Charlevoix county herald., 1920-08-13

mas Deen temporarily cut Oh lioh S'-
erything related to his life here. The
last report received by me was that
he had been sent abroad In the care
of one of the staff. Since then we
have heard nothing"
"There is the saying, No news is
good news,'" remarked Clinton.
"If only we could believe that!'
sighed Mrs. Kirkland. "Do you won
der that / was delighted when / saw
you there at the depot, looking so
strong and wellf
"Mistaking me for this unfortunate
Mr.. Lowrie," sympathetically replied
Clinton.
The physician had drawn out his
watch. al must return to the SANTA
rum. If you can keep Mr.. Clinton
entertained I shall be back soon
seven-thirty or eight"
He was up and away with his usual
briskness.
A few minutes later they left the
table and went in to what Mrs. Kirk
land aptly termed the living room.
With matter-of-course bearing Ellen
at once seated herself at the piano
and began to search In her music cab
met. Mrs. Kirkland excused herself
to Clinton and went out side door
way. Owing to the twisted corner of
a rug the door did not close fast. A
draft swung 1t ajar as Clinton drew
back farther from the girl and seated
himself on the chair at the far side of
the doorway.
He leaned back at ease and quietly
took In the tasteful unpretentiousness
of his surroundings. Ellen continued
her search through the thick piles of
music In the cabinet. She had made
three or four selections and was look
ing for others when the muffied, bro
ken murmur of q wOman's voice came
to Clinton through the narrow opening
of the door. He was not In position
to see through the crack, but there
could be no doubt that Mrs. Kirkland
was at telephone some distance
away, probably at the end of narrow
passage.
Only disjointed fragments of her
talk were audible:
"Amy alone? How
shall tell you! i. . this afternoon
dined No, no! :.
looks splendid, but not VIII.
Not the slightest remembrance {.
must not despair Yes, I'm GER
tain, If anyone can cure him E.
be prepared believes himself
Clinton"
AS he realized that he was listening
to talk that had reference to himself,
the young man thrust out his hand to
close the door. The sound attracted
the attention of Ellen. She looked
about at the guest, the corners Of her
perfect mouth dropping.
She bent over the keyboard and be-
gan to play something soft and low
that ran into eerie minor notes. He
stood at the corner Of the piano gaZ-
Ing down at her with look Of frank
enjoyment. She was undoubtedly
beautiful and she played well.
When she looked up her eyes were
suffused with tears, but there was ca
ger expectancy in her glance. In his
eyes was only the politely reserved ad-
miration of stranger. Her lips be-
gan to quiver. A tear overflowed and
ran down her white cheek. She
bowed forward with her face In her
hands, sobbing in an uncomfortable
outburst of grief,
He was overcome with consterna.
Ktt.1yl vhnf onr
have done? Believe me, would not
for anything"
Visits n-not what you've done y
she sobbed. 'It's what y-you've not
done!"
"What I've not done?" he asked. "If
only you'll tell mel"
"You don't even remember tour
favorltep she cried.
you mean-surely you cannot ex-
pect me to remember something
never It's not possible you still be-
lieve that am notemyself."
"But it's-it's you who deny 1t; you
who" She looked up at him, her
tear-streaming eyes full of pitiful en-
treaty. "Oh, Will won't you please
try to remember who you are?"
Miss Kirkland, pray be calm. / as
sure you that am Richard Clinton.
! can easily prove that l."
Look !" she interrupted, holding up
her slender left hand, on which spar
kled the diamond of a single ring.
"Try to think! You must remember ;
you cannot have forgotten about"
| A rosy blush swept down over her pale
face-"about when you put 1t there,
| dearl"
About her slender neck was fine
gold chain, from which an ovql locket
hung pendant on her heaving bosom.
She caught up the locket and touched
the spring. The jeweled front of the
locket opened. Within was minia-
| ture painting.
"Who is this-tell me, who is this7'
she asked.
To see the miniature II was neces-
sary that he should bend down close
to the blushing girl. His own face
flushed with embarrassment, but he
seated himself on the end of the bench
and leaned over with his souorp INV