Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-10-29
CHAPTER xxvr-tcont,nuea,

"A She sat herself down outside the
door, and sobbed. with her face buried
In her hands, till her whole frame
heaved convulsively.
"He struck me--he pushed me from
him." she moaned; ''he turned me
away. who have no thought but for
his w~clfare-who would give my life
IN save him an hours paing'
The tears which she restrained in
his presence now flowed fast and
c%opiously; but much as she loved the
man IN every way so unworthy of
her affection, she could not hide from
herself that he had beha we'd cruelty
most cruelty.
Yet she showed herself a true wo-
man: for she sought to find excuses
for the inexcusable conduct of him
vEhe loved.
Miller anger was not directed against
J6prn Gridley. but against that oma
who had dared win his affection.
Married -narriedt" she cried TO
not have meant it,"
Who could it be? Who was the wo-
man who dared step between them
To mar her happiness?
Slowly she made her way down the
ctAitcs aAu III IlOiI ii ihH iito titt
street; then gradually quickening he.
pace, she walked on and on out of
the crowded thoroughfares of the
dirty town into the country.
The old store-shops and the public
houses gave way to neat dwelling
houses. which occurred at longer and
longer intervals as she pursued her
way, TIL at last the bricks and mortar
of the town of Portsmouth gave way
to he green hedges and trees Of the
country.
Yet 1t was not 70 enjoy the beauties
OF nature that Lucy had left the
Golden Lion"
She walked steadily on, scarcely be-
slowing n passing glance upon them.
She had evidently some set purpose
In view.
Portsmouth was left behind; but
still she continued unflaggingly upon
her way, looking not behind, where
the lowering cloud Of smoke. and
the line of sparkling water. told Of
the presence Of the large town, but,
with her gaZe fixed steadily before
her. she plolded onward.
There was a firm, fixed expression
on her face, not Of anger, but Of
grief-there was a settled determ na-
ton in every action.
1t was no light matter which had
brought her ont upon this county
road. and which led her on towards
a little village, the spire Of the church
of which now rose from out IA clulnp
of graceful trees, shining and glitter
Ing In the brilliant sunshine.
1t vas a pretty little village this TO
which Lucy had directed her steps.
A village. with picturesque cottages
with queer gable .ends-with a quaint,
old. red brick church, and with craeper
covered pnrcles.
A village. theinhabitants of which
lived in summer time mostly in public.
with open doors and windows-such
e village, in short. as would have at
tanned any artists eye and made
him long to transfer Ii to his sketch
book.
Needless of the curious glances di-
rccted towards her by the villagers.
Lucy walked quietly and steadily past
the cottages until she reached the
churchyard.
Pushing open the little gate which
gave entrance TO Ii. she walked in: ana
then seating herself to rest awhile be-
meath a splendid yew tree. her thoughts
few back to long ago-to the time
when she was a petty. little country
girl. like those whose laughter she
heard sounding from a neighboriag
field.
All was bright and fair with her I'M
til the day of her meeting with John
Gridley.
From that day she could date all her
Sorrows and misfortunes.
After n time she rose again to her
feet and entered the sacred ediica.
1t was one of those days upon which
the church appoints certain services
for morning and afternoon: and as
Lucy entered the sound of children's
voices joined In a hymn of praise,
Erlotc upon her ear.
How the sounds carried her back to-
the days OF childish innocence.
The service concluded. she sought
the clergyman in the vestry. 1t was
but a little thing she wanted-only the
copy Of an entry froEl the parish reg
ister-only a small piece of parchment
duly signed and attested.
She paid the usual fee and received
It from the hands OF the oOr. feeble
old man, whom she remembered well.
but whose failing vision prevented
him from recognizing her.
She folded the document carefully
and concealed it in the bosom of her
dress before she quilted the church;
and then slowly and pensiyely re-
traced her steps through the church
yard, and through the little village
into the main road, and so back at last
to Portsmouth.
To Portsmouth: but not to the Gold
en- Lion.
Much ms she loved John Gridley-
much as she wasted her affection on
one in every way undeserving OF it,
she could not humble herself SO far rs
to seek him again after the blow he
had inflicted upon her.
On her forehead was still a faint,
red mark where her head had come in
contact with the cabinet.
Yet she felt no anger against the
man who had caused tie wound. She
would not believe that he had intend
ed to use so much force In pushing her
from him. even when she remembered
how basely he had deceived her; how
he had told her that he was the hus-
band of another: her anger was di-
rccted against that other, and not