Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-01

MISS asks me to meet me-
tonight"
I'm her fathers grounds"
Yes"
Unknown to him.
Yes
II is not friendly to you?"
had little struggle with
said. sit down and let
us talk this thing over calmly. Before
! promise anything, ! should like to
Know more of the story. From the
glimpse l caught of Miss Vaughan, /
could see that she is very beautiful,
young"
She is 49, said Swain.
"Her father is wealthy. suppose. %
Very wealthy"
And her mother is dead?"
Yes"
Well" began, and hesitated. fear
! ing to wound him.
Il know what you are thinking"
Swat burst in. land | do not blame
you. You are thinking that she is a
young beautiful and wealthy girl.
while am a POVERTY stricken nonen-
tity. without any profession, and able
to earn jms5 enough to live 9971per,
to buy my clothes! You are thinking
that her father is right to separate Is.
and that she ought to be protected
from me. Isn't that it?"
Yes" l admitted, something like
that"
And l answer. Mr.. Lester, by saying
that all that is true, that I am not
worthy of her. and that nobody knows
1T better than / do. There are thous-
ands of men who could offer her far
more than l can, and who would be
eager to offer it. But when I asked
her to marry me. I though myself the
SON of a wealthy ma When I found
lease her. She replied that When she
wished her realise. she would ask for
1t; that 1T wasn't my money h was
in love with. Then i came out here
and had a talk with her father. He
was kind enough. but pointed out that
the affair could not go farther until
l had established myself. / agreed. Of
course; l agreed, too, when he sug-
gested that 1t would only be fair to her
to leave her free-not to see her or
write to her, or try to influence her in
any a / wanted to be fair to her.
Since then. l have not seen her, o
heard from her. But her fathers feel
ings have changed toward me"
I'm what way?"
Il thought ne might be interested to
know what I was doing, and two OF
three months ago, / called and asked
to see him. Instead of seeing me, he
sent word by a black faced fellow in a
white robe that neither he nor his
daughter wished to see me again."
His a c was red with the remem-
bered humiliation.
Il wrote to Miss Vaughan once. after
that" he added. but my letter was not
answered"
"Evidently she didn't get your let
ter"
why do you think so?"
III h had got 1t. she would have
Known that you were no longer at 1910
Fifth avenue. Her father, no doubt,
kept it from her."
He flushed still more deeply. and
started to say something, but I held
him silent. E
HE was justified In keeping it." I
said. "You had promised not to write
to her. And I don't see that you have
given me any reason why I should as
sist you against him."
Il haven't" Swain admitted. more
calmly, and under ordinary circum-
stances, my self respect would COM
pei me to keep away. ! am not a
fortune hunter. but I can't keep away;
I cant stand on my dignity. When
she calls for aid, must go to her, not
she needs to be protected from her
father a more than from me-
What, do you mean by that?' I de-
manded.
"Mr. Lester" he said. leaning for
ward In his chair and speaking in a
lowered voice and with great earnest
ness. her father is madI am sure OF
1t. No one but a mailman would live
and dress as he does: no but q
mailman would devote his whole time
to the study OF the supernatural; no
n but a madman would believe in
the supernatural AS he does"
But I shook my head.
I'm afraid that won't do, Swain. A
good many fairly sane people believe
In the supernatural and devote them
selves to its ~study-there ia William
James. for instance
"But William James doesn't dress in
flowing robes. and worship the sun,
and live with q Hindu mystic"
NO" ! smiled. he doesn't do that"
and ] thought again Of the mysterious
light and Of the two white clad figures.
"Yes,n said Swain, bitterly. IAN.
adept. sor whatever theyNcall Il. He's
tho fellow who Kicked me out"
Does he speak English?''
BETTER than I do. He seems q finely
educated man..
:."Ts he q lunatic, sto0?""
Swain he6itated.
II don't know" he said, finally. II
only saw him once. and / was certain
|1y tmpre9DedII wasn't one. two. three
with him. I suppose mysticism comes
more or less natural to . Hindu: but
I'm convinced that Mr.. Vaughan has
softening Of the brain.
How OLD a. !: he'"
Has he always been queer"
HI always been In
terested in telepAthy and