The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1896-04-10
CHAPTER XI-tCnntinued,

MGmely gown. He remembered how
his heart had gone out to that pretty
face at first sight. He remembered
how he had said Il few dainty moth
inys 10 the girl, and had ridden away
mountainward Where had he ridden
TO: Here the picture became con-
fused again, and memory declined to
serve him.
He walked up and down his room.
and with the soft air bathing his face
hc became more composed. He made
another effort. Fred Ashland appear
ed to him, dressed in 4 mixture Of the
carh in which he had seen him only 4
month back. and Of that in use among
rhe mountaincerS 1t was Fred Ash
land and it was not Fred Ashland
there was something perplexing about
the man-and Fred Ashland received
him cheerly, and told him that he had
found gold, and that he required his
help.
On sudden. the remembrance of
Dick Ashland'S letter. but lately III his
hand, flashed across his mind, and the
scene stood revealed to him. diStinc.
aI:,I clear.
Great heavens" liz cried. "tllat's
Dick Ashland. Dick Ashland Dick
Ashland. The man who has never
sEen heard OF again-the man who
found the gold he brother and the
living image Of that man who canic to
me the other day
He sank into his arm chair autl sat
there stouily, tapping the tioor With
his foot But I.ucy's face gIeams.d
again in the blue twilight, and Ii" re-
memhered that, i'll a few moments, he
was to shake her hand, TO assure him
self again Of hey kindly sympathy, Of
l,er Inyn
The expectation soothed his anxiety
and lef, him hopeful and bright He
waited, as hc thought. for an hour or
anurc, and then he thought another
hour passed Sir Nilliam had prom
ise'd that he should see Lucy that
night. and Lucy had not yet come
The last CLEANS Of day had sunk in
a flood of amber light behind the tree
tops and night had settled over the
scene with soft and pearly blues, Her
bert was still thinking Of the woman
hc loved. and who loved hm 50 Well.
when the door OF his room! opened
noiselrssly. antl-gps. there YVES Lucy.
stretching out both her hands - him.
her face Il little pataf aud i little sad
der than when hn had last seen it,, but
still rs lovely ana as sweet as ever.
Thcfe was the warmth Of surprising
JOY about their mutual greeting. and
for Il few moments they stood booking
into each others eyes while a silent
tear ran down IurY.s face.
BUT hc had SO much TO tell her He
grew warm upon the subject of his
newly recovered faculty. AMI she list
enea as if She drank life and happi-
ness with every word. He was SO glad
to he able to tell her all lie remeiN-
bclrd his boyish history. his days At
school and aftcrWard and lie wall
sicrel on to his i'ptillgs on the prairieS.
Lucyss face became paler yet. and a
hushcd awe trembIei on her brow.
He told her all that IL remembered
about their first meeting. and about his
encounter With Dick Ashland Sud
denly look Of horror crept over his
features. He started III, as from Il
fearful dream, AMI stared ut the girl
Nhu sat in front Of him.
MY God" he exclaimed. Its conie
back to me. It's come back to me, It
was David Marane who murdered
Dick Ashland, and he who tried to
murder me.'
He rose. writhns his arms in the air.
and, with staring eyes. lie retreated
step or two.
Il can see him as If ii were now he
added, in nervous rapidity. Il can
see him in the moonlight | am lying
here. and Dick Ashland is lying there"
lie pointed with ontstrctched fingers
to two distinct places on the carpet
I'VE We're both shot-those fiends, the
Maclanes. have shot lis from the gulcI,
head above. can see David Maclane
drawing Il big knife across Dick Ash
lands throat. and the blood is squirting
all over him as he kneels. an | fire ut
the hound from where | lie. and lie
comes running toward me and grips
me by the throat and takes my pistol
from me and beats me with it on the
head -savagely, furiously And hear
Il woman's voice crying Stop. stop"
and ! can see YOU. Lucy Lucy
coming down the gulch side!''
The hot tears were streaming over
his face. His breath heaved as II In
SufTHating agony. and his hands quiy-
ertsi by his side.
Lucy had risen, also. and was stand
ing there, like II white statue Of hes-
pair. wrnginE her hands in yoiceleSs,
fearless torture.
lie gaZed at her long and intentiy.
drawing his breath in vain efforts to
speak At last he clutched his hair
and cried:
Your father and your cousin muir
elered Dick Ashland-and you-you
saved my life"
He fell down on his knees and
dragged himself to where she stood.
and covered her cold hand with kisses
You angel of angels, Why did
not know ere this what owe to you?
Why uo remember it only noW?"
When the picture Of that fearful
scene was completed, and he had not
pushed her from him in disgust as the
daughter of an assassin; when he