Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-04-19
CHAPTER III.
A Dangerous Man.

Everard had exaggerated somewhat
Tn declaring himself to be totally de-
void Of imagination. He had quite as
much Of that quality as was required
60 give him a very disturbed night,
20 torment him during the course OF It
with visions of Laura suffering all
kinds of improbable cruelties at the
hands Of Count ~Souratkin, and to make
him fancy more then once that he
heard her calling to him for help. Day
light restored order to his ideas.
II Everard had done as he felt In
clined he would have been in Bays
water before eleven o'clock; but being
fve-and-thirty years Of age, he was
guided only within certain limits by his
inclinations. and 1t was not until the
afternoon that he was shown into Miss
Denham's drawing room, bringing with
him, by way of excuse for his visit,
a piece of music which she had asked
him to procure for her.
The two ladies were certainly alive
and well. If, as Fellowes had limited
might probably be the case, they had
recently been compelled to Fart with
money, their spirits did not az pear to
be affected by the loss.
II was hoping that perhaps you
might look In" Laura said. Aunt
Sarah and I were Just try.ug to per-
suade ourselves hat it wasn't our duty
20 go out for a walk, and 10Y it is
evidently u duty to stay at home.
You may read your book in peace,
sauntie. Mr.. Everard and I are going
10 massacre R~ubinstein."
did your friend stay long after we
had left last nightg' asked Everard,
when she had struck the final chords.
mo, not long," she answered, a
troubled look coming over her face.
IF II is quite the same thing to you,
i would rather not talk about him"
you don't like him, hem
II detest him with all my Eeart !
told you SO last night"
II think not"
Didn't I? Well, you understood 1t,
at all events, without being told"
"Not exactly. But why should you
receive the man IL you have such n
strong feeling Of repugnancc to him?'
Can one refuse to receive anybody
for such a reason? Even If one could
there are people who won't be refused.
He will come here just as often as he
feels inclined; and when he Is not here
I shall try TO forget his existence"
Eyerard frowned. II cannot under
stand why you should allow any n
70 prosecute you," he said.
* did not say that he prosecuted me.
Please let me put him out of my mind
now. He is not at ali likely to come
here again today"
Hardly had she made this rash as
sartion when he was standing before
her. He had come in u~rannounced,
Just as he had done before. 1t was
the sound Of the door shutting which
caused Everard and Laura to look up,
SD that the servant must have opened
1t for him as for any ordinary visitor,
but the noiseless fashion of his entrance
gave 1t almost the effect of an appari-
ton. The scene was nearly an exact
repetition Of that Of the previous even
ing. Count Souratkin stood gazing at
Laura, his eyes dilating aud contract
ing; she returned his gaze with a look
which expressed neither surprise nor
displeasure, but rather expectancy than
anything else; and Everard was once
o conscious OF a feeling Of intense
Irritation.
1t was all over In a minute. Sourat-
kin shook hands with the ladies, bowed
TO Everard. and said what A pity 1t
was TO stay indoors on such n beauti-
full afternoon. Il scarcely thought to
have seen you today" he remarked,
speaking with that slight foreign ac-
cent Of his. Il was wandering about,
not knowing what l should do with
myself, when / passed the end of the
street, and as l perceived that you
were ut home / said to myself, II
shall ask her to be so kind as to take
a little walk with me in Kensington
Gardens. That will be good for her."
THANK you," said Laura, 'but I
don't think l will walk this afternoon.
I am rather tired"
"Raison de plus, the air will refresh
you. / shall talk to Mrs. Patterson
while you put on your bonnet"
This was more than Eeverard could
stand. He was n quiet. peaceabIe man;
but his longing to pick a quarrel with
the Russian was irresistible. al hope"
he said, "that you Will not think Of