The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-07-13
Ve28ea3eQ a3d
~VaPorS.


Jaquess cottage?-we shall be there
safe from being watched
What suspicion. | wondered. prompt
ed that? entered the little octagonal
building for the first time and was i'm
mediately in the presence of the old
paralytic. who sat hudllAd and wrap
ped IN blankets in {. great armchair.
with his lifelesS hands lying limp in his
lap. 1t was with a strange feeling Of
pity. and something like awe. that |
looked upon this feeble. almost lifeless,
remnant Of famous historic family.
spending the last tiickcrs Of his exist
ence in a humble cottage in a foreign
land
He cannot speak a word' said
Louise TO me; and | do not think he
can quite hear now but for all that
she spoke in a low voice. He looks
better. though, since the summer began,
poor Uncle JaqueS. The old man who
looks after him has gone out. so we
may talk as if there We're no one here"
She threw off her hat and Jacket,
for the air of the room was very close:
a small fire burned in the CRATE. l felt
impclled to sit so that l could observe
the old man without turning; for his
appearance fascinated me.
Il want 10 go away, Mr.. Tnwin,' she
began at once in a low tone of intense
feeling. out of this terrible place.
away from the dospot, Mr. Steinhardt;
| want TO 90 and find out what has
become of my poor father. and | want
you 10 help me to go, if you will be so
good
Has Mr.. S1eiuhardt, them l asked,
been saying or doing something to
you:'
"Oh, yes. indeed, Yesterday, you
know, | saw Mr.. Birley, and he said
very sadly. almost with tears, that ne
must not come to see me- any more. i
asked him why-and then it all came
out he told me you know il all-hoW
Mr.. Steinlardt has been SO terribly I'M
grateful. how be has ruined him. Ills
His name. he said, would appear any
lav now in the Gazette In the even
ing. then. j told Mr.. Steinhardt that
wanted some Of my money, Of my Iath-
er's money. to help Mr. Birl9y. de
laughed ard said ] had no money, and
what little of my father ) money was
left could not be touched until his
death was proved. then. 'hlnk.
was angry and vailed hon u CRATE: and
he was angry in his way aud rude.
He called me a rude immodaSt girl
lie said | thought Of men petore tney
asked me II don't know ut Ill what ne
meant, He told Gle ! must make up
nv mind to Clarry Frank. rs he wished
and nv father had visited, ~ ! should
not stay long - his house. ! >at my
father never wpl!i nave wished me 10
marry any one witt out love He answer
ed that il was of no conseQue nee ne was
now in my fathers place. ! left nm
and went TO my room, and. thinking II
over. il came 10 me how he must have
disliked my poor father, IT he could
sneak TO me so. and how he, perhaps
did not much wish TO have father ;
death cleared up. Then ! thought ii
was likely he had not taken much trou,
bic to INQUIRE about him in London
all that. YOU see. was i'll his hands
But now / will 60 to London myself
away from his rudenesS and find out
the whole matter for myself, II you VIII
help me.
She had run on in a rapid tone OF III
tense excitement that permitted OF nc
interruption,
"It is singular" l said. that you in
your own way should have come to the
same conclusion about Steinhardt as
have gradually been coming TO. ] dc
not trust him at all: he is pitiless anC
unscrupulous. and | am sure he would
make no more inquiries concerning
your father than seemed necessary fol
the sake Of appearances. But, dear
Miss LacrOiX. | think you can do nc
good by going to London yourself. Let
me act for YOU in the matter. Believe
me. | have it as much at heart as i
It were my own. Have little patience
and | think we shall get at something.
why She asked, eagerly, have
YOU heard something at last from tht
friends to whom you Wrote:'
No: / have not
Il suppose said she, with some bit
terneSs, 1T is to them only the loss
Of one stranger out Of the crowds al
around them
| then told her of the mission Free
man had Undertaken, refraining how
eyer. from saving that I had directed
his attention to the railway stations
more particularly to the Great North
ern. and / advised her to remain at lin
perley Hall for the present. and to con
duct herself toward Steinhardt SO a:
not to excite his resentment or suSplc
| ion.
I-pon this. we prepared to leave tn
cottage. and on glancing casually ava.
from her, / was arrested by the be
havior of the old man.
Look at him"' | involuntarily ex
claimed.
| His face was puffed, and as if puffet
with blood; his eyes were eXtraordin
arily bright and watchful; his moutl
twitched grotesquely, as if in the effor
to use it for speech; and his right le;
and shoulder stirred little under tn
blankets.
OH cried Louise, perhaps seein'
us. and hearing us talk-if he has hear'