The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-09-16

SIM pSlOnBeu 10 the DHInet unIIdIu-
melled Rena Van Dykeman OF another
day, and that now said goodby forever
to Its Corinth environment.
And you, too, Eric" she went on,
more calmly. She eyed him fondly,
and patted his arm. "You are my son
now. want son. need a son. Your
uncle needs you" ... ."..
den, unsteadily. Nov, my dear. don't
you think you'd better retire? You are
very tired. 1t has been a hard day for
you" ...
1T was very thoughtful of you, Mary,
to take off your hat before came in, !"
said Mrs. Blagden irrelevantly, even
as she laid her hand on her husbands
will forgive me If l say good night now.
Good night, Eric. You will find your
rooms just as you left them. Martha
has put out your things-some that you
forgot to take away with you. I've
kept them In my bureau since-Yes,
yes, Horace, am coming. Good night,
Mary. 1 am so glad you have come
back to us, Martha will call you as
usual in the morning"
In the doorway, Horace turned to
speak to the deeply moved young man
and woman. e..'
"Wil you be good enough to wait
here for a little while2 I am coming
down to close up the house" There was
something significant In the way he
Portable, yet they would not have
thought Of going upstairs before their
uncle laid bare the conditions which
had sent him out into the night so
bravely. ,.... a ...- .
The change in Horace's nature was
most strikingly illustrated by the next
remark that fell from his lips.
III n that
you are wet and cold. Come upstairs
to your rooms. Martha will get out
dry stockings and slippers for you.
And she shall make mustard baths for
your feet before you go to bed. And
hot lemonades"
When the Midthornes came down
stairs later on, after changing part OF
their apparel, they were amazed to find
Horace Blagden on his knees before
the fireplace, clumsily starting fire
In the, Crate. His lack Of experience
was evident, his embarrassment undis-
guised. Eric went to his assistance.
Presently they were seated before
the swapping Goals.
Your aunt's dream" said Mr.. Blag-
den, was q most distressing one. 1t
was so real that she can't get II out
Of her mind that we are to hear bad
news of Chetwynd. You see,gI mention
his name once more. I do so because
l am confident that he Is not in the
land OF the living, Adam Carr to the
contrary. Not day passes that 1 do
not expect to hear through that excel
lent bloodhound that my son has come
to his death in some far off land and
that the chase has ended"
But Aunt Rena's dream, please"
said Mary, with q quick glance at
Eric's twitching face.
Horace moistened his dry lips with
his tongue. She was taking her nap
this afternoon, as usual. A vision came
to her 1t was more than a dream.
In this vision there appeared a series
Of vast cliffs and precipices, reaching
so high in the sky that all the world
seemed to lie below them. Far be-
low, at the base Of these dreadful cliffs,
was the sea-miles and miles below,
she declares The breakers came rush
ing up in the shape of gigantic hands
and arms, all of them reaching upward
in the effort to Chamber to the top Of
the sheer walls OF stone that touched
the sky.
she came out upon the Hottest Of
all these cliffs and sat down to rest,
with her tired feet hanging over the
ledge. The great arms and writhing
fingers redoubled their efforts. They
climber higher and higher. but they
could not reach her feet. A huge,
black-lipped mouth opened and closed,
showing its teeth, In the sea below
"a vast nav that craved her as with
an appetite that knew no pity. AS she
sat there, looking YEARLY about, al
most at the gates OF heaven, another
figure appeared on the cliff not far
away. II was Chetwynd. He ap-
preached to the very edge, and stood
looking out over space. his hands on
a 'fiimsy railing she had not noticed
before. She cried out to him and
would have risen to go to him but for
that strange paralysis that one ex-
periences In dreams" -. -. ....
He paused to clear his throat. Eric
drew a long, deep breath and relaxed
his grip on the arm OF the chair.
Then she tried to call out to him,
but no sound above a whisper could
she force from her lips. Another fig
ure came creeping up from behind, the
figure Of a man whose face she could
not see. This man stole upon Chef
wynd and struck him a violent blow,
sending him through the rail and over
the"
Eric leaped to his feet, a cry of hor-
ror on his lips. Then, to the utter
amazernent Of his uncle, he rushed
from the room.
Mr.. Blagden turned to Mary in great
distress 'fE 3.E.a
Dear me-" he said; dear me! What
have l said? where are you going,
MaryW }t sl.. 81. 4e..LGt.. =
'aTo Eric" she cried In great agita-
ton. A moment later, Horace Blak-
den sat alone In his library, staring
at the door, vastly perplexed, and with
a great apprehension growing up in
his heart.
B He heard the rush of swift footsteps
In the hall upstairs, the slamming Of
a door, and then no other sound save
the merry crasnIe of the Goals.
Two days went slowly by. They
brought forth an early apology from
Eric for his rude behavior In the IL
brary, but no explanation. He had
decided to wait for the loot word from
Adam Carr. Not that he lacked the
courage or the will to deliver his secret,
but that newly made conditions rails ID
obstacles that could not be surmount-
ed. First OF all, the pathetic devo-
ton Of HIS uncle and aunt. They called
him their son, Then, the innate gem
tleness Of his own nature, which shranlS
from the desire to rob them OF their
new estate--a strange wealth OF con-
tentment and resignation, To tell them
now would be to destroy the only Joy
left In life for them. Again the GU
rious sense OF loyalty to Adam Carr.
He lost no time in looking up John
Payson, to whom an explanation was