Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-09-07

eE0rC aC once. So during q moments
pause. she said:
'.Will madame try to sleep now"
eyes, l will put cut ths light, and
we will 10th try"
.'First. will madame permit me to
20 to Clara's room? / have left my
things there. l shall not disturb
any one"
In q moment madame's attitude
changed; her eyes scintillated with
light: all the caressing tederness and
sorrow of her voice ana manner were
gone. She was like an accusing
spirit.
..Down on your knees. false girl,
WHOM no memory of mothers love
could soften! Down ON your knees,
and let your prayers strengthen the
hands Of those good angels who are
lighting your evil genius this very
moment! Pray as those should pray
whose purity and honor, whose very
life and salvation hang upon a viii
lain's word!" And, drawing the girl
down beside her, she watched out
with her these dangerous midnight
hours.
AT 2 o'clock Laura was left to weep
out alone her shame and her disap.
pointment. Madame had kissed and
forgiven and com Orted her with such
comfort as was possible; but youth
takes hardly the breaking of its idols,
and it was bitter and humiliatinv to
hear that this handsome Ernest was
better known to the poli.e courts
than to the noolc houses he talked
about, and yet that she had chosen
his society and had been willing to
become his wife. Madame had not
spared her; she had spoken very
plainly Of a gamblers wife and of a
thief's h0me-of shames and horro. 8
Laura t. embled to recall-adding:
~ had willingly kept you ignorant
OF such things, for the knowledge of
them takes the first bloom of purity
from a good girls heart; but alas,
Lau a, If you will go forbidden roads,
you must at least he warned of the
sin and the sorrows that haunt
Them"
Laura vas i'll manydays afterward.
Madame had indeed forgi. en- her, but
it was hard to forgive herself, and for
a long time even a passing memory of
her first lover brought a tingling
blush OF shame to her cheeKs and a
sickening sense of disgrace and fright
to her heart.
1t was ten years after this event,
and Laura, with her two daughters,
was driving slowly across Cannock
Chase. The pretty children sat on
either side Of her, and she drove the
ponies slowly, often stopp ng to let
the little girls alight and pull a blue
bell or a handful Of buttercups Dur
ing n Of the stoppages as she sat,
with a smile on her handsome face.
watching the happy little ones. some
one coming fr m behind, touched her
rudely on the arm. She turned and
saw u man in grimy leather clothing,
with an evil, cruel face. at her side.
Surprising him to be one of the
men employed in her husbands iron
works. who had been discharged or
who wanted help she said:
"Well what is it. SIR"
The man answered curtly:
"Lauram
Then Laura looked steadily into
the dirty, imbruted face. And in
spite Of SCOT and scars and bruises,
she knew It.
"Mr. Trelawny, why do"
'.Bosh! My name is Bill Yates.
You fooled me once. my lady, but you
will pay me for it now. I've been
Jagged since then-sent across for
seven years-only got back six
M nths since. Glad l have found
you, FOR I won't work any more now.
Come, / want q flyer to star with"
IA .1ver?'"
eyes; a five pound note"
II shall not give you a penny"
'sThen I shall take one of them
little girls-the youngest is the pref.
tiest-m -sn. +s,aw
hFor Gods sake, don't 70 near my
children! I will give you the money!"
II prefer the money, it will a e
ne the trouble Of selling the child
Laura hastily counted out the sum-;
Hhere was Z shillings more in her
purse. and the william said:
'tI'll take the change, too. Shall
1 lift the children into the pheton?"
Don't touch them. Don't look at
chem! oh, 20 away! Go away"
go away, indeed! You were glad
enough once to come to me. I have
| your letters yet. It would be q sweet
thing to show them to your husband.
"You had better murder me-"
81 have half a mind TO; but it suits
me better to eepy you for my banker.
/ he here next week with five nonnds
seven shillings, aud every week after,
until further notice, or else / will
steal your child ard send them let
ters to your fine husband"
Then, with a threatening scowl
and the shake OF a clenched fist in
her face, he went away. taking with
him all the JOY and peace out of poor
Laura's lite.
She now lived in constant terror,
and such a dreadful change came So
rapidly owe the once happy, hand.
some woman that her husband was