The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-03-23
a buSba3d'SS
(riMQ.
BY FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER XII -(Con:inuca)

But Giccly knew better. W ltnoI'
wasting more words she seized the pa
pei. tore it from Minnas hand and
read the message. 1t was from the
matron Of St Clristopher's hospital
and ran thus:
Mr. Duke Bennington has been run
over and brought here. Desires t.
see you"
:. will go said Cicely quickly.
And SO will /. dear.
They We're both very quiet. Clcely
gave the order for the brougham TO be
brought round ut once.
On learning that Duke was alive and
in no Immediate danger, Minna decld-
cd not to see him. but TO let Cicely 60
in by herself; for she guessed that the
husband and wife might wish for some
private conversation concerning the
visit of Mr. William Bennington
Mr. Duke was too i'll for that. Ills
wife was warned before she saw him
that she must say very little, and AVOID
all appearance Of emotion or excite
ment. 1t was with difficulty that she
restrained an outburSt of tears as she
bent over his little bed and kissed him.
Then She sat down beside him very
quietly holding his hand without say
ing anything.
He would not be silent. as she
wished The sight of her excited him
too much for that.
mo, Cicely. | must talk" he said.
in a weak voice. Il seemed to be liv-
in. through sort of dull dream Till
you came in. but now | am wide
awake. and | must talk myself sleepy
again You think me very stupid to
get run over like that; but ! have been
so much on the rack lately. and this
afternoon my uncle William turned up
and worried me with questions
Ssh, Yes. i know. But you must
not talk about that. He's been down
to East Hill. and I've seen him, and
it's all right"
.You'ye seen him. cried Duke. try
ing to start up. his face full OF despef.
ate anxiety. And did he" continued
tire patient in Il whisper. after q mo-
ment.s pause. worry you with ihes-
tons about joe Radstockt'
And his expression changed, not to
one Of remorse, but of loathing. Clcely
was shocked.
Il told him we knew nothing of his
movements after he left us last night.
That was right. was it not!' she said
in very low voice.
Quite right. OF course. But he
will find out-he is as cunning as fox,
and 'then-oh, Cioely..'
"Sh!' she said, and she played ten
derly with is fair curls, even while a
.sideous undercurrent Of only half-con-
sciors thought told her that this was
the hair of murderer. You must be
quiet, and calm and trnStftl Of me
for my sake and for the childran's.
Il do trust you. oh. l do tlalst you,
Cicely," he burst out, with more pas
sOnahe feeling than ever. Since this
mOrning-when you wee so sweet
have thought Of nothing but yo,-eycr
since / feel that l worchip you Cicely.
Ii could go away somewhere with you
only. / could forget everythiny-eyery
thing. But can't / can't pms; stay
here to face it all. and God help me. /
have brought shame and wretehedness
uTOn yOn. too
He laid his face upon her hand. cling
ing to her fingers. and speaking in short
jerky phrases, the sense of which she
could not always catch.
1T will not be known" she whisper
cd. can prevent i'll have thought
of a plan.
You. But, Cicely"-
Hush
Was 1t insanity ne saw in her burn |
ing eyes Duke thought so for a mo- |
ment and his heart stood still. She |
was standing up, her eyes fere staring.
her lips moving.
"Cicely. my darling Cicely,' he cried
in a broken whisper.
And he stretched out his arms to her
She came nearer and bent ever him
again, still with the same strange ex-
ditition Of expression.
A nurse was looking in at the door
for the second time and she looked
eravely from patient to visitor.
With one kiss. which communicated
in its tenderness both comfort and
hope to the sick man, Cicely left the
room.
The drive back was less melancholy
than the journey to the hospital
Minna was brushing her hair for the
night. having sat UP rather late reading
IN her own room, when the soft open
ing Of Cicely's door disturbed her. She
listened, and heard by the occasional
creaking Of a stair or board that her
Eister-in-laW went downstairs. That
was all She could discover, as she did
not like to play the spy by opening her
own door. She kay awake long time.
however, in the hope Of hearing the
footsteps returning but finally fell
asleep without having satisfied her
wish. But anxiety having rendered her
sleep unusually light. She was awaken
ed by very slight noise, that Of some
one stumbling on the stairs Then CT
cely's door opened and shut.
Minna sprang out Of bed. struck 4
light and looked ut her watch. 1t was
o'clock. Cicely had been absent from
her room three hours! What could she
have been doing?
Minni reneated this question to her
self with still more emphasis on the fol-