The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-04-06
CHAPTER TX.
LfE hit at Last.


When Cicely recovered consciousness
she was lying on the sofa in the little
boudoir next To her own room Her
husband was on his knees beside her.
gazing into her face with an agonizad
devotion which moved her when she
opened her eyes. to constant tears. be-
fore she remembered any of the cir
cumstances which had preceded her
loss OF consciousness.
My darling. my poor. poor G.cely.
What have you not suffered for me
tiOw-how-'
He broke down. and mr1mured only
3ncOherently in her ears unfinished SEN
tences full Of passionate endeannent
Of gratitude, of reverence. of protec-
ton.
But through all there ran note Of
tragic sadness. At last he drew back
his head, and. clasping her face be-
tween his hands. stared into.her face in
blank bewilderment, mingled with fear
How did you do it, he whispered
hOarsely at last. Was it OH the night
he dined with us? Don't shake and
ireErble like that. child. Don't stare at
me with those wild eyes / know you
were mad when you did it, and that
you did it for me. Do you think /
should forget that: Cicely! Cicely.'
For his wife had suddenly wrenched
herself away from him, and. starting
up to her feet, was watching him, and
1anging upon his words as condemned
criminal hangs upon those Of the mes
senger who brings him pardon.
"When-did-I-do it," she repeated
III Il n.
When did I do it?'
Duke thought she had gone mad !;
there was delirium in her eyes Then
you did not kin Joseph Radstock:'
But | saw you 60 in there with a
knifei | heard him groan"'-with a
shudder she covered her face with her
hands
II was ruined. and Radstock had
found out something / had done and
threatened to expose me, and saw no
hope" answered Duke in a shaking
voice. Il took the knife to kill myself
But when l got into the cellar heard
= groan, which l own l took for SUI
pernatural rebuke. 1t must have been
Radstock. But / did not know he was
there"
Didn't you give him the cellar key?''
asked Cicely. He said you did,
No, | had fallen asleep in the study.
and he must have taken it without rous-
ing me-"
Ciccly stood for a few minutes, her
recovered wits busying themselves with
the details Of this disclosure. Then
she turned to Duke impetuously.
'.rhen you thought l had done It.
What do they Think"
Duke shook his head.
Il don't know. Perhaps
Cicely interrupted him, dragging him
toward the door.
I'VE must tell them. Come. Quick.
And we must find out how it hap
pcned."
1t was not difficult to guess at least
part Of the truth; but there were
others to convince, notably Mr.. William
Bennington, who had taken such an ac-
tive part in what he believed to be the
unmasking Of his nephew's guilt Duke
feit that he had an account to settle
with him.
Husband and wife, as they went
down stairs together, heard subdued
voices In the drawing-room.
They are all in here" said Duke.
Now don't say anything, but leave
everything to me-
They entered the dra wing room. when
silence fell at once upon the occu-
pants.
"A bad business this" began the el-
der Mr. Bennington. in tones in which
genuine complacency struggled with an
assumption Of concern, about as bard
business as I've ever had the mis-
fortune to come across"
why talk about 1t, then, uncley'
broke in Minna's clear voice. I'VE
must all make the best Of it and hush
It up; and then /, for one shall not feel
at all sorry that somebody met his de-
scrts There's the credit OF the family
to be thought Of"
Duke crossed over to the fireplace
with flash Of his old, staggering
impetnOsity.
SO far from doing that, uncle" said
he, with sharp pull OF the bell, Il
intend to send at once for the nearest
doctor. and for 4 policeman. The soon