Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-05-07
CHAPTER xxIx-tcontinued.)

means OF doing good. For my sake L
wish you 10 be a Providence to that
poor widow with whom | lodged in the
Borough, and her thirteen children
that a family and she was willing to
nave made 1t fourteen, and even fif-
teen, by keeping the captains orphan
daughter and myself also, If there had
been any need. Hers is a terrible
struggle with the world TO win daily
bread for all those avenous young
mouths; and well and bravely does she
maintain it. Now, dear Malcolm, as l
1rmly believe that there Is not a
oma in this world more worthy of
assistance, ! wish you to give her no
merely transient help, but such per-
1manen aid as shall establish herself
and children in comfortable independ-
ence for life. / heard her say the
house she occupies was for sale. Buy
1t and give Ii to her; u the furni-
fure and stock the shop. 1t will take
but a few hundred pounds-that you
viii never miss-but to her and her
children what a fortune 1t will ber'
IF 1T took thousands, Eudora, Ii
should be done, and not only because
they would be well bestowed, but be-
cause you desire it,"
Il know it. Well, when you have
made her comfortable in the way I
have indicated, next find out what
trades or professions she would like
her sons and daughters to follow, and
Jay the fees 10 apprentice them. That
will provide for all their future lives
IA relieve the good mother from the
great burden of care"
1T shall be done, Eudora, and in
wOiJr own dpar nan CO that for = N ,g
after you have become an angel in
heaven, the widow and her children
shall bless your memory"
"Ah, well, l feel the need that some
one should bless me-"
Many will do so, dear saint And
now what more shall l dor
"Not much; only when L am gone DO
not let my little dog perish. Mrs Bar
ton viii keep her for a few days until
you can call and fetch her.
Dear girl, be sure that there will
be few things in this world so precious
TO me as the little creature thar you
loved. And now what else? Speak all
your wishes; tell me all that [ can do
sfor you, for TO obey all your commands
VIII be the only course to save me- from
~madness-the only purpose for ! hich
Il shall bear to live-except one! yes,
except one"
There is nothing else whatever,
dear friend"
Nothing else. Eudora. You ask
nothing then for yourself-nothing
for your own memory! Even at this
supreme hour your thoughts are all
for the good of others. Yet, lear
saint, though, in your sweet resigna-
ton, you have not asked 1t. here l
make you one solemn promise. one
binding oath, one sacred VOW! Here,
with my hand upon your martyred
head-here, speaking to your innocent
heart-here, In the sight of the all-see-
Ing God-I pledge you my whole life,
fortune and honor to the one sacred
purpose Of discovering the real Grim
fnal ,redeeming your memory from all
%reproach, and establishing your inno-
ccnce above all question: said Nal
colin, solemnly sealing his vow by
pressing n kiss upon her forehead.
Thanks, thanks, for this devotion,
dearest friend. And now bid me a
gentle goodnight and GO"
$50 soon-has IL Gomez" aspirated
the young man, as all the blood in his
veins seemed turned back in its course
and roll in, with annihilating force,
fuDDD HIS utdEl- MUST Il ftdst lou.
1T is my W tongue that ~ you
go, dear Malcolm. Go, while we still
have self-command left; go, and leave
sme to God"
At this very moment, also, a warder
appeared at the cell door. He did not
speak, but the mere event of his ap-
pearance there announced that the
moment of separation had arrived.
She raised herself and threw herself
upon his bosom. He strained her to
ms heart i'm the unutterable agony of
n last embrace. A moment thus, and
then her arms relaxed, and she sank
fainting upon her pillow.
Malcolm, blinded, giddy and stunned
by despair. reeled from the cell.
The lobby, lighted only here and
there at long intervals by lamps in
high scenes, was very dusky. AS he
rushed along its gloom, he suddenly
felt his wrist caught by a thin, fiery
hand, that seemed to scorch into his
flesh. while n fierce, hot whisper
pierced his ear, saying:
BE on the watch tonight at the APP
pointed placer
The burning, wiry grip, the eager,
stipging tones were those OF Amelia
Wilder. But before he could reply to
her words, almost, indeed, before he
had recognized her. she had vanished.
And the next minute he was Joined
by the warder, who had only fingered
behind to lock the door, and who now
attended him down h stairs and saw
him fairly outside the prison walls.
He heard the great gate close with
n loud clang, the key turn, the bolts
shove into their grooves. the bars fall
into their places. and he knew the
prison was closed up for the night.
But where was Annella2
He looked up and down the highway
and all around, In expectation OF see
ing that strange creature. whom he
supposed must have left the building
before he did. and with whom, as the
.despairing and frenzied snatch at the
gfaintest shadows of hope, he wished
ito confer. But he looked in vain. She
was nowhere visible.
He well understood then meaning that
her words intended to convey. But
were they not the words of madness;
Who could tell2
ABe on the watch tonight at the ap-
Ypointed place." she had said.