Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-09-16

still belonged to the blithe, untram-
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.
ana patted his arm. "You are my son
now. I want a son. / need a son. Your
uncle needs you"
= do, indeed" spoke UP Mr.. Blag-
den, u~nsteadily. Now, 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 I came in"
said Mrs. Blagden irrelevantly, ven
as she laid her hand Oh her husbands
arm. 1T made 1t 80 easy for me. You
VIII forgive me If l say good night now.
Good night, Eric. You will find your
rooms just as you left them. Martha
mas put out your ~things-some that you
forgot to axe away with you. I've
kept them in my bureau since-Yes,
yes. Horace, l am coming. Good night,
Mary. / 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
n woman.
Will you be good enough to wait
here for a little while? I am coming
down to close up the house." There was
something significant In the way he
put It. They were wet and uncom-
Portable, yet they would not have
thought Of going upstairs before their
uncle laid bare the conditions which
a sent him out into the night SO
bravely.
The change in Horace's nature was
most strikingly illustrated by the next
remark that fell from his lips.
ON, dear me, l almost forgot that
you are wet and old Come upstairs
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 a part Of
Inelr appare they were amazed to find
Horace Blagden on his knees before
the fireplace, clumsily starting a 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 a most distressing one. 1t
was so real that she cam get it out
of her mind that we are to hear bad
news Of Chetwynd. You see, l mention
his name once more. l do SO because
IL am confident that he is not in the
land of the living, Adam Carr to the
contrary. Not a day passes that 1 do
not expect to hear through that excel
to his death in some far off land and
that the chase has ended"
But Aunt Rena's dream, please"
said Mary, with a quick glance at
E,ric's twitching face.
Horace moistened his dry lips with
4 ffNv ,erryo - Cy1 - 49, -.
this afternoon, as usual. A vision came
to her. 1t was more than a dream.
In this vision there appeared a series
of asst cliffs n 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 am 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 writing
fingers r%edoubled 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
sat there. looking YEARLY about, al
most Mt the gates Of heaven, another
figure appeared on the cliff no far
away. 1t was Chetwynd. He APP
preached to h very edge. and stood
looking out over space, his hands on
q fimsy 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 o long. deep breath and relaxed
his grip on the arm Of the chair.
Then she tried to call out to him,
put no sound above o. whisper could
she force from her lips. Another fig-
ure came creeping up from behind. the
figure OF 9 man who's face she could
n see. This nan stole upon Chef
wynd n struck him q violent blow.
sending him through the rail and over
the"
Eric leaped to his feet. a cry Of hor-,
amazement OF his uncle, he rushed
from the room.
Mr.. Blagden turned to Mary in great
distress.
Dear me" he said; dear me! what
have ! said? where are you going.
no Eric" she cried in great agita-
ton. A moment later, Horace BIak-
den sat alone in his library, staring
at the door, vastly ~perplexed, and with
e great apprehension growing up In
He heard the rush Of swift footsteps
In the hall upstairs. the slamming OF
h merry craSAie of the Goals.
syHs5NH5& rAe /. .N5t. .- LEEaAs