The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-12-28
TEE LAST
OF
TIE NUGENTS.
sYsrHr 1urnoR.o OF "swEErnrARrs.

e IS h1S -OH Owl s6IhEAbI5
The letter was thea reads murmur OF
sympathy FOL, the shrinking girl and her
noble lover rising from every one in the
room except Miss Cave-Fox, who tried to
slip out unperceiyed.
.sYou will be good enough to remain"
said the Coroner severely, looking at her
over his glasses. "Yon wrote that letter,
Lord Culyerton7" he asked.
81 wrote it,
40 Miss Nugent 7"
@ro Miss Nngent."
eThank you. Ithink we need not de-
tain Miss Nugent longer.
The Squire and Culverton took Dolly
back tothe study, where, for the first time
since the dreadful tragedy had happened,
her pcnt-up feelings found the relief Of
tears. The Squire left her with Culver
ton, believing that he could best comfort
her, and went back to the dining-room to
hear the end.
The wine which had been brought in for
the Earl was still on the table, and as
soon as the door had closed behind the
Squire, Culverton poured out q glassful
and carried it to Daily.
Drink this, my dearest" he said i'm
perativeiy.
II don't want it" she answered leaning
her head back YEARLY against the high
back OF her chair.
II know that; j bnt you must drink it."
he urged. "Come, Dolly, you are keeping
me standing, and / am very tired.
She started and flushed, but took the
glass from him Immediately.
"Geol childw he said ~approvingly, pour
ing ont q glass for himself.
.Culverton,' said Dolly suddenly, as
she put her glass down, 81 meant what ]
said"
"About what"
'.That l cannot marry you. 1 cannot
really. / should never be happy!' she
exclaimed cxcitedly.
"Oh, yes! You viii think differently in
n few weeks, when the horror of nll this
has worn away a little" he answered
eootllingig.
"Indecd no" she said earnestly. II
have been so proud Of my name. so proud
of my family but l never thought shame
would fall upon US. Oh. think of poor
Jasperm
81 do think of him answered Cnlverton
graycly. poor fellow! No shame lies up
on him!'
HE tried to kill you" said Dolly in a
panied tone. "He would have murdered
you if 1 had not made his hand tremble."
"He thought l was false, and he had
the old Nngent blood strong in him" re-
piled Culverton. $50 far from thinking
any shame OF him, l honor him for that
the only Part that I can regret came af-
telwards.n
Il cannot do it." she persisted, 81 can
not not bring upon you the shame Of marry,
II suicide. Oh, Jasper, Jasper, why did
you do itY She broke off with wild sobs
and tears.
"Do you think ] do not remember my
father who broke his promised word
asked Culverton gravely-smy own fa-
ther, who broke Dolly Nugents hearti
My child, who could class poor Jasper's
%momcnta,y chiealfous madness with fan
o.fense SO cruel and deliberate as TINT ?
The law would, perhaps, consider it
worse-yes, of course it does-but men
of honor, Dolly, could have but one
opinion"
1.-The Culverton's and the Nugents,"
said Dolly. with an effort, "are fated not
to maI1y--,an you not see that"
II cannot indeed"
"But ] caI," she said YEARLY. "And
listen! Wia. is that f"-as the tramp OF
many feet sounded in the hall.
'.They ar, i,slving it is all over,s an
swered Cnisel,on.
"What is their decision7" she asked
= %nervonsly. .s)h, BERTHE, l am afraid tt
hear"
.Tley can give Int one verdict" he
said ~reassuringly. .rhey would never
give the other against the Nugents."
Dollyshive,e,l. hut did not speak; and
IN instant later her father entered. She
shrank back in her large chair, with hei
lace hidden in her hands; but Culverton
looking up. saw that the Squirrels face was
almost bright; the great bitterness in Iii.
heart however betrayed itself in his tone
'We've been here at Deane Ella since
Stephens time" he said rassionately-
'.since Stephens time, and l am the last o
the Nugent's; but l have had a blow thi.
day which will soon do away with tn,
Nugent family altogether"
Doly's tears broke forth again, ant
Culyerton's face turned a shade paler.
"What is their verdict, Sluire7' HI
asked.
.Insanity. sir, and we've been here a
Deane Ella since Stephens timer"
"But, Squire, you would not surely hav,
wished any other dccisionY" demonstrated
Cnlvertan.
II don't know what 1 wish,p answered
the Squire, leaning his arms on the chin
blpken-down old man, with a faint O
madness upon him"
"Nonsense," returned Culvertonprompt
ly--.only the taint of such madness a.
makes heroes-what in Stephens tim,
would have been called chivally.n
II think, Dolly" said the Squire for
lornly, "when all this is over, we will g,
away somewhere where no one will know
us and our story"
"My dear Squire" put in Culvertol
hastily.
Where no one will know that 1 nm
poor b~Ioken.down old man. the last of hi
f. ,pr 10 ri xy1tpSa & CIV, 1ia, -, Cs, ..,..
grave, II would-be murderer and suicide
on, us twelve Deane Ella men, to spare on!
feelings expressed it, temporarily insane.
Good Heaven! Insane! There neve
was a Nugent before who came within
mile of insanity!' said the Squire ~fierccly
SIZES, that was their verdict-.suicid,
while suffering from temporary insanity
and they finished up by expressing thei
utter disgust Mt Miss Caye-Fox's conduc
throughout the affair, and q strong recon
mendation to Lord Culyerton to take step
to punish her for the theft of the letter.
AS if that would do any good!"
"None at all" began the Earl. "Why
what is thntf' as q woman's scream
sounded through the quiet house.
The Squire threw open the door ant
strobe out to see what was the cause o
that ear-piercing shrek of terror.
II dare not go, 1 tell your screamed
terrified voice. .sThey will tear me t
pieces."
ssWell, you cam stop here" said a man
rough voice-sit isn't reasonable to ex
pect it.n
"What is this7" asked the Squire, ap.
pearing upon the scene.
The side door stood wide open, held &C
by James. The lawyer who had watched
the case for Miss Cave-Fox, and the con.
41r sta hIn Nth ppo co1,,nf,1, D1soopoo- -