The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-09

real relief he saw that this had
been his greatest concern all the
time. underneath all h~indrances, and
that tlerc had not been at any mo-
ment any escape from the crowding
circumstances other than that he had
taken, step by step. IL he had been
beset by thieves and blackguards, and
thrown into prison for a time, he would
not have felt shame at the delay, for
those things he could not help. He
saw with new illumination that there
was no more shame to him from these
trivial and peculiar circumstances with
which he had been hemmed in since
his start to New York than If he had
been checked by any more tragic OBJ
stacles. His only real misgiving was
about his marriage. Somehow IL seemed
his fault, and he felt there ought to be
some way to confess his part at once
but how-without putting his message
In jeopardy-for no one would believe
unless they knew all.
But the time Of danger was at hand,
he plainly saw. The man whom he
dared not look closely at had turned
again and was walking parallel to
them. glancing now and again keenly
In their direction. He was watching
Gordon furtiyeiy; not a motion escaped
, hin.
1hCtC was a I1OIutnl y Qeldy dI the
checking counter while the attendant
searched for the suitcase. and Gordon
was convinced that the man had
stopped q few steps away merely for
the purpose &c watching him.
He dared not look around or notice
the man, but he was sure he followed
them back to the train. He felt his
presence as clearly as IL he had been
able to see through the back OF his
head.
But Gordon was cool and collected
now. 1t was as IL the experiences of
the last two hours. with their embar-
RAISING p~redicaments, had been wiped
of the calendar, and he were back at
the moment when he left the Holman
house. He knew as well as IL he had
watched them follow him that they had
discovered his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ever 1t ought to be called, and he was
being searched for; and because Of
what was at stake those men would
track him to death II they could. But
he knew also that his disguise and his
companion We're for the moment puz-
cling this sleuth hound.
This was probably not the only
watcher about the station. There were
detectives. too, perhaps. hired hastily,
and all too ready to seize q suspect.
He marveled that he could walk so
deliberately, swinging his suit case in
hh5 6ioNOu lldilup III 81 I0OIlcnIOuS u
time. He smiled and talked easily with
the pleasant fellow who walked by his
side, and answered his questions with
very little dec OF what he was saying;
making promises which his heart would
like to keep, but which he now saw no
way Of making good.
Thus they entered the train and came
to the car where h bride and her
mother waited. There were tears on the
face or the girl. and she turned to the
window to hide them. Gordon's eyes
followed her wistfully, and down
through the double glass, unnoticsd by
her absent gaze. he saw the face of the
man who had followed them. sharply
watching him.
Realizing thet his hat was a partial
disguise, he kept 1t on In spite Of the
presence Of the ladies. The color rose
In his cheeks that he had to seem so
discourteous. but, to cover his embar-
rassment. he insisted that he be al
lowed to take the elder lady to the
platform. as 1t really was almost time
for the train to start, and so he went
deliberately out to act the part OF BRIDE
groom In the face of his recognized foe.
The mother n Gordon stood for a
moment on the vestibule platform,
while Jefferson bade his sister goodbye
and tried to soothe her distress at part
ing from her mother.
IlCS - Oil Etknl, Itlle1 lHueGu he Is,
said the young fellow caressingly, lay
Ing his hand upon his sisters bowed
head. He's going to be awfully good
to you; he cares a lot for you, and he's
promised to do all sorts Of nice things.
He says he'll bring you back soon, and
he would new stand In the way of
our being with us a lot. He did, in
deed! What do you think Of that?
Isn't 1t quite different from what you
thought he would say? He doesn't seem
to think he's got to spend the rest Of
his days In Chicago either. He says
there might something turn UP that
would make it possible for him to
change all his plans. Isn't that create"
Celia tried to look up and smile
through her tears, while the mar out
side studied the situation a moment in
perplexity. and then strolled slowly
back to watch Gordon and the elder
woman.
you will be good to my little girl"
he heard the woman's voice pleading.
h"She has always been guarded, and she
will miss us all, even though she has
you" The voice went through Gordon
like a knife. To stand much more of
! this and not denounce himself for a
backyard would be impossible. Mel
Their could he keep his hat on In the
presence Of this wonderful motherhood,
q motherhood "a appealed to him all
the more that he had never known a
mother OF his own, and had always
longed for one.
He put up his hand and lifted his
hat slightly, guarding as much as pos
sible his own face from the view of the
man on the station platform, who
was still walking deliberately. con-
s~iderately, up and down, often
passing near enough to rear what they
were saving. In this reverent attitude,
Gordon said, asfthough he were utter
ing a sacred now:
II will guard her as IL she were-as IL
I were-as IL I were-you"-then he
paused q moment and added solemnly,
tenderly-"Mother!"
He wondered IL 1t were not desecra-
ton to utter such words when all the
time he was utterly unable to perform
them in the way in which the mother
meant. "Imposter!" was the word which
rang in his ears now. The clamor about
being hindered had ceased, for he was
doing his best, and not letting even a
woman's happiness stand in the way of
his duty. B.. ST. aaa Mos q.s
Yet his heart had dictated the words
ha had apnkan Uhila hic mind and