The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-03-09

BY FLORENCE WARDEN
V-(Contin. ed1


"Oh, Minna," whispered Cicely in a
choking voice. Il think am afraid
it is lesson he viii 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:
| "Ucely, Msnna, 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 tluttering down. with
an ntiectadon OF great cheerfulness,
This. however, was hard to keep UP as
the dinner went on. Roth men drank Il
great deal Of wine: but while Duke
under its influence. grew slva.ely taci-
turn, and betrayed it's effects in gElnccs
of fierce, unlisguised hatred at his un-
hidden guest. the latter became more
and more lively and fac.tiolls. until he
fortunately grew too stupid TO notice
that his incrherent, huskily uttered
jokes met with no response. The la
dies sat on like statues, mute and mo-
tionlea, afraid to leuve the men t,-
Sether afraid to exchange glanccs
wl1ich would betray their dread At
E
rually stopped. and his head sank upon
his breast, lis sodden face became com
pletely vacuons, his dull eyes stared
Without intelligence st the empty de
canter in front Of him.
Cicely raised her eyes timidly. and
glanced with a shualder from him to
Minnl.
I'VE can 60 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 look OF such in
tense loa thing and abhorrenca that
Gcely hesitated, and glanced lEalf-un-
consciously at her husbands clenclsed
right hand and at tho glass and at the
knife near it. A Little blunt silver des-
Sert-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 Mnna guessed what
her sister-in-lslw's thought was; she
drew the young Wife's arm quickly
tinuugh 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 room 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 pwo
sat together almost IL silence until the
clock struck twelve. 1t w;ls 4 warm
night, but the anxiety under which
they were suffering made them feel
cold and stiff. As midnight sounded,
Minn;l dlive1'ed. Cicely rose resolute-
ly and gently shaking the girl by the
shoulder, insisted on her retiring.
II shall 60 and see Duke" she said.
"Am we will settle what to do Then
] will come and tell you how we have
managed"
She tried to speak cheerfully, and rs
she had evidently made up her mind.
Minm very regretfully left her and
went up stairs
Cicely walked softly to the door, and
listened until she heard tho bedroom
door close. Then. with her fingers on
the handle, she was about to leave the
dr1UWtng-room when sile heard the
opening Of another door. that OF the
dining room. Stumbling footsteps, and
the noise OF a ch0ir thlOM1 down, be-
trayed Radstocks S drunken movements.
He was going in the direction Of the II
brary.
Cioely flung open the door and con-
fronted him.