The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-07-25
CHAPTER NNNI.-(Continued.)

1I1AI EN- ny l.. '''iAAihN
twill you tell me how and whcn you
saw your mother. IIilda|' asked Paul
Fulton, hulmbly.
She told him the story of her mothers
death. Through the hard. worldly nature
some sharp sting of remorse pierced
him.
Great heavcns.' he cried. "to think
that l came here. seeking my new life.
and find my wifc's grave and my living
child"
"She gave me one message for you.
said Lady I1ilda. graveiy. at was to tell
you that, dying. she blessed and ~forgave
you"
"Did she say that asked Paul Full
ton. hoarsely. while his eyes grew dim
with tears. Poor Maggie, she loved me
dearly and Well"
That moments %softening touched his
daughter more than any words could
have done.
"For your mothers sake, say TO me that
we are friends"
She turned to him and laid her hand in
his.
ut shall be so,' she said. "For her
sake ! repeat her pardon and her love-"
"Hilda," he said, gently, you are an
angel to me; if you had sent me from you
In disgust l should have gone straight to
the bad, for / am a reckless man. You
have saved me. l will try-it is never too
late-I will try and be more worthy of
you; ] will not shame you again. l told
you that It was my life you held in your
hand. Now time presses. Listen to me.
We must both preserve our secret. /
have entered upon a fresh life. l am rich,
and men respect me. ! am going to mar
y; nay, do not start from me, child; that
cannot hurt our mother now. l an 60
ing to marry one who will do great things
for me. / see honor and rank and the
good word and praise Of men before me.
I see a better and higher life, but all this
depends upon you. I suffered, Hilda: no
one knew It. Shame and disgrace cankcr-
ed my very soul. l believe l hated your
mother because her loyal heart ever found
excuses for me. ! could not suffer shame
again. II our secret should become known,
were to say you are my child, or if you
were to call me father, my story must
be known; men must know that l am
Stephen Hurst, the eX-convict; and if this
should come TO pass mind. l hate heroics,
l say it calmly, if this ever gets known,
! will kill myself. l shall not wait for
scorn and contempt. to destroy me. You
see l leave my life in your hands"
Il have no wish to make it known"
che replied sorrowfully; my happiness is
destroyed. l cannot endure TO look in
my husbands face and know that have
deceived him. ! have no business here;
my place is amongst the poor and shame
stricken. If Lord Bayneham knew my
story, l believe he would send me from
him If conceal it. it will kill me. Where
am | to look for help: Who can aid me-"
"Those are false, sentimental notions"
said Paul Fulton. more touched than he
cared to own by her sorrowful face and
despairing words. You have done no
wrong; you are a gentleman's daughter.
Lady Hutton made you a lady in every
sense of the word. Keep your secret, and
you will be happy enough"
II did not expect you TO understand
me-" she said; lit is the concealment |
hate. But we must not linger. What
more have You 10 say"
Nothing" he replied. 'Iou know |
leave here early in the morning. ! shall
never return. Iiilda. We must remain as
strangers. and do not forget that you hold
my life in your hands. l shall avoid YOU
it will be less painful than seeing you.
and not daring To claim YOU as my child.
Are you willing:"
Yes" she replied in the same hopeless
tone 1T will he best so: only promise me
one thing-if | die first. YOU will tell the
whole truth to my husband; he will never
betray YOU"
He promised without the least intention
of ever keeping his word, and they turned
toward the house.
"Eilda." said Paul Fulton. you are my
own child. Let me hear my name once.
Say God bless You, father befor" We
part
She turned her fair, sad face 10 linn.
and he never forgot il as he saw Il then.
The breath of the Summc wine was no,
more sweet and faint than the voice tina,
said: "God bless YOU. father. Good-hye.'
IF l had kept her with me-" said Pau,
Fulton. as through the mist Of warm tears
he watched Lady liilda enter the house
81 should have been . different man"
That night. while darkness and silrnc,
fell upon the old castle. there Was one be
meath its roof who seemed To die a living
death. That night Il fair young face lost
its radiance and youth; a pure. loving
heart rebelled wildly against dark, stern
fate; a golden head tossed YEARLY 10 and
fro; and in the darkness there came to hcI
again those solemn. terrible words, Il
visit the sins Of the fathers upon III,
children"
The young, beautiful. and beloved lady
of Bayneham prayed for death: life had
grown too painful 10 bear.
CHAPTER NNNlI.
Lady Bayneham had been thinking
~ araro;co che did moi often indulge