The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-12-21

So then they set her free, and the
wretched woman went unsteadily back
towards Dean Ella, the bright sunshine
streaming down with brave radiance up
on her golden yellow draperies as she
staggered blindly. along the fields and
dusty roads &
The u shonetoo upon the two chastity
faces III. the carriage speeding towards
the House; upon the squirrels set mouth
fearless eyes as he busted himself
about his, only son; upon that still, dead
face without disagreement save for that
blue mark upon the right temple.
The villagers came hurrying in focks
to meet the sad procession as it wound
through the village towards the great
house-the men flushed and silent, the
women weeping for sympathy for the tall
far man who had grown up amongst
them, their true friend and more than
Squire, but now walking beside his dead
sons body, with the age of twenty years
fallen upon him in the last hour.
AT the Vicarage the mournful train
paused, for the Vicar and his wife came
hurrying out, Mrs. Carruthers Selling the
Squirrels hand.
"Oh, Squire" she cried with a burst of
tears-"oh, Squirew
Gan you come up with met" he asked,
with the same unnatural calmness as be-
fore.
"Yes, surely"
GAY, the Mistress will haze need of you,"
said q woman's voice behind. .Heaven
help her! She come to me she did, when
lost my lad, and she stayed all day, she
did; and now she's i t. same bad 'ersen.-
1t isn't the likes o me that can do nowt
for 'er."
At the words the Squire turned round.
Ills that you Susan Mills2 You lost
your lad, and perhaps you'll know best of
any of us what words will comfort her
AS for me"-passing his hands across his
eyes-"I canno even-thinkm
CHATTER vi.
Three days had passed away, and prep
arations were being made at the House
for the inquest, which had been delayed
in order hat Lord Culverton might be
present.
AS yet the Earl had not left his bed
but when the hour fixed for the inquest
approached, he appeared in the Sources
study leaning on his valet and looking
very wan and weak. :
The Squire who was leaning his head
upon his hands, rose when he entered,
and pulled a chair forward for him.
''Sit here Culverton, until time to go
in" he said kindly. "You look very Ill,
my boy. Will you haze some wineY"
"The doctor forbade it; but l am so hor-
ribly faint" he admitted.
"Never mind the doctors! Alphonse, go
and get some port out of the dining
No remembering that the jury were al
ready assembling there-"ask James for
it.,
When James came. the Squire told him
to ask Miss Nugent to come down-the
Mistress was not needed rs n witness. She
came in presently, looking like a ghost in
her black gown, and gave n cold hand in
greeting to Culverton.
'Could you go to mother for a moment ~
she said to her father. II am afraid for
her"
The Squire went hastily out of the room,
and Culverton turned tenderly towards
Dolly.
"iou look so ill, my darlingm he said
gently. "All this is so terrible for you!
"Vcry," said Dolly simply. No. no;
don't kiss mc'-putting up her hands to
keep him away. "You must never do
that again"
"Why?"
II give you your freedom" she an
swered with a choking sob. IL cannot
marry you"
"Dolly, you don't think that l am to
blame fo, this sad business" he asked
reproachfully.
"The blame is on our. side," she an
swered with a vivid flush. 81 cannot
bring shame upon you"
Then the Squire returned. and Dolly
had to be taken into the room, Culver!on
following close behind them. His evidence
was taken first.
He was sworn, and deposed that during
the morning of September twenty-ninth
he was waiting in the Coppice when Miss
Cave-Fox came up and stopped to speak
to him.
Here the solicitor watching the case on
behalf of Miss Cave. Fox asked if he did
not mean that he stopped to speak to her
ut was Miss Cave-Fox who stopped
answered Lord Culvcrton. haughtily. ~
was leaning against the trunk Of a tree,
smoking"
You had made no appointment TO meet
Miss Cave-Fox thcreY"
Certainly not. i had made an appoint
ment to meet Miss Nugent, who is en-
gagged to marry me. We were to have
been married next week"
Their his evidence was continued
Whilst speaking to Miss Cave-Fox he
heard the report Of q pistol, and felt him
self wounded in the arm; heard no second
report; but, when he came to his senses
he found Mr.. Jasper Nugent lying on his
face. They turned him over but he was
| quite dead. Miss Nugent was also there,
but had tainted.
"You said we tur ID him over,'' inter-
posed the solicitor.
"Ccrtainly. Several men and a woman
at work in the adjoining fields ran up or
hearing the reports"
"And you did not hear the second shot%
81 have already told you So" said the
Earl CURLY.
Then Miss Cave-Fox was sworn, and
gave nearly the same testimony as Lord
Culverton; ard at last it was poor little
Dolly's turn to advance to the table.
He father rose and put his arm round
her; and Culverton, also rising, though
with some difficulty, took her hand in his
She tried to draw it away, but he held il
firmly.
Then the Coroner. seeing how fright
ened and i'll she was after she had beer
SWORN. asked nef very klnuiy TO tell tnC
jury everything that had happened on the
morning of the twenty-ninth. Her story
took some time 10 tell. Little by little
they extracted the whole facts of the case
from her. ever as TO the trcaclicry CON
corning The letter.
who has the lct.erg" asked one of the
%jniy'nen.
III is here" answered Culverton, re.
leasing Do!!y's hand that he might take
the letter from his pocket.
10 be continued