The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-23

he told her who he was, or rather who
he was not: for he must tell her and
| that soon. 1t would not 10 to go on in
her company-nor to Chicago! And
yet, how vas he possibly to leave her
in this condition?
But no revelations were to be given
hat night.
The physician administered another
draught, and ordered h porter to
make up the berth Immediately. hen
with shilful hands and strong arms he
laid the young girl. in upon the pillows
n made her comfortable, Gordon
meanwhile standing awkwardly by
with ayerted eyes and troubled mien.
He would have liked to help, but he
did not know how.
Shed better not be disturbed any
more than is necessary tonight" said
the doctor, as he pulled the pretty
cloth travelling gown smoothly down
about h girls ankles and patted 1t
| with professional hands. Don't let her
yield TO any nonsense about putting up
her hair, or taking off that frock for
fear she'll rumple'i 1t. She needs to lie
perfectly quiet. It's a case Of utter ex-
haustion, and l should say q. long
strain Of some kind-anxiety, worry
perhaps" He looked keenly at the
sheepish bridegroom. Has she had any
trouble?" .-t
/ SOTuUH IllLcu HOfSSt eyes.
I'm afraid So" he answered con-
tritely. as IL 1t must have been his
fault some way.
well. don't let her have any more"
said the elder man briskly. "She's a
very fragile bit Of womanhood, young
man, and you'll have to handle her
carefully or she'll blow away. Make
her happy. young man! People can't
have too much happiness In this world.
If'a fha hast thing altar oil IN kaan
them well. Don't be afraid to give her
plenty"
Thank you!" said Gordon. fervently,
wishing 1t were in his power to do
what the physician ordered.
h kindly physician, the assiduous
porter. and the b%rusque, but good
hearted conductor went away at last,
charge, who to all appearances was
sleeping quietly. The light was turned
low and the curtains Of the berth were
a little apart. He could see the dim
outline OF drapery about her, and one
shadowy hand lying limp at the edge Of
the couch, In weary relaxation.
Above her, in the upper berth, which
he had old the porter not to make up,
lay the great purple black plumed hat.
and a sheaf of lilies of he valley from
her bouquet. 1t seemed all SO strange
for him to be there in their sacred
| presence. ....
He locked the door, so that no one
should disturb the sleeper, and went
slowly into the little private dressing
room. For a full minute after he
reached it, he stood looking into the
mirror before him, looking at his own
weary, soiled face, and wondering IL he,
Cyril Gordon, heretofore honored and
self respecting. had really done in the
last IL hours all the things which he
was crediting himself with having
done! And the question was, how had
1t happened? Had he taken leave of
his senses, or had circumstances been
too much for him? Had he lost the
power of judging between right and
wrong? Could he have helped any of
the things that had come Upon him ?
How could he have helped them? What
ought he to have done? What ought he
TO do now? Was he a criminal beyond
redemption? Had he spoiled the life
Of the sweet woman out there in her
berth, or could he somehow make
amends for what he had done? And
was he as badly to blame for 1t all as
he felt himself to be?
After q minute he rallied, to realize
that his face was dirty. We washed
the marks Of the adhesive plaster away,
and then. not satisfied with the result,
he brought his shaving things from his
suit case and shaved. Somehow, he
felt more like himself after his toilet
was completed, and he slipped back
into the darkened drawing room and
stretched himself YEARLY on the couch.
which, according to his directions, was
not made up. but merely furnished
with pillows and a blanket. The night
settled n the noisy quiet Of an ex-
press train, and each revolution Of the
wheels, as they whirrled their way Chi
cagoward, resolved itself into the old
refrain, Don't let anything hinder you!
Don't let anything hinder you'll"
He certainly was not taking the most
direct route from New York to Wash
ington. though 1t might eventually
prove, that the longest a round was
the shortest way home, on account Of
its comparative safety.
AS he settled to the quiet Of his
couch, a number of things came more
clearly to his vision. One was that
they had safely passed the outskirts of
New York without interference of any
kind, and must be by this time speed
ing toward Albany. unless they were
on a road that took them more directly
west. He had no thought to look at
the tickets for knowledge of his bear
ings, and the light was o dim for
him to make u any monograms or
letterings on inlaid wood panels or
transoms, even If he had known enough
AWFUL 4NSW IOih iOdu5 " GAIN III
formation from them. There was one
thing certain: even If he had been mis-
taken about his supposed pursuers, by
morning there would surely be some
one searching for hin. The duped
Holman combination would stop al
nothing when they discovered the theft
Of the paper, and he could not hope
that so sharp eyed a man as Mr.. Hoi-
I man had seemed to be would be long
in discovering the absence of his pri-
vate mark on the paper. Undoubtedly
he knew 1t already. AS for the fran
tic bridegroom, Gordon dreaded the
thought Of meeting him. 1t must be
put off at any hazards until the mes
sage was safe with his chief, then, II
he had to answer with his life for car
rying off another mans bride, he could
at least feel that he left no duty tc
his government undone. 1t was plain
that his present situation was q dan.
gerous one from two points Of view, fol
the bridegroom would have no diff.
Guilty in finding out what train he ant
[ the lady had taken: and he was salts.
, fled that an emissary Of Holman hat
T more than a suspicion of his Identity
I The obvious thing to do was to get Of
= . q B Hr tragn % thz Rtnak -.