The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-01-09

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ed il. 1t was a motkcr-of pearl button
attached to a piece of smooth gray cloth.
such as might have been torn from a
gentleman's short gaiter.
Colonel Prinsep wore such short CATERS
she knew; but then so many others in the
regiment wore them, too, that unless she
could actually fit the piece she held in her
hand into the part from which it had been
torn. nothing could be proved.
That, of course, was impossible, and be-
ing SO, all her discoveries We're useless.
She had distressed herself to no purpose,
and the end was as far away as ever.
With the button tightly clasped in her
hand. she walked slowly home. thinking
over what she already guessed, and what
still remained to be conjcctured. She re-
membcrcd stories she had read of fathers
who had sacrificed their own sons to a
sense of justice. and wives who had given
up their husbands, forgetting their love
for the sinner in their loathing for the
sins that had been committed: but she
was no heroine, and she felt relieved that
nothing more could be required of her,
having o her utmost and failed. The
mystery of Jacob Lynn's death might re-
main Il mystery to all time.
For several days after this she re-
NAMED inactive. Too troubled to dare
to give herself leisure to think, she spent
most of her time in reading; and by Il
curious coincidence, III one of the books
with which she had chosen to distract
her thoughts was an account of 4 woman
tracing out the details of a crime and
eventually discovering the murderer. BY
means of a disguise she had entered a
house that was otherwise cffectually
closed against her. and So possessed her
self of the necessary proofs. Armed with
these. the rest had been easy: no further
obstacles prevented her from gratifying
the revenge which had urged her on.
Jane let the book fall into her lap. 1t
t1oated vaguely across her mind that, if
50 much had been already done by a wo-
man. surely she might have lone more.
1t was from no ignoble motive she wished
to bring the murderer 10 justice. but from
q feeling of duty stronger than her in
clination. 1t was while undecided, still
doubtful of her own powers. and whether
it would be right to use them SO, that
Major Larron called.
| He came ~ostensibly to bring her a num-
Der of the regimental paper. The til
HusSars had always formerly had a pub
LEGATION of the sort. but latterly from
various causes it had fallen into disuse.
and its revival was only resolved upon
Il month before. This was the first num-
Der.
"A boy was just coming out of the
printing-room with a bundle of them as
passed; | thought you would like to
see one" he explained, in excuse for his
somewhat early visit.
Cyan orn lyyu W ,ar, Eipl l., th;,I;nr
of me-" she answered, soberly.
More because ! cannot help myself
than from any encouragement | receive"
james short upper lip. usually SO mo
bile and TREMENDOUSLY sweet. settled itself
into an expression of obstinate deterlni-
nation. His friendship. always patent.
yet never demonstratively SO, she valued
highly; but She had no intention Of drift
ing into any closer relations. To avoid
meeting his gaze she began cutting the
leaves of the paper he had given into her
hands.
Don't misunderstood me- he went on.
with a grave impressiveness in harmony
with his dark, earnest eyes. II don't re-
quire encouragement or thanks. | only
want you TO trust in me, and believe that
in no other position could | be hap;irr or
pAOuNci lidH L ull nov us YOUR slave.
~ thought the days of slavery were
over'-trying to smile.
Compulsory slavery, no doubt: but it
is Of my own free will | would render the
labor of my hands and brain; and l
would not be emancipatei if | could"
She did not reply. Looking up eau
tiously to see the effect of his words. he
saw that she was frowning, more as
though yeXed than confused by what he
had said. He had spoken deliberately
and not from impulse as it had appeared.
thinking that it was time to press his
suit upon her attention.
Everything comes to him who waits:
but it was possible to wait too long, too
patiently. Patience might be mistaken
for weakness of purpose or want of spirit,
faults not easily forgiven by Il woman.
SO he had thought: bur discovering his
mistake, he FASTENED 10 rectify it. No
woman woocd in such Il hunor as that
James restless frown portended was ever
won. even though So skilled Il diplomatist
as himself should be the wooer.
Il am boring YOU: | can see it" he
said, laughing PLEASANTLY. Men in love
are always prone 10 discuss their own
feelings To the exclusion of other sub
jccts of livelier interest; but | won't
transgress agen. | promise. Have you
heard hat Miss Knollys has again re-
fused 10 be Mrs. Grey?"
rs that the last piece of station COS.
sip ~:'-laughing, too.
The very last. He is his own betrayeI
j., this time. | fancy oven his persistence
i; is becoming exhausted; he was almos,
3. rude in his a~bruptness 10 the Colonel a.
! mess last might
"Nhy:'
p. III has taken it into his head that i
j. his rivalry he has to fear; and"-slow
: ly-"l am not sure but that ne is right
+ ~ Woman. unless she had some NOR,
) t9y,:.d l,rer. ccuil be Indifferent to sucl