Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-10-15

| EtCpNtI
with care and attention, doubtless.
Hjs constitution is strong: 10 is his
brain which is affected, not his body.
The words conveyed a terrible sig
n~ilcance 10 Door May.
rs he-is he" she asked-"is he u
Of his mindT'
We'll, my poor girl, ii is no use con-
cpaliny IL from you-he has brain fe~
YER"
Ii WIS a dreadful blow this, 10 the
maItstcr's daughter. and she claSped
her hands over her heart, and the
breath came quickly, and her temples
throbbed violently: but the knowledge
of the duty she had to perform, OF the
task that it was necessary for ner I'd
accomplish, assisted her, after a few
moments. 20 regain her outward conn
| posure.
II wish you every success, my poor
! girl" said the doctor, kindly. Take
/ care what you do, or sou, too, Will soon
be in my hands"
She needed not the caution. WHAT
| did il matter whether she lived or died
after she had procured her fathers
liberationG
WHY should she wish to live? WHAT
was there for her to live forP
As the wife of John. Gridley, could
she be happy? No. Her heart was an
others. and DO what h could. she
could not efface the, image Of Ernest
Hartrcy.
A well built, almost handsome-iook-
ing house was pointed u TO her as
the residence of him who Il ouce
been her fathers clerk, and who was
now its master.
"Lor' bless you. miss" said a loqua-
cious man Of whom she inquired. "EV-
erybody in Winchester knows MI.
Gridley. He amt been here over long,
but he's done a deal OF good; he's got Il
grand business and a lot of money;
and they do say he's going to build a
church. He's a good man and a KIND
friend TO the poor
Let us follow May int the house IN
habited by John Gridley, and chronicle
the reception and the conversation OF
the good mantle kind friend TO the
poor
After q little delay the maltsters
daughter was ustered into a small but
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES apartment; ana
there. at a table. writing, sat the man
whom she had seen last In wedding
garb. prepared 70 lead her TO the aftar.
He looked up as she entered, II a
grim smile of satisfaction. when
showed all his white and even teeth,
pasSad over his countenance.
Il have been expecting YOU, he sald,
and then quietly resumed his writing.
May's courage had deserted her, ana
she stood trembling in his presence.
His letter finished. he folded 1t up,
and then advanced towards the pale,
affrighted girl, who shrank back from
him in terror.
He caught her. almost roughly, by
the wrist. and fixed his piercing black
eyes upon her face.
1T is my turn. now> is it notT be
said. with a low, mockiAg laugh. Inc
last time we were in the same room
together you shrank away from me
Won looked with loathing upon
mp>you considered me q crImlnal'
but now you come. pale, humble, ana
penitent. | have brought you on your
knees at last, proud though you be.
What do you want:
spare ny father. He never wrong
ed YOU" she pleaded.
Never wronged me. Only accused
me of theft and something worse! only
caused the finger of scorn and hate TO
be pointed at me. Only procured me
a ducking in the pond OF your hated
village. Your notions of right and
wrong do not tally with mine"
oh, how May shrank from this man
his face. his voice, his words!
Could she ever bring herself TO be-
come his wife?
"Oh, do set my father free! He Is
dyingi | have Just seen the doctor,
and he told me so-told me there is
but little chance for him unless he can
leave that dreadful prison. You can
liberate him-you can save his life.
They tell me you are good and kind;
surely you will not let him pine and
die when it is in your power to save
him.
"And If | do?"
.'Oh, say you will and I will"
'Will become Mrs. Gridley, eh?'
sIf my fathers freedom is only to be
procured by marrying you l will be-
come your wife"
kind, ccndescending and flttering"
sneered John Gridley.
You know | do not, cannot love
you"
YES. / know IT," growled the good"
young man between his cienched teeth:
but I.will marry you if only TO spite
that pale-faced baronet'S on, with his
blue y g and his grand manner. What
right had he to step in between me and
my happiness and steal you away with
his smooth. honeyed words and his
fine promises? Oh, ii would be a grand
thing to be my Lady Hartrey n day,
wouldn't it? But you never shall be-
never"
You may say what you like, do what
you like, John Gridley, for my fathers
sake | will bear IL all. Liberate hiR
and l will be your wife-your loving
wife l canno be; but l will strive to
do my duty"
Listen TO me. Suppose I say you
shall be my wife, but without a we'd
ding ring?'
She started back from him with such
an expression Of scorn and anger on
her face, as even TO discompose the
cool and collected John Gridley.
Don't be frightened he sneered,
well call in the clergy; but | have
something 10 say to you. May Rivers,
about this marriage. Do you know
why want to make you my wife?'