The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-11-02
Katherine B1oQnt'S hove.
BY THE DU CHESS.

or six weeks; so I will waste no more
hard words, having let you know, once
for all, the esteem in which hold you"
AS he finished speaking he walked to-
ward the window by which he had
entered.
AS she saw him moving away from
her, forever, as 1t appeared-this man,
so cruelty unkind, so deeply loved,
50 irreparably wronged-Lady War
renne's heart sank within her. She
burst into storm Of sobs, passionate,
despairing, and made one last effort to
obtain the pardon she, In her loneliness,
SO eagerly graved.
"Blackwood,' she cried, "oh, wait for
one moment more only one! Ii you
would but hear me-if you only knew
all-you would not think me SO base as
you think me now. Have not suffered
also? Have you had all the pain? All,
surely, surely you will not 60 away
forever without saying one kind word
to me, whom once you loved!
She held out her small hands to him
beseechingly, sobbing with painful We
hemence. Her beautiful face was wet
with sad, repentent tears, and Black
wood, looking on, saw, rs in some we'll
remembered dream, the same form, the
same hands held out to him, as in the
old oak parlor at the manor SO many
months since.
The sight Of her bitter grief reused
within him all the better feelings Of
| his manhood; his stubborn will grew
| weaker, his heart relented. Striding
| across the room to her side, he accepted
the proffered hands
You have conquered" he said,
hoarsely. X leave you my full and free
forgiveness! Take it, and be happy
in your new life. But, for all that, it
Is indeed, farewell between us two
l shall never again enter your presence,
or listen to your voice, or look on your
beloved face, 50 bid me goodby, now,
and-and may heaven bless and keep
you, my one lover His accents were
broken with emotion
When he was gone, Lady Warrenne
went up to her own room and dressed
herself hurriedly to 60 into the woods.
Having gained small copse on her
right hand, she saw Blackwood Craven
walking before her. gun in hand. She
had seen him barely for an instant
nay, afterward it almost seemed as
though there was not seconds inter-
val-when the report of gun saung
through the air, followed by a sharp,
aSonlzing cry that told but too surely
of deaths victory, and Blackwood, with
dull, crashing, ifeless sound, fell to
the sudden earth.
Lady Warenne sprang forward and
knelt down by his side, just as Sir
Mark, from an opposite direction, came
hulTying up, having also heard both
the guns report and It's attendant cry
Katherine had Blackwood's head on
her knees, and was pushing back the
hair from his forehead, in half un-
conscious, dazed manner, when he
reached her
Katherine" he exclaimed, what has
happened" STOPPING down and tearing
open the young mans coat, only to
lay his hand upon heart that but too
surely had ceased to beat.
Sir Mark felt his face growing cold,
his limbs trembling. It was too awful,
too horrible to contemplate; he could
not believe 1t. Only half an hour since,
Craven had been in such life and spir-
its-it appeared to Sir Mark now that
he had never seen him In such good
spirits as that morning-and now
now-Katherine, too; how did she
come there? It was no place for her,
poor delicate darling. She must be got
home in some way or other. He step
ped forward and tried to raise the
nfeless head from her supporting arms
She pushed him from her
DO not you see that he Is dead"
she said, In an awful whisper-''dead?
Go away, and do not disturb him. He
Is mine now, you know; my own; you
placing, as she spoke, her small fingers
nvnr fho doad ovOo 1ouinolu
.Katherinev' Sir Mark exclaimed
half fearing that the horror Of the
scene had stolen away her senses, and
half fearing something else that sent
the blood rushing wildly to his heart.
do not speak like that darling. Give
him to me, and tell me how it happen
ed IL you can"
His gun went of and shot him. I
saw it all quite distinctly" Katherine
explained, methodically. He gave a
cry-oh, such cry!-and then he fell.
Do not change his position, Mark; 1t is
useless; and he is lying just where he
would have chosen to lie, could he
but know It." Then, her tone Of hor-
rible calmness suddenly changing to
one Of the widest despair, she exc,aim-
ed, passionately wrinGng her hands,
"Oh, BlackwoOd, speak to me- speak to
me! I will not believe that you are
dead! Mark, save him! Do something
for him! Do you wish him to die, that
you can stand there so coldly, without
an attempt Of any kind to save him?
Oh, my love, my love! why cannot I
lie there instead Of you, peacefully at
rest?''
Her eyes were dry and fearless, but
hopeless misery was written ON every
lineament Of her expressive face, and
she seemed to take no notice whatever
OF Sir Mark. who stood beside her In
silence. too stricken for consolation or
speech Of any kind, but waking slowly
to the consciousness that his wife