The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-09
BY LUCIA CHAMBERLAIN
Copyright, 1910, by
Bobbs-Merrill Co.

A NOVEL A WEEK!

| (COutinued from our last issue)
Sitting on the table, between
father and daughter, Carron ex-
planned himself. He was off, he
said, for his last two days OF
hunting. He expected to be back
day after tomorrow night.
i He wondered IL Blanche would
think his departure strange, COM
ing so quickly on the heels of last
nights revelation. He gave her a
glance as he got off the table, but
her answering look said, 81
didn't need that. I'm coming any
way"
She followed him out into the
hall. No sooner was the door
shut upon them than she clasped
him around the neck. Don't go,
don't go. | am so afraid some
thing dreadful will happen to
you"
This gave him an unpleasant
start. What was she talking
about he wondered.
Last time you came back with
your head hurt" she said in a
trembling voice. I'm so afraid"
He laughed, relieved. Not a
bit of danger. I'm only going to
get a peace offering of venison,
for your mother" he said. "Tell
me, what did she say when you
told her about us, eh?"
He took her by the shoulders
and held her Off from him.
Didn't you tell herr"
She dropped guiltily. Don't be
angry. l was going to, but then
| thought about last night, - of
showing you what | did, and l
couldn't seem to think about
anything else. l thought /
would tell her to-day instead"
He found himself a little jerk
ed back in the ease Of his ar
rangements. He had expected to
find this matter settled. ''Then go
and tell her on the sps<, and ask
IL | may see her before go.
Never mind If you don't feel like
it," he added, as the girl hesitat-
ed. I'VE ought to get this thing
Strengthened out" =
ut isn't that" Blanche explain
ed, but l am afraid I can't, not
now. She isn't up, you see, at
least she isn't out Of her room.
She has a bad headache"
Cant you speak to her just
the same?'
I'm afraid l can't. Her door
rs locked, and think she is
asleep"
! Carron bit his lip. He was
afraid to press the point too hard,
lest the girl suspect something in
the wind; and yet to have to leave
everything In this doubtful mess !!
He had meant to have his relation
to Blanche we'll understood before
he went. That was in case Ferfier
should see fit to talk while he was
away. And then, suppose any
thing should happen to himself.
He knew. of course, nothing ever
did, but a man had to consider it.
What is the matter? Is some
thing wrong?" Blanche's voice was
anxious.
Nothing is wrong, but suppose
your mother had heard of this
from some one before she heard
it from you. 1t would have hurt
her." Blanche was impressed.
las soon as you can, tell her
about It," he said. And there is
something else ! want you to
promise me. You won't like It
but l want you to do it."
They had come to the end OF
the passage to the little hall OF
many doors and the single stair.
"Yes?" she stood looking up at
him questioningly, languidly. Blue
shadows were beneath her eyes.
Poor child! II showed him elo-
quently how right he was. This
business of Son of the Wind was
no business for q woman. What
he was about to do appeared mag
unanimous to him.
About what we saw last
night" he said; don't go any
more"
| She fixed him with such forlorn
and dreary amazement that he
forgot his scrupulous feeling fol-
not touching her, and took hei
face between his hands. 1T was
beautiful. but 1t is too much fol
you, 1t is too far away. You are
worn out. You look like ghost. y
But I am always like this
afterward."
$50 much the worse! Besides
the journey is too dangerous. II
is awful for you, and awful to
think of you alone in the middle
of the night"
But ! have always"
Promise mel"
"Then l shall never see him
again." She stood, an intense and
tragic little figure. The specta
Gle of her suffering made hin
ache, but the feeling in 1t he knew
was absurd.
Remember" he prompted
you are certain to lose him soon
With the first rains he will b,
: gone" He bent her head bacl
, until It rested upon his shoulder
and he looked directly down upor
, her sullen lids. why not hav,
xha ,f~hx MN oau h;y,x tnunkhar y,