The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-01-24

.1ohn2n asked Proctor, after a pause,
None. Ibid not know Walter had
left London
"You won't take it as any harm meant
to the dead" said Proctor, 'if l give
you my idea, which is founded on some
knowledge
.'Certainly not; say on"
1.-The landlord Of the Grown came
over and identified your brother as a
young man who had arrived the day be.
fore at his place for the races. He said
he seemed rather out of spirits m
times. and at others very excited, and he
thought he (Walter) was greatly inter
ested in the chances of the fayorite.
He was a good deal with another fellow,
also a London man. and after the race
they both seemed very much put out
He heard them, he thought, having
high words together, and then they
went to a champagne supper given by
young Chestnut, and afterwards both
left the hotel. That was about eleven
O'clock
Philip had listened in perfect silence
to this recital; not a culver of the lip,
not a tremor of an eyelid, betrayed the
agony that seemed to him more bitter
to bear than the knowledge of his
young brothers death. Walter, the II
being he hadloved, and who had seemed
so to cling to him, had failed, and left
empty yet another niche in his life.
One more idol remained to him. Was
that to be shattered too? He wrenched
himself with u q~uick-caught breath
from those dark thoughts, that he felt
were unnerving him, and spoke again.
"This mans name-do you know ltI"
Martin. | think, the landlord said.
Why? Do you know anyone it could
be?"
MY brother spoke of an acquaintance
he had in London. who was coming to
the Rington races
Philip spoke in measured cold tones,
! calmly, as though discussing the most
everyday subject; at least, so it seemed
to Proctor.
You haveridden far" he said. "You
had better remain here. l must go to
Rington."
other. II will go back with you. l can
the quarter to eight easily"
Philip clasped the hand the elder MAJ
I. had instinctively laid on his; and for
she first time the low voice quivered a
little;
get yeir Kindness he said; then added,
turning to the door. Il must tell Erica:
l shall not be a moment"
What an extraordinary man that isl
calculated Archie Proctor as the dool
closed. s'He is either really cold Or has
the most wonderful s~elf-control ovel
himself; so passionate as ! fancied he
was he never showed the slightest anger
for the man who has done this. / cam
make him out
Erica, who was up and dressed
though yet in her dressing-rOom, haC
seen Archie Proctor cross the lawn ant
sibly bring him at this time of thu
morning, but as she knew he had beer
consulting Philip on some literary ven
ture of his own, she concluded that h,
had wished to see her husband befor
going back to town by the early train
She started forward, however, a
Philip opened the door and advance
into the room, but stopped suddenly
every vcstigc of color leaving her face
as she observed the change one shoI
hour had made.
"Philip," she said, under her breath
"you look ghastly-what is it?'
He took both her hands in his thcI
and told her briefly and calmly of th
awful tragedy enacted last night.
"You are brave-spirited," he sale
land I had no time to break this to 70
gently. poor child. must go at ono
to Rington and see about everything.
must leave you, Erica, now, and sha
not be home again for a few days.
will let you know more certainly in a
hour or two
The girl had listened quietly. a rigit
1 cf,,nn~ lnrr.or ~. nxxit,r ~, tho 1nrnn aUf
| that never left his face; an icy NUM-
ness seemed to creep round her hear
, an icy stream to chill her veins: abov
beyond the horror of the deed done
the dead Of night. lay the vague, und
fined horror as one name Sprang liz
lightning involuntarily through HI
brain.
r Yet why? lie had promised her
t give up Walter st. John. She had a
/ solutely no reason to think they ht
been together, and still the two nam,
rang in her ears, and dizzily she put
one hand to her brow.
"Who-who," she faltered, sis this
this mani"
/ 81 know nothing" answered Phil
"I can only. conjecture. l cannot S;
d more now, there is no time" He paus'
|, a second, and added low and quiverin
~ IolSlNC luSi Lhf pun SiiHt IL u
$ words. my III seem cold to 20
g there is no time for feeling now, the
is only time to act
e Did some dread whisper reach b
d then that for the last time he kissed h
brow. her lips, with that sorrowt
It tenderness, that she chung to him for
D moment with such wild despair in t
II white face she lifted to his? Did sol
II such whisper reach him too, that
e held her again close to his heart, a
S whispered, something pleading, son
3 thing wistful in the tremulous tones:
e God keep you, Erica, my darling,
y wife!"
g And then she was alone; alone vi
e that horror settling down. a black clio
over her life, those last words ringi
l. in her ears.