The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-03-12

SOul with DIank despair Ut the tHOuSNt
OF his possible recovery. If memory
returned to him at would he re-
member?
All women are more or less born act,
resses, and the shock of the first sur
prise being over, Lucy-pure and truth.
full Lucy-played a part like any Of her
meaner sisters. Played a part in Il
to her heart not less holy than
that which spurred Judith to become
q wanton.
You don't want to remember moth
in. Herbert she pleaded. "Yew're
jest quite good enough as yew are, an
yew don't want to run no risks. I've
seen enough in my time Of men bein'
%butchered about like so many cattle,
that it goes agin the grit to think O.
them stickin' their knives into yew."
But my dear Lucy" demonstrated
Herbert; lust think Of it. l don't
even know how | came by my wounds,
and surely it's interesting for a man
to know who broke his head and car
ly killed him. Would have quite killed
him." he added, with a frank smile
and q look of manly gratitude. "if he
hadn't had a dear, good, priceless girl
like you to stick to him and get him
cured"
Again he did not notice the look Of
trembling dismay that CLEANED softly
and sped into air.
"Now, yew jest don't want to do
nothin' O the kind" Miss Lucy insist
ed. II reckon yew know as much as
yew want to know, an if yew follow
my advice, yewll leave well enough
alone. 4 mans brain amt to be poked
about like an apple or a potato. an
that thar doctor amt 80 doggone
sartin thai he can do what he seq he
car when he's finished"
Herbert saw that the subject dis
pleased Lucy, and he put her objec-
tons to the account Of anxiety for his
safety.
Since you think it unwise," he said,
at last, 81 won't nave it done-at any
rate. not just yet; but I'll turn it over
in my mind"
Yes" Lucy replied, with a content
ed smile, think it over, an take y
good, long while in thinkin', an when
yew've finished with one lot, - on
with another lot, jest to please me,
that's a good boy"
In spite of his firtatiOns with Lady
4 ely It,. tlItlc was lo "pilllh II iit
world who, to Herbert's mind. stood
on anything like the pedestal to which
his loving admiration had raised Lucy.
Her wish was a kind of unwritten law
to him. He thought her objections
womanlike and not all reasonable, but
he admitted them, nevertheless.
During the few days that followed
he pondered over Sir Williams propos-
al, and his opinion varied according to
the company in which he found him
self. When he was with Lucy he con-
coded that perhaps she might be right;
but when be baSked in the sunshine of
Lady Evelyne'S SmileS-a now fire.
quent occurrence. much too frequent
to please Mr. David M~aClane-his opin-
ion veered in the opposite direction,
and he was anxious to submit himself
to the great surgeons knife.
Figures had always been Il worry to
Herbert. and now they proved a sore
bother TO him. The possession Of an
estate brings its burdens with it, and
one Of these is that they have to be
managed. Tenants were continually
grumDling, and grumbling tenants had
to be seen and pacitied. eHrbert had
appointed the morning hour from 9 to
10 for this purpose, and was seated. on
one such morning, behind his writing
desk. a sucking Richelieu administer
ing the affairs of his little state. when
the name of Frederick Ashland was
brought up to him. He remembered it
from his rent-roll rs one Of his tenants
at Chancey Green.
Il wonder what he wants." Herbert
said to himself. These men are al
ways wanting something or other"
Frederick Ashland was ushered
in - a burly. broad-shouldered,
broad-chested John Bull farmer,
with a jolly. round and rudy
face beaming with good temper and
good nature, and clean Shaven but for
Il pair of small side whiskcrs.
Had Herbert been able to carry in
his mind the slightest memory of Dick
Ashland. there he would have recOg-
niZed the very picture of the murdered
man. The resemblance of the two
brothers was startling. The living
Frederick was the very counterpart of
the dead Richard. Even the costume
had Il similarity, as Dick Ashland al
ways accoutred himself rs far as he
could, in the garb Of a midland farmer.
I've bin tryin' to have Il word with
you, my lord, these days past said
Frederick Ashland. when the custom
airy courtesies had been passed, las
I've bin in hopes o gettin' news from
YOU O that theer brother o mine
Dick. his name is-aS we amt heerd
of this many a day"
Il don't quite understand you. Ash
land" said the young earl. How can
you expect to get news of your broth
or through me-
WHY, sure-e-lie, Lord Cleve, you an
Dick was fast friends. an he did write
n w. fra,an tlnt anltl nlich nlnnA In