Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-03-05
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Pleased, panied and perplexed at
n C Alva stood transfixed where FL
verton had left her.
She had seen her father! her father,
whose sudden fight, mysterious wan
derings and unknown fate had been
the great subject of wonder, specuia-
ton and conjecture to her W self, 10
the family and I the community.
She had seer her father, actually
seen him in the flesh, and spoken with
him. face to face. There in that spot
no had stood before her. intercepting
the last rays of the setting sun as IL
sank below the horizon. They had not
embraced or kissed, or even taken
each others hands-they had met as
souls may meet on the confines or an
other world. And now he was gone,
like a vanished spirit.
She had met her father. n though
the shock OF that meeting, with lts
conflicting emotions of great sur
prise. deep Joy and bitter disappoint-
ment. had impressed her senses as
forcibly as any actual event could pos
sibly impress any human being, yet
now the whole affair seemed TO her so
like q dream that she almost doubted
its reality. ..
The meeting so sudden and unex-
pected: the interview So short and I'M
satisfactory: the consequences so I'M
certain and alarming; thes esub1ects
engrossed her thoughts, absorbed her
senses. and riveted her t. the spot, so
that she did not move until the rush-
wood near her broke sharply beneath
he tread OF the intruder whose distant
appearance had driven away her
father.
Then h started as from sleep, look
ed up. and flushed with JOY. for She
thought the new conner would be Nor
ham Montrose.
Alack, be was only Davy Denny,
the head gardener, returning from one
of his occasional inspections of the
woods.
The old man cast a curious. anxious,
sorrowful glance at his young lady as
he touched his hat III passing her.
Alma blushed at meeting that glance
which said as plainly as eyes could
speak:
please, Miss Elyerton, it is too late
for you to be out walking alone in
the woods, and if l only dared to
speak I'd up and tell you So"
And the old servant went slowly.
sadly and reluctantly up toward the
mansion house.
Alma felt no disposition 10 follow
his footsteps, but turned and wander
ed still farther down the slope OF the
hill into the narrow valley below,
where the woods were thickest.
She had nearly reached the foot Of
the hill, when the figure of a man sud
denly crossed her path.
Looking up with a start she recoS-
nized Hollis Elverton.
MY father back she exclaimed.
les Alma, back; | have not been
far from you since we parted. | left
you intending to return 10 my present
retreat. But from the covert OF the
trees that concealed me l saw old
David Denny pass, and saw you, in
stead of going home as expected you
to do, and as you should have done.
child, turn and ramble down the hill.
/ then took a shorter path to meet you
here TO complete the Interview that
was INTERRUPTED and under the shadow
of the coming night see you safe with
in the lawn of your W dwelling"
said Hollis Elverton grayely.
ooh. my dear father. how glad l am
that l did not go home. On, II you
knew how happy IL makes me to see
You again. eve after this short inter
val. you would indeed love me a lit.
tie" said his daughter ~fervently.
Peace. girl, peace! No more Of tina,
il you would ever look upon my face
again! have sought you. Alma. with
q Sit down while l unfold
IL to you. Sit down, l say, since YOU
cannot stand" SAID Mr.. Elverton
pointing 10 the trunk or a fel!ed ties
that lay across their path, and upor
which Alma Immediately sank.
Mr.. Elverton stood at n short dis
lance. with his arms folded, leaning
against an OAK.
You know something OF this whole
sale poisoning at Allworth Abbey
he began.
"oh, yes, sir" answered Alma shud
dering.
How much 90 yen know
".As much as had been made publi'
through the coroncr's inquest"
Ind that's u thing-worse thai
nothing, since il II Il tissue of fails,
deductions, What opinion have yol
formed from the facts ELECTED by tn
coroner's inquest
"oIr. l cannot fern any"
"What do you think of the guilt o
innocence OF the accused girl, Eudor;
IeatonI"
"un. sir. l dare not think of that a
all, the subject is so painful to me-"
"Nou think her guilty. them
Il would TO heaven that l could bs
lleye her innocent. for | loved hel
oh. m father, she always locke
kindly toward me. and in my lionel
ness | loved her." r~'s Alroa in a br,
ken voice.