. Is that what you would imply,
my dear friend?"
mot at ALL" he cried hastily. mot
at all. l."
That's all tommy-rot. Sara" cried
Booth earnestly. I'VE just couldn't
anything to fear from you"
With curious Inconsistency, she
shook her head and remarked: "Of
course. you never could be quite easy
in your minds. There would always
be the feeling of arrest. Am to be
after all? have proved my