The Mission of Poubalov — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

28 AN IMPERFECT VISION. So Paul left the house, wondering whether Mrs. White felt any unhappier than himself. He turned into Pemberton Square, and went as far as the door to police headquarters, halted abruptly and turned away. He could not be the one to fasten a suspi- cion of such a character upon his missing friend. If it were true that he had eloped, that ugly fact would be es- tablished soon enough without his giving any hints to the police detectives who were assigned to hunt for Ivan, The doctor had ordered Clara Hilman to bed, and under the first prostration of the blow she had willingly obeyed; but as evening came on and her mind cleared, she felt stronger, and at supper time she arose and dressed. She did not go down to the dining-room, and Louise brought delicacies to her chamber. She wished that Ralph and Paul would return, for she felt that she could talk with them now, and she longed intensely for any word, how- ever insignificant, concerning her lover’s movements. Louise sat with her, making well-intended efforts to dis- tract her attention from the subject that was so terribly engrossing, and offering the comfort of hopeful assur- ances when it was evident that Clara could think of nothing else. The fact was that Louise disturbed Clara. Her thoughts were fixed in their own channel, and so obstinately clung there that it grew wearisome to attend to the interrup- tions that Louise was constantly making. So Clara said at last: ‘*f think, dear, if you will forgive me, I would like-to be alone a little while. I will call if I want anything.”’ ‘To be sure, Clara,’’ responded Louise, rising at once and putting her arms affectionately around her cousin; ‘Si will go to my own room, and will come the minute you necd me. Shall I get you anything to read?”’ ‘No, I cannot do anything but think, and I must think. Don’t be alarmed. Iam not going to let myself become ill.’’ | | There was a faint, sweet smile upon her ea nas sor