Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-03-15

| pense with the minimum of ostenta-
| tious show. Nor had her personal
| beauty, dimmed as ii was by her trOu
bic, the power to mollify him. He
stared at her critically as she came for
ward, and just suffered her to shake
hands with him.
Cicely's heart sank n little. She had
expected sternnesS but it was the
sternness of the tall, slim, well-dreSsed
uncle of the novels and plays, with an
aquiline nos and an deliberately u
teous manner, and not this pharisai-
cal, stodgy self-sutticiency.
Duke is not here to introduce us,
uncle" she began, with a nervous, ten
tative smile. But l may call you
uncle may / not?"
You may call me whatever you
please, ma5am," answered Mr.. Berring-
ton. in a stiftiy discouraging manner,
without meeting her eyes.
And I'm sorry to have to come on n
very unpleasant errand now" he said.
But that is Marmaduke's fault, not
mine"
Cicely began to tremble.
Il have a question TO ask you, mad
an, and I'm sure you will give me a
OIL diSII loi Nal <NIlu lac
looked ut her with an expression full
Of suspicious penetration. Where is
Joseph Radstock?"
Where is Joseph Radstock?' repeat
ed MI. Berringron's hard voice more
imperatively than before.
Cicely nerved herself by a strong eff
fort 10 the ordeal of meeting the cold,
inquisitive eyes.
Il have inquired at the Office" he
said. And l find that he has not been
there to-day. He came here last night"
pursued he, speaking mere slowly and
watching very iiDtently the effect Of
his words on the lady's face. land that
is the last 1 can hear of him"
There was a pause. Oicely had so
far lost the mastery of herself that she
did not know what she was doing.did
not know that she stared out over the
hard mans shoulder at the trees On
the lawn with a face quixering with
anguish. Mr.. Bennington, more suspic-
ious than sympathetic, watched her
face, trying s%trenuously to discern what
this strong emotion might mean. Then
she came to herself with a start, and
tried to remember if in those few ter
rible moments she had spoken or utter
ed a cry. She knew now that it was
useless to hope for kindness or mercy
at the hands of this man.
MIR. Radstock was here last night,
certainly" she said at last. He dined
with us, and when he left he did not
seem very well able to take care of
himself. That is all / can tell you"
when he left? Oh, he did leave,
them"
'Of course he left"
The wretched woman told the lie
without fiinching; there was only one
thought in her mind now-to avert
the suspicion which grew every moment
stronger in her interlocutCr.
What do you want with him?' she
asked, after a pause during which Mr..
Bennington had kept his eyes fixed
thoughtfully on the carpet.
He raised his head suddenly at the
question, and looked at her, at first
without speaking.
You may well know" said he, at
last, shortly. And he took from one
OF his pockets a letter-case from among
the papers in which he selected one,
which was covered closely with a fine
rather shaky handy writing, which Cicely
recognized as that of Joseph Radstock.
You know the writing?" said MI.
Bennington, holding the letter for her
to see, but not offering to give it up.
YES"
Il received 1t this morning. | will
read 1T to you. But had you not bet
ter sit down? This Is all very distress
ing, n you appear fatigued."
This apparent consideration was the
result of a fear On his part that the
pale, oy~erwrought woman would faint
or go into Mysteries, in which case she
would be easier to manage sitting than
standing. Cicely took his suggestion
and mechanically seated herself, while
Mr.. Bennington walked to the window
to get n better light to read by. Then,
clearing his throat to call attention to
the Importance OF the communication,
he began:
William Bennington, Esquire.
Dear Sir-AS one who has the hon.
or to be connected by marriage with
your family your brother having mar
ried my sister, and being well aware
OF the high esteem in which you are
universally held, / feel that the pain
ful duty Is forced upon me Of acauaint-
Ing You with n most unprincipled ad-
vantage which Is being taken of your
eminent position on the Stock Ex-
change. l regret to have to in
form, you, sir, that the nephew
who has the honor of bear;as ,our
name, though he is lacking in the
attributes which have rendered you
distinguished, has been for some
time past In difficulties, brought
about, l fear / must add, by
an unduly e~ytravagant mode of
life, After mortgaging his house,
Here Mr.. Bennington looked
across at Cicely to see whether this
TACT was new TO her. But she gave no
sign. He went on reading: Ito it's
iull value; and giving a bill of sale
upon his furniture"-Cicely did look
up then; ''as a last resource Mr.. Mar
maduke Bennington has forged your
name as security on certain biHs which
VIII become due In about six months
M l have no doubt that your
nephew will be able to meet these bills:
but at the same time / feel that these
circumstances ought to be laid before
you, as with your great reputation Tor
rectftude as well as sound Judgment
you will know how to act. / should be
glad II o would not mention my