The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-06-09
Nv.

They were just about to leave the
office when suddenly the door opened
and Blanche Reynolds, a trifie pale
and much too anxious for frivolous
embarrassment, stood before them.
"Is Mr.. Hoehler here?" she asked,
glancing swiftly about the Office. 1t
was notable that, though knowing no
German, she pronounced his name
with perfect mastery of the difficult
sound of the modulated vowel.
Harper shook his head and glanced
at Meade with a miserable sense of
guilt.
HE is gone," he faltered He left
about half an hour ago."
Il got such a curious note from
him." she explained. He met my
brother on the street and gave it to
him. Why did he go?"
Tt was "a point of honor" Har-
per lamely told her.
1t was splendid to see the way the
girl squared her shoulders, and how
her eyes flashed, though she grew
paler still.
He has done nothing wrong" she
declared. Il know!"
BLESS your heart, MOI" exploded
Meade. He couldn't if he tried.
Now don't you worry about Conrad,
because his friends are not going to
let him get away" and he hustled
outside with his usual spluttering
energy.
Bewildered, not able to understand
any of it, the girl went out upon the
street, scarcely rejecting that she was
going with them. Walking at the side
of Harper, with Meade forging nerv-
ously on ahead, during the next four
blocks she lost herself in the knowl-
edge of how much, how very much,
she cared!
AS they turned the corner toward
the station Meade, who was in ad-
vance, gave an exclamation of sur
prise, for there, but half block ahead
of them. and going in the same direc-
ton, was Conrad. He was walking
slowly along the shady street, his head
down, his shoulders dropped, his peck
cts bullying with his portable posses
sions. Blanche. all thought for con-
ventions swept away in this over
wrought moment, few swiftly after
him.
oh, Conrad" she called, as she
overlook him and put her hand on
his arm.
He whirled, and a passing teamster,
with jovial cast of countenance,
stopped his horses and looked back
ward with grin, for it was quite un-
usual In the streets of Holden to see
young man sob and clasp a young
lady in his arms.
ZACH, ich sterbe fuer dich!-I die for
you'll" cried the young man, stopping
even then, in his consideration of her,
to translate; but when Meade and Har-
per came up he drew her arm within
his own and turned his back upon
them and walked away. She was
going with him quite contentedly. She
did not know what these men had
done, but If Conrad held them in con-
tempt she scorned theml
wait a minutel" commanded
Meade. and caught Conrad by tho
shoulder, instantly understanding his
quandary. "Everything's all right my
boy. Harper told me all about it.
Look here" and he thrust before Con-
RAIDS eyes the check that Harper had
returned to him. "Harper's an honest
man. So are you; so am I; SOS Miss
Let's all shake hands.
Now we're all four going back to the
Office and talk it over. BY the way,
Conrad. what are you doing here? We
expected to find you four miles down
the track by this time
Conrad smiled through his tears.
Il could not go, and l could not
stay!" he exclaimed. -Four, five. six
times l have walked from that corner
to the station and back"
Tears were in BIanche's eyes, too; |
but now she, too. laughed.
And now none of us. not even your
self, will ever know whether you |
would really have gone away or come
back" she said with the faintest trace |
Of jealousy, which, however. was lost
at once in sympathy for the distress
to which he had been put. Poor boy,
you must have been in an agony Of |
perplexity. Look at this!" apd proud |