Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-03-08
CHAPTER v-(Contin.ed.)


ooh, Minna," whispered Ciceiy in a
choking voice. Il think-I am afraid
1t is a lesson he will never get over.
Duke used some words to me-a few
days ago"
Dukes voice sounding harsh and al
tered, interrupted them, calling TO them
loudly:
"Cicely, Minna, what the d are
you doing chattering up there when
dinners waiting? Didn't you hear the
bell? Are you both deaf?'
They both came futtering down, with
an atiectation of great cheerfulness,
This, however, was hard to keep up as
the dinner went on. Both men drank a
great deal of wine; but while Duke,
under its influence. grew savagely taci-
turn, and betrayed its effects in glances
of fierce, undisguised hatred at his un-
hidden guest. the latter became more
and more lively and f~acatious, until he
fortunately grew too stupid TO notice
that his incoherent, huskily uttered
jokes met with III response. The Ia
dies sat on like statues, mute and mo-
tionleSs, afraid to leave the men to
gether, afraid to exchange glanccs
which would betray their dread. AT
Last RadstOck's indistinct babble grad
ually stopped, and his head sank upon
his breast. his sodden face became com
pleteIy vacuous, his dull eyes stared
without intelligence al the empty de-
canter in front Of him.
Cicely raised her eyes timidly, and
glanced with a shudder from him to
Minna.
We can go now"
They rose very quietly. Neither of
the men seemed to notice their action,
except that at the slight noise of the
moving chairs Duke looked up and fix
ed upon his uncle q look of such in
tense loathing and abhorrence that
CiCely heSitated, and glanced half u
consciously at her husbands clenched
right hand and at the glass and at the
knife near K. 4 little blunt silver des.
scrt-knife, that was all: she would not
have owned it TO herself, but she was
relieved to see that there was no i'm
plement more dangerous within his
reach. Perhaps Minna guessed what
her SiSter-in-law'S thought was; she
drew the young wife's arm quickly
Through her own, and dragged her al
most by force out Of the room.
The closing Of the door must have
reused the two men. The ladies, with
soft steps, and quite silently, had
scarcely entered the drawing room and
shut themselves in when they heard
! the dining-ronm door open, and caught
the sound of footsteps in the hall.
That's Duke exclaimed Cicely
hCarsely, bending her head to listen
Hes going to the library. Thank
| GOl!'
Minna did not leave her, and the two
sat together almost IL silence until the
clock struck twelve. 1t was a warm
night, but the anxiety under which
they We're suffering made them feel
cold and stiff. As midnight sounded,
Minna shivered Cicely rose rcsolute-
ly and gently shaking the girl by the
shoulder, insisted on her retiring.
Il shall go and see Duke" she said.
"And we will settle what to do. Then
/ viii come and tell you how we have
managed"
She tried to speak cheerfully, and as
she had evidently made up her mind,
Minna very regretfully left her and
went up stairs.
Cicely walked softly to the door, and
listened until she heard the bedroom
door chose. Then, with her fingers on
the handle, she was about to leave the
drawfng-room when she heard the
opening Of another door, that of the
dining room. Stumbling footsteps, and
the noise of a chair thrown. down, be,
trayed RadStock's drunken movements.
He was going in the direction of the Ii,
brary.
Cioely flung open the door and con,
fronted him.