The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-01-02
xxx

~ I'N'iN niDllllIlS III NoNtUlDtT-nOI
November as it is known in England. with
Ioadon skies and bleak. biting winds that
whistle mournfully among bare trees
hut November as it is in India. warn
still, yet gratefully cool after the exhaust
ing heat that has gone before; the sun
shining in the cloudless heavens. bright
huod birds singing in the lcafy branches.
all nature tluttering and trembling be-
meath IL" caressing touches in the am
bionl air.
II was the 9TH of November. Jane
never forgot the date. though the thought
had crossed her mind several times dur
.nS tho morning how u|neventful the days
were. each resembling the other in its
dullness.
Nearly a week had passed since the
'heatricals, and she had seen nothing of
Colonel Prinsep. Though the weather
rad been fine, once or twice there had
been a shower of rain IN the evening.
The clock had just struck four on that
special afternoon of that date, when she
heard footsteps in the yeranda. 1t was
the hour Stephen Prinsep had generally
chosen for his visits. when they were en-
@ngcd: and she thought il might be the
Colonel now. But when a few moments
passed and NJ servant came to announce
him. she opened the sitting-room door
and Went into the hail. No one was
there. but almost Immediately Mrs. Knox
came out of the quartermaster's writing
room looking flushed and put out.
a native came running from the adj
joining compound belonging to a house
which. on account Of the reputation ii
had gained for unhealthinesS. was unoc-
cupied. and now formed a convenient
short cut To the parade-gronnd.
Looking up with casual interest, Mrs.
Nnox's attention was arrested by his
terrified expression. and she stopped
short in her complaints.
What is il" she asked, sharply.
The man. a respectable-looking servant
of the Mussulman caste. was for some
'ime unintelligible by reason Of his fright.
and could only fold his hands and i'm
i'lore pardon for the fault he declared he
had not committed. 1t was only after
IN impatient rross-eXamination that Mrs.
Knox elected the fact that a "Sahib' was
iylnS dead some few yards away.
More likely tipsy." was her contemptu-
Gus observation.
1t took them some minutes TO reach the
spot indicated, and then when they came
within "A few yards Of it, Mrs. Knox
hurried on. to spare her daughter what
might be an unnecessary shock. Blu as
>h" came up and saw who it was, she
forgot every consideration in her own
horror. The first glance had assured her
that the servants supposition was cor
rect the man was indeed dead; and as
She had swiftly scrutinized his features
another truth was borne upon her. that
he had not died by his own hand. She
could not repress a scream.
1T is Jacob Lynn-murdered.'' she
cried, and turning, was just in time to
catch her daughter in her arms or she
would have fallen to the ground.
Mother. say he is not dead, 1t can't
he true. He is i'll, hurt; but not that-not
that"
Against her firm conviction Mrs. Knox
kn"lt down, and laid her hand upon his
heart, his pulse. and even upon his fore
head. from which the blood was trickling
slowly down. lie was warm still, and for
a moment she thought he was alive. She
raised his head upon her knee, and sent
the native for water in the almost forlorn
hope that il might be of use.
For the first time Jane acknowledged
me cbou looks 3+'N 10 every one else
had been always Int; and looked upon
him with pity ma, though in nowise akin
Ia love. WAS yet so tender that the tears
came yelling int. her eyes as she thought
of his lost opportunities and possibilities
Of good.
Whose hand was it that had struck him
down: The question fell upon her minds
ear so clearly that involuntarily she
turned TO see if any one had spoken.
They were alone still. her mother and
she. with all that remained OF the mar
IL whom she had been engaged. and TO
whom she had been so de-. He would
never veX her more. She wished she had
been less inpatient of that love which
81" had never valued. Now that it had
vanished from her life. she felt it as n
loss. Yet only n week before she dread
ed his very presence, and begged Stephen
Irinsep's aid in delivering her from his
attentions.
Il will get rid of him somehow, never
fear. he had assured her.
Was it possible that in that lay the
answer To thu question which was trou-
bling her? Had he taken these terrible
means of removing Jacob Lynn from her
nnlh forever? oh. heaven forbid,