Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-07-20
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letter had evidently been received by
Edna the day previous, and was signed
with the name of the only rival i'm her
affection 10 whom he had ever given
a thought, Miss Chambers cousin. Ed
mas announced escort of that evening
Barton Brinsley.
The letter of an accepted lover to
the woman he loved. IL betrayed de-
cided encouragement from Edna. 1t
even bore n slight ridicule of Marshalrs
pretensions. Edna had endured this,
Edna had played him false, and while
her shy lips were responding 10 his
ardent expressions of devotion her hy-
pocritical heart was thinking of Barton
Brinsley.
The complication was m%addening.
! With eyes dashed with the insanity
of despair the tortured artist looked
I up. He clenched the tell sheets
in his hand as If they were the false
heart of the girl who had Tilted him.
and that Of the man who had stolen
away her love.
IL will kill him" he choked out,
his soul ablaze.
And then, realizing the folly OF such
a sentiment, the right OF any man to
~honorably strive for n woman's prefer
ence, with the bitterness of death COM
pretending that the woman was the
d%eceiver, remembering his mothers
taunt once made that he had better
marry some one besides "a nameless,
homeless nobody" he Gained down,
put on his hat and walked from the
house like one in a dream, his lips
firmly set, but sick at heart.
He went straight to the seminary.
W. .-a. .HaN Il. hi lA,.. 90 ..l.
so straightforward, SO inclined to doubt
he falsity of the woman he had so
blindly trusted, despite the terrible evil
dence in his hands, that, though the
meeting killed him, he was determined
to have the matter settled now and
finally.
He would demand to see Edna-he
would show her the letters. His philan-
thropic friends had more han once told
him that all womankind were changing
butterflies of sentiment. If she had
indeed only played with his heart he
would leave her presence and the place
forever; without n word accept the bit
ter lesson as a warning against trusting
all humanity, and in silence and dis
lance wait for the end Of a life blight
cd, protitless, uncomfortable.
A servant admitted him and took his
card to the lady principal. Miss Chand-
Ter looked serious as she entered the
room, but greeted him with The genial
ity she always bestowed on EdHa's
friends. She started at the sight of his
wretched face, however.
Miss Chandler" he spoke in his mis-
cry and agitation, neglecting to take
her proffered hand, Il wish to see Edna
Miss Dean"
"Edna?' calculated the lady princi-
pal, wonderingly. Why! did you not
know
Know what?" he demanded, sharp
ly, his heart taking a new alarm.
That She is gomez
"&one.' he repeated Dlanky. "Gone?
When, where, With whom?"
"She left us last evening. Poor, dear
Edna; her happy school life is over,
and-why, Mr.. Marshall!'
He had arisen to his feet at her first
startling words. He felt his senses reel
ing now and swayed where he stood.
The sight of such vivid emotion in a
strong man alarmed the gentle lady.
Go on!' he choked out, waving his
hand ~agitatedly. ITS nothing. The
shock, the suddenness-'
Surely she wrote you that she was
going?'
mo. That is. You say she went last
EVENING""
Yes"
Alone? Why did she leave so alb
ruptly?"
His heart hung on the reply. Miss
Chambers face fell.
Mr.. Marshall" she said, In a low,
subdued tone, you must not ask me. /
have pledged myself to make no expla-
nations. In fact, l know very little.
She left in safe hands, of that l am
assured, and she will never return to
Hopedale. 1t has depressed us all; but
surely she will soon write TO you and
explain"
Miss Chandler, / must know where
Edna Deane has gone. You must tell
me more"
His voice was husky, but 1t bore a
ring Of sharp, decorating anguish.
Il cannot. l never broke a promise
once made, Mr.. Marshall" spoke the
lady, with dignity. You may see Miss
Mercer, If you choose. She was Edna's
most intimate friend. She may have
the right to tell you, but / cannot Edna
may have left a message with her"
ALLOW me to speak with her, please"
How strained and unnatural were his
tones. How like a man marching to
his doom he followed Miss Chandler
down the broad hall and to the door of
the office of the seminary.
Miss Mercer is In there alone, /
Think" spoke Miss Chandler. Yes.
Beatrice, Mr.. Marshall"
And the principal opened the door
and closed Ii upon Raymond Marshall
and the woman he so disliked and dis
trusted.