The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-11-23

for the trouble he saw: and for the
trouble he must yet give to her when
he old her who he was, or rather who
he was not; for he must tell her n
that soon. 1t would not do to go on in
her company-nor to Chicago! And
yet. how was he possibly to leave her
in this condition?
But no revelations We're to be given
that night.
The physician administered another
draught, n ordered the porter to
make up the berth Immediately. Then
with sl1ilful hands and strong arms he
laid the young girl in upon the pillows
and made her comfortable, Gordon
meanwhile standing awkwardly by
with averted eyes II 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 the girls ankles and patted it
with professional hands. Don't let her
yield to any nonsense about putting up
her hair. or taking off hat frock for
fear she'll rumple it. She needs to lie
perfectly quiet. It's a case of utter eX-
haustion, and l should say a long
strain of some kind-anxiety, worry
perhaps" He looked keenly at the
sheepish bridegroom. Has she had any
%trouble?"
Gordon lifted honest eyes.
I'm afraid So" he answered con-
tritely, as if it must have been his
fault some way.
We'll. 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 sheI blow away. Make
her happy, young man! People can't
have too much happiness in this world
It's the best thing, after all, to keep
them well. Don't be afraid to give her
plenty"
"Thank you!" said Gordon. fervently,
Wishing 1t were in his power to d.
what the physician ordered.
The kindly physician, the assiduous
porter, and the brusque, but good
hearted conductor went away at last,
and Gordon was left with his precious
sleeping quietly. The light was turned
low and the curtains of the berth We're
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 told the porter not to make up,
lay the great purple black plumed hat,
n a sheaf of lilies of the 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 h 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. II wondering if he,
Cyril Gordon, heretofore honored and
self respecting, a 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
too much for him? Had he lost the
power of judging between right and
wrong? Could he nave helped any of
the things that had come upon him?
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
for what he had done? And
was he as badly to blame for 1t all as
he felt himself to be?
After a minute he rallied, to realize
that his face was dirty. We washed
and then. not satisfied with the result,
he brought his shaving things from his
suit case and shaved. Somehow, he
felt more himself after his toilet
was completed. and he slipped back
into the darkened drawing room and
stretched himself wearily on the couch.
which, according to his directions, was
not made up, but merely furnished
with pillows and a blanket. The night
settled into h noisy quiet of an ex-
press train, and each revolution Of the
wheels, as they whirrled their way Chi
resolved itself into the old
refrain, Don't let anything hinder you!
Don't let anything hinder you!n
He certainly was not taking the most
direct route from New York to Wash
ington, though it might eventually
prove that the longest way 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
to his vision. One was that
had safely passed The outskirts of
New York without interference OF any
kind, and must be by this time speed
TOWARD Albany, unless they were
on q road that took them more directly
west. He had not thought to look at
the tickets for knowledge Of his bear
ings, and the light was too dim for
him to make out n monograms or
letterings on inlaid wood panels or
transoms. even If he had known enough
dOOuS IA AdllI OdOS " kdln# III.
from them. There was one
thing certain: ven il he had been mis-
taken about his supposed p~ursuers, by
morning there would surely be some
one searching for him. The duped
Holman combination would stop at
nothing when they discovered the theft
Of the paper, and he could not hope
90 sharp eyed q man as MI. Hol-
nan a seemed to be would be long
in discovering the absence Of his pri-
vatc 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
was safe with his chief, then, IL
he had to answer with his life for carr
cying off another mans bride, he could
least feel that he left no duty to
MIS- government undone. It was plain
hat his present situation was G dan
yerous one from two points OF view, for
he bridegroom would have no diff
guilty In finding out what train he and
he lady had taken; and he was satis-
led that an emissary OF Holman had
than a suspicion of his identity. |
The obvious thing to do was to get off
,hot frotnIa AZ fhn first opnorNvrSxvr a~A |