The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-12-24
;Zel. for I could mot talk to n one"

med. Tor i could not laI.t 10 any one.
Lady Laura walked to the head Of tho
pier. The SEA was roC-A: the waves
seemed 70 tumble over each other in their
haste: the breezc was full of a refreshing.
briuy oriior. Gradually il cooled the burn
ing temples. il eased the weary. heavy
eyes. 1t was Ike a breath OF relief. The
evening shadows were falling thick and
fast over land and sea as Lady Laura
stood looking at the white cliffs beyond
which lay Nottingham and Newhaven,
the lights that shone an the vessels out
1T sea. In the presence Of the grandeur
of natures work. she forgot herself and
her troubles.
Suddenly she became aware of two fig
ures sitting not far away from her. On
one of the side seats looking toward the
Sea-a man and a woman-and the man
was leaning. with an air of loving tender
ness, toward his companion In a moment
she recognized the outline of her hus-
bands broad shoulders. she could not
see his face; but she was none the less
sure that il was he. and tina; the woman
who was with him was Gladys Rane.
Drawing her veil more closely round
her face. Lady Laura stood still a2A
watched them. They were talking earn
estly. but she could not distinguish what
they said. Once she saw her husband
clasp Gladys hand: bur the hand was
quickly withdrawn. She watched them
like II ~spell-bound. This was her own
husband; th;s man who had stolen out
in the shadows of evening 10 meet anoth-
or woinan-her own husband: and. though
he cared So little for her. she loved him
with all the devotion of a true and loyal
wife. Should she 90 to him and demand
an explanation Of lis conduct: No; for
he might say that she had followed him:
he might humiliatc her before her rival;
he might say that Ar had met Miss Rane
accidentally, and that they were enjoying
the beauty of the soft gray evening to-
gcther. No; ii would be useless to con-
front him. He would only laugh her TO
scorn. and her riva, would triumph.
She sat down on me of the seats at The
end of the pier, Ter brain on fire, her
heart beating willy. She longed with
an indispensable luging that the calm
and repose Of death would come to her
rescue. Life held nothing for her but
utter misery unrc.ieved by a CLEAN of
happiness. Even should her husband re-
pent of his u~nkindness and love her with
his whole heart, il would never blot out
from her memory his terrible ordeal. If
death would but come TO her and release
her from the pain and the fever of life.
Rising from Der seat. she made her way
through the crowd and returned 70 the
hotel. She Wen. softly up the great
staircase. and mt Newsham N the door
o. her room. The maid uttered an excla-
nation of alarm III the sight OF her mis-
tress' colorless face.
Why, m lady" she exclaimed. you
look worse
Il am worse. NeWSham.' returned her
ladyship, Il will hot 20 down again to-
night"
Before she had opened the door Of her
room. Lady Laura heard light and rapid
footsteps. and the Captain, looking the
beau-ideai Of manly beauty il his evening
dress. stood before nor.
Not coming down to dinner. L.aura:'
he cried. "lloW is that"
Il am tired. she answered. colGly.
Tired. You puzzle me. The quieter
you are, and the less you go out. the
more YOU complain of fatigue"
You ask me why | am tired" she re-
piled; Il will ,e!l you. | had a bad head
ache. and | went for a walk to the end Of
the new pier. You wil'understand."
And the expression of the Captains face
was a study rs the full meaning of her
words dawned upon him.
Go be continued.)