The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-02-28

For they had found the door fastcncd-a
rare fact-and had been ringing and ring
ing. ill ut last Janet appeared. scared
and Hurried.
Have YOU been asleep. Janet? Moth
ing wrong: No ghosts frightened YOU
said ltoderick. kindly.
Ma. M, but the Teddy. she bodc me
Stcrk the door"
What lady,
"Shc came in a carriage. and said she
WAS c0nc TO bide here. She's been wait
ing in the parlor these two hours
ltoderick went hastily in, his wife fol
lowing. There. still bonneted and shawl
ed. dressed richly in velvet and fur. but
with a face so haggard that ii was no
wonder even her brother did not at first
recognize hcr-sat the Teddy"
"Bclla.,'
Yes. it's me. You didn't know, I sup
poser
Dear Bella. 50 glad To see YOU" And
he went over and kissed her a%lrectionatc-
Is. But Bella made no response.
stop q minute she said, in Il hard,
dry one Don't he TOO glad 10 see me.
Ask your wife first. I'm not respected.
I've run away from my husband"
isodcrici started.
Not with Il man-oh. no, thank YOU,
I've had enough of mcn"-With the ghost
of her old laugh-''only with a baby"
She opened her fur cloak and discovered
til" white long clothes of a tiny-such Il
very tiny-infant. with such an old. with
cred, ugly little face. Nevertheless. 81
lcncr sprung to it and took it in her arms.
"Oh. you're quite welcome, if you want
IL don't tl.,rgl IT,, III, ,,r, - .,t,I
Mrs. Thomson. with another laugh. "A
month old. when i, was born. | hated the
very sight Of it. il was 50 like its father.
NoW-Well. | endure it. that's all. Isn't
il a miserable scrap of n thing"
1t certainly was: hut in an instant
Silence. throwing off her wraps, had sat
down to warm its skinny. stone-cold legs
by the fire. with a look on her face that
even her husband had never seen before.
she seems born to be a mother, which
Fin sure | never was; l always hated chill
drcn. They look exactly like young frogs
or to0ds. No doubt this will turn out Il
toad. and spit in my face like-only it's n
feminine, not Il masculine, article, thank
goodness. 1t can never grow up Il man
like him.
DO you mean your husband:" said
Roderick, gravcly.
TO be sure. The man | was fool
enough TO marry. Why didn't my mother
prevent me, as she tried to prevent your
marriage: But minc was all right-or
she thought So-as she thinks still. I've
got Il handsome house, horses and car
ria@os. butler. three footmcn and Il page.
Didn't dodge them all clevcrly? Crept
out III the dark Of the afternoon and took
a tram-me, Mrs. Alexander Thomson
q colnmon street trdm-to the railway.
What would Mr.. Thomson have said:
la, Ia. ha. | wish he knew il, if only
just TO veX him.
Roderick sat down by his sister. gricved
and sad. She was in such an excited
state that he did not attempt a single
question. but she went on rapidly talking.
What Il hunt thcrcI be. Not that he
cares for me not two Straws. but il isn't
respectable to have ones wife running
away. And they will think | have gone
mad and killed the baby-hc knew /
hated il. But | am not mad. | am quite
in my sober senses. liody is that 4 noise:
| told the girl 10 boil The front door. some
body might come after mo, though / don't
think ii. And they never would imagine
| had come here To YOU"
"Nu.' said Rodcrick. with involuntary
bitterness. Nevertheless, | being still
,u"r brother, and YOU having chosen To
take refuge with me. YOU are safe. BE
satisfied"
lie laid his hand or her shouldcr-she
was shaking from head to foot: then unity
ing her bonnet and cloak, he made her
lean back in the arm chair.