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

Il
tomorrow, but you shall have 1t first Of
ALL"
Back in the little dining room the
single maid-of all work was laying the
table. With the opening and CLOSING
of the kitchen door there came subSly
into the front part Of the house the
| fragrant aroma OF boiling coffee.
"A confession?" demanded Payson
all at sea over the riotous turn his
| emotions had taken. What can you
have to confessT
The door OF the hall opened sud
denly. Mary stood before them, look
Ing from one to the other with dark
| questioning eyes. She had heard the
last few words OF Eric's speech from
behind the partly opened door, as she
| paused there for a final touch to her
hair A dainty, exquisite housegown
| OF pink enveloped her slender figure.
"He has no confession to make" she
protested shrilly. go away, Jack
please go away. I must talk with him
alone" .....
Both men started forward, actuated
1 by totally different impulses.
TN go, Mary, IL you ask Ii Of" be-
| gan one, with an eloquent tenderness
| In his voice. He felt rather than un-
derstood the gravity Of the situation.
Wait" demonstrated the other; 1t ,.s
| only fair to Jack, Mary. I've asked him
| to stay. But 1t must be settled before
| hand, whether he is with me or against
me. Please go back to your room, dear
until I've" ...
"No," she said firmly, advancing into
the room. Jack. dear, II you love me
| COL"
Payson looked from one to the other,
IF he really loves you, he'll stay and
hear what have to say. That will be
the test" said Eric.
"win you go, JackH" she pleaded,
coming up to him and putting her
| hands on his arms.
Certainly" he said. -
Eric, in dumb wonder. watched him
| slip into the storm coat he had dis
| carded tho moment before. He offered
no further resistance to his departure,
| but seemed literally to shrink into the
background, although, In plain truth,
he did not move an inch from tho spot
| on which he stood.
Mary walked to the door with her
| lover. There he turned and put his
| strong hands on her shoulders. He
| made no vulgar display Of his love; and
| II was q great, masterful love. his
eyes alone caressed her. ......s.
"I'u come tomorrow, Mary. What
ever Il Is that distresses you-and Eric,
too--thresh 1t all out tonight. It's bet
| ter that you should. Then, dear heart,
when come tomorrow I shall be able
| to help you. Ask anything or me.
am your slave. Good night. Good
| night, Eric" ...-..
He passed out into the night, gently
closing the door behind him. For o
moment she stood where he left her
| stared dumbly at the closed door. The
sound Of his footsteps crossing the
porch came TO her, then the brisk
| tread on the gravel walk.
She put her arms against the door
and laid her head upon them, burying
| her face For long time she held this
rather tragic position. There was nc
sound In the room. Eric was watching
| her inertly. The maid Of all work
dropped q knife on the dining room
floor. They did not hear 1t strike.
At last she raised her face, looking
| straight aoove her, as II to heaven
| After a moment. she turned to heI
brother.
"You must change your clothes
Erie. Dinner will be ready in a few
minutes" she said YEARLY.
you've just got to be happy" he
cried from the very depths of his tor
tured soul my poor, brave little
Mary" L..
She smiled wanly; Tear old Errie!'
Hours afterward, they sat before the
CHEEKY fireplace, silent, reflective, de-
pressed. 1t had been a sorry meal, that
| dinner of theirs. The garrulous New
| England servant, old for her years
which were surprisingly few as things
| 60 in old New England-gave up all eff
forts to draw the master and mistress
into conversation. Never before, in all
| her time as help" had she failed 30
| utterly to inspire commissioners
It certainly was unsetting. Her name
was Lizzie-a New England Lizzie, at
that. An Elizabeth by any other name
| would have smelled q rat.
No word had passed between brother
and sister for tho matter OF an hour
or more. Her hand lay clasped in his
on the arm of the chair he occupied.
| Their thoughts were their own. She
had kissed him when he announced his
] decision to put no obstacle in the way
| Of John Payson's courtship.
Suddenly there came a rapping at
| the door, gentle, measured tapping
| that rose distinct above the boisterons
bedlam Of the winds. ..
A sort Of terror took hold OF them
| The hand clasp frightened, their eyes
grew wide with wonder and alarm.
They waited, staring into each others
| eyes, motionless In the chairs, their
hearts humping loudly; waited for the
ghostiy sound to be repeated. Eric's
i ears, strangely enough, were strained
to catch the sound of well remem-
bered laugh. 81. r.
Again the tapping, still gentle but q
| little more imperative. They turned
| their faces toward the door. Their eyes
were glued to the prim white knob. II
| turned. and the door was slowly pushed
ajar.
A tall figure stood on the threshold,
outlined against the blackness beyond.
A gaunt, thin figure that waited there
for word OF welcome from within.
The picture held for q minute. Then
Eric sprang to his feet with a cry, more
Of relief than surprise.
Uncle Horacel"
Involuntarily Mary glanced at the
clock on the mantelpiece. The thought
uppermost in her mind was revealed
in that significant act. What was Hor-
ace Blagden doing abroad at this time
of night2 At $3.50, and such a night as
this! She started forward impulsively.
what has happened, Uncle Horace7'
she cried. These were the first words
she had spoken to him In many weeks.
May come in?" asked Horace,
| rather humbly-for him. He looked
thinner, more ascetic than ever before,
| In the long black raincoat and the
white kerchief that protected his throat
from the shrill winds. His tall hat
| seemed to set lower on his head; his
thin shoulders were higher; his eyes
appeared to have shrunken farther
n. Az.A- "A.