Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-10-22
CHAPTER XIV.
The Day

The Wedding Day.
Through the cold. muddy. desolate
streets, in the sharp. pitiless rain, May
ran on her GRAND of affection towards
the old prison.
Battling with the fierce gusts of
wind. and Knocked at by the distant
growing thunder. she held steadfastly
on her course. swerving neither to the
right nor to the left.
Drenched through and through by
h storm, she was unconscious of all
except a blissful fact that she carried
about her person q document which
would give her father freedom-per-
haps life.
No matter at what cost it had been
purchased. she had 1t. She held il
fast. and that was enough for her.
Her father. delivered from DURANGO
vile. she must again return TO that
grim. desolatc house which she was
henceforth to call her home.
A still. quiet voice whispered in her
ear: why go back
When the thought first occurred TO
her she started as If the Tempter him.
self had stood at her elbow: but. for
all that. at every step she took, the
same voice. she fancied. sounded in
her ears: "Why go back"
The massive prison doors were
reached at last. and as May rushed
beneath the shelter the warders
focked around her. lost in admira-
fion and amaZement. Amusement mt
her beauty-amazement ut her having
venturcd through the raging storm
without other protection than her hat
and a little cloak which she had
wrapped around her shoulders afford
ed her.
what can / do for you. MISS"
asked a burly man cycling her with
what he fondly imagined to be an en-
gaging expression.
'Is the doctor here?'
maybe he is, maybe he isn't. Look
here, young woman, this isn't an in
Urinary"
mo, no! l know too well what II
is,' she answered. with a shudder. If
the doctor is here. l beseech you. let
me see him. 1t is a matter OF life Il
DEATH"
.yToll, well see about it presently.
Come in and dry your clothes"
"No. no! / can do nothing until |
have seer him! Take me TO him!'
.Come along. then, and we'll see
what we can do.
May thanked the man and kept close
behind him through long, vaulted
stone corridors.
Every now and then their progress
was barred by massive doors; but her
guide unlocked each one. taking care
to fasten them again securely when
they had passed through.
After a while she stopped. ut n sign
from her conductor.
The doctors inside here. You just
knock, and he'll let you in"
In obedience to these words. May
raped gently. and n voice bidding her
enter. she pushed the door, which gave
way before her, and entered a small
but cemfortably-furnished ROOM.
The doctor had made his rounds. and
had settled himself comfortably to his
reading In a costume more easy than
elegant.
my dear young lady," said he,
starting to his feet as soon as ne saw
the sex OF his visitor. this is an mex
pected pleasure. What can l do for
your
"How is my father, sir: oh, do not
deceive me--let me know the WORST
Pardon me; really. 1 don't exactly
remember your Iatner = uaHft.
Matthew Rivers, SIR
"Ah, of course-now | recOliect. But
how could you come here In this peit-
ing rain? You are literally drenched!'
"D0 not mind me-" said May, rather
impatiently; tell me of my father"
mot one word will l say until you
have swallowed this" said the doctor.
producing a glass of some steaming
mixture, which smelled and tasted like
grog, but which he dignified by the
name(Df universal tonic.
May hesitated.
"Do not delay" said the doctor,
laughing; 'or ! will not answer for the
consequences. Rheumatic fever, or at
least a cold In the head, will be the
result of your wetting, unless you take
my prescription. There, you feel bet
ter already, don't your" he continued.
us May slipped the steaming beverage.
1t really did her good, and SO did the
doctors CHEEKY, joyial manner, for she
thought: "If my father were worse,
ne surely would not talk thus to me-"