University of Oregon monthly., November 01, 1908, Image 27

U niversity
of
O regon M o n thly
29
“Ronald, I am so afraid that mother will be lost some time and
never found. -I do wish that I could rid myself of such a terrible
foreboding.”
“Don’t worry. Surely someone will find her and bring - her
home.”
Yes,, he ought to doispmething. He would ride to the- Minor’s,
place and have a conveyance sent.
■As Montgomery rode away, the old- lady looked after him with
but mild interest. She had reason to be pomfortable, for the cool
shade in which she was sitting was preferable to the hot and dusty
road. Nearby- was a creek, whose waters babbled merrily over the
stones, though not far away was a deep pool. Tp Montgomery, as
his horse’s hoof beats-resounded on a bridge crossing the creek, this
..pool,- so inviting,!© the small .hpy/seemed-dismal and repulsive. He
shuddered at a possibility of—.' Well,, there were other things more
.pleasant to think about. A glance back at the,;ol.d woman still sit­
ting ©n the *log reassured him. -Probably she was glad te-be left
alone.
On arriving at the Minor’s, farm, Montgomery found no one at
home but Tommy,'the-youngest son.
“Ma and Pa has gone to-hunt old lady Smith.”
“If they come back without finding her, tell them that I saw her
near the bridge over Willard’s Creek.”
“Are you going back where she is?”;-.;
“Nq/’ was the hesitating reply, accompanied by a shake of the
head, -which lasted longer than the pronounciation of the word.
Then more abruptly, W here’s nothing I can do- for her. Somebody
will find her soon, anyway.”
Why did he not'return to her? He thought of- Clementine’s
intense anxiety and almost concluded to turn his horse’s head in
the direction whence he had just come, but it wouldn’t do to change
his decision after announcing it. .fie might meet somebody whom
he would tell where Mrs. Smith might be found. Then, too,' John
Ball’s opinion might be right.
But Montgomery met no one. With a vague sense of conferring
a benefit he entered Clementine’s house. Should he tell her, he asked
himself., - What would she-think of his c o n d u c t^ He found the
y©ung lady all but overcome with anxiety. She expected his Sym­
pathy, and apparently received it.