Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-07-04
NSMSI2HN#
CHAPTER TX.
THE LETTER.

Ralph Prescott stood SPELL bound,
overwhelmed. He knew the woman in
that room; he had met a surprise most
startling; he had recognized the false
nurse as the last person in the world he
had evcr expected to see in those SOM
Der habiliments.
1T il she, What does it mean? What
can it mean? Oh, this is b%ewildering,
improbable.
She? Yes; the woman in the world
who filed his minds thoughts to the
exclusion Of all others. She-Ruth! the
disowned, the wife Of another, the heir
ess OF Maple Leaf Farm.
There could be no doubt as to her
identity; there could be no mistake;
there was no need Of a second glance.
The same pure, soulful eyes looked
forth, only a trifle sadder than of yore;
the fresh bloom of roses on the pearly
cheek was the same, only a race Of the
canker of care had paled 1t almost inn
p~erceptibly. Resolution compressed the
lips slightly, anxiety brooded on the fair
brow, but-suth Elliott was there!
What did it mean?
From wondcrment to flashing suspi-
ci on the thoughts Of the enrapt lurker
passed rapidly.
KUN ElltOLG WAS mere, LHl Uccu mere
for over a week. She had passed the
exposure of curious eyes with her iden-
tity unguessed; but had not Godfrey
Forsythe known her-had not he posi-
bly, even suggested the disguise?
II So In the bewildering% iugglery
OF surmise, doubt, and speculation Ralph
Prescott lost himself.
Here. indeed, was a mystery-a mys-
Au.r. ,ut%h n y,nftx-S c,v.nlv-n NATIVE
that had made Of a timid, shrinking girl
q bold, resolute woman For sweet
loves sake she hal undertaken a mon
strous imposition; but why and where
fore the tangible issue of it all?
It's beyond mel cant understand
it," breathed the lurker. But l will
know. Where there is secrecy there is
mystery, where mystery, a plot. I
thought myself a master hand, and this
girl-she has outwitted, defeated,
crushed me utterly"
He drew back from the window as he
saw that she slept. His sinister face
expressed every emotion in the gamut
OF a scheming rascal's mind-avarice,
suspicion, love, hate, vengeful persist
ency.
For an hour he ruminated alone in
the garden. Night influences We're
about him. The brooding clouds all in
spired him to subtlety and plotting.
He approached the broken shutter
again. Ruth slumbered.
Il will act with caution" he muttered
grimly. "A sudden conformation might
precipitate flight. l will watch and
wait-but--I must know what her con-
tinued presence here l must
know her scheme. / must balk its out
come, II possible. The letter she was
writing!-that may reveal all. If !
could only get a glimpse at that"
Prescott approached the unshuttered
window Of the vacant apartment. The
door OF communication with the adjoin-
ing one was closed securely. Ruth
slumbered profoundly. +,
He was an adept at sneaking into the
house after late hours, a natural burg
lar, too.
With his pocket-knife and a rusted
piece of hoop, he forced the catch and
pried up the window sash.
The next moment he was in the room.
On tip-toe he advanced to the stand
where the written sheets lay o~utspread.
Eagerly he took them up. His ellish
eyes scanned their contents.
The Joy OF a great gloating exulta-
ton came into his eyes as he read the
story of a woman's struggle for the
right Of a woman's faith in a loved ones
fidelity.
For the letter told all-it cast light on
darkness. it constituted the history OF
As singular an exploit as ever fell under
the eyes Of mortal man.