Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-02-20

cred groan fl his master. and a
sharp, sarcastic laugh from the stran-
ger.
Ahis secret interview lasted for about
an hour. at the end of which CSlaries
heard the footsteps coming down the
toward the door, and deemed IL
proper 10 withdraw from his pCst Of
observation. But Mr.. Charles limbs
were so stiff and numb from long
~kneeling that il was no easy matter
to rise, while at the same time there
was imminent danger OF his being dis
covered in the act OF listening when
his master should open the door.
With 0 last desperate effort he strug-
gied upon his feet: and then. as for
tune crowns us when we least expect
her to do so. he had the satisfaction OF
overhearing something. 1t was the
voice of his master, saying in a o
Of anguish:
You are a fiend, a fiend, H never
cast forth n blacker one to- blast this
fair EARTH
And the moment after Mr.. Elverton
pulled open the door, and hurried
forth-alone, He crossed the hall, en-
tered the drawing room and shut the
door after him.
Charles stared after his master, ard
then looked to the right and to the
left, before and behind, above and be-
Low and everywhere else, TO see with
er the stranger had vanished. bGt In
vain, for the earth seemed to have
swallowed her.
Then he entered the library. and
turned on the full light Of the gas,
and searched every nook and Granny.
stun in vain. Finally, he came to the
conclusion that the stranger had been
let out through one of the French
windows that opened from the library
upon the lawn.
And having fully settled that
part of the mystery to his salts
faction, Charles turned off the gas.
shut up the library, and came back TO
the hall, just in time to hear a wild
shrek and a very heavy fall from the
drawing room, and TO see Mr.. Elyerton
rush forth and run up stairs.
In astonishment and terror. Charles
hurried into the drawing room. where
10 his farther CONSERVATION. he found
Mrs. Elverton extended upon the floor
in a dead swoon. He fastened to sum-
mon the housekeeper and the lady's
maid, who came in great alarm to the
assistance OF their mistress.
Mrs. Elverton was carried to her
room, where every means was used to
restore her to consciousness. But when
she came TO her senses it was only TO
fall into the most fearful rawlings. in
which was darkly Swallowed forth a
calamity SO direful, a grief so deep, a
shame so intense, as raised the hair
from the heads of the listeners with
horror.
The housekeeper ordered everyone
from the room, that none should hear
these awful revelations. She also sent
TO summon Mr.. Elverton to tie bed
side of his wife. but the master OF the
house was nowhere 10 be found. In
her desperation, she dispatched Charles
for the medical attendant of the f,m-
lily; but it was neal morning befs re DR..
Watkins could reach Edenlawn.
On his arrival he repaired immedi-
ately to the chamber OF the suffering
lady, but on hearing the appalling ma
ture of her rawlings. he warned the
housekeeper to permit no one but her
self to approach Mrs. Elverton until
the latter should her senses.
During that morning the illness of
lAit iahs accuDlNh aAspIhtE pLiacts III
before noon an infant daughter was
prematurely ushered into life.
But Mr.. Elyerton was not there to
bless his first born; and though mes
sengers were dispatched i'm all direc-
tons 10 seek him, yet no clue could be
found to the whereabouts Of the miss
ing master of the house.
Since the birth of her child. Mrs. FL
y~nstAn haI faIlan fnra No pnnra rnx-tnpS
but lay in a sort OF dull despair. To
rouse her from this state the infant. a
fine and healthy one, beautifully
dressed, was carried to her. But the
great black eyes OF the mother dilated
horror at the sight of her child.
and shuddering with excessive emo
ton. she turned away.
Seeing how terribly the mother was
agitated by the presence Of the child.
the doctor ordered ii TO be carried to
the nursery, where a nurse was en-
gagged TO take charge of it.
Meanwhile the visitors assembled at
had learned. from the con-
of the household, the illness of
the mistress. and the absence of the
that some great event, some
crushing calamity, had suddenly fallen
upon Nit LtAiiAiy A<thA III AAoLh IL
physician that Mrs. Elverton was in no
condition even L receive their adieus,
they left with him their parting com
pliments for her, and set out fer town.
The convalescence of Mrs. Elverton
was very long r%rotracted. but though,
the rawlings of her delirium, she
had shrieked forth the names of her
husband and child in connection with
unimagined horror, yet, from the
moment of her return to reason, h
never once required TO the existence of
either. Her attendants wondered that
she never inquired after her husband:
but her physician warned them not to
force the subject upon her attention.
The babe was doing well in the nurs-
cry, but Mr.. Elverton had not yet re-
turned, nor had any clue been found
his disappearance.
1t was a period of three months dura- !
ton before Mrs. Elverton was suffi-
GENTLY recovered from her severe ill
ness 20 make her appearance in the
drawing room. and oh! how changed ,
from the naughty and beautiful WON
who. some little time before. had
been brought. "A loved and happy bride,
to Edenlawn!
The majestic form was indeed
the same, but every vestige Of