Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-06-03
v.

Sir Archibald received Frank rather
coolly, though civilly. Then he left
them together. and Eva at once began:
'Sit down, Frank. i have something
to tell YOU"
He obeyed, In some surprise: her
tone was ~business-like, her emotion
was suppressed, and she seemed to be
prepared to make some clean and log
ical statement.
Frank" she said. "you wrote a let
ter to papa, did you not?"
Yes" he nodded, sadly.
You didT' she exclaimed, eagerly.
YES" he repeated. 1.-TWO to you and
n to Sir Archibald
What! two to me!' she cried, In
dismay.
YES" he nodded, once more.
And you had no answers, she went
on, more, calmly. did you ever Won
der whyT
"Why?" he echoed, in surprise. "Be-
cause you were offended-because |
had been so rough"
mo-" she said, very positively.
simply and solely because we never
received the letters"
What" cried Westhove.
want, William seems to have had
some interest In keeping them back
Some interest?" repeated Frank
DULY, bewildered. "Why?"
THAT do not know" replied Eva.
All | know is this: Our maid, Kete-
you remember her-came crying one
DAY to tell me that she could not STAY
any longer, Tor She was afraid of Will
lam, who had declared that he would
murder her. l inquired what had hap
pcned, and then she told me that she
had once been just about to bring a let
ter TO papa-in your handwriting. She
knew your writing. William had come
Dehlnd her when she was close TO the
door,, ana had snatched 1t from her
saying that he would carry 1t in: but.
instead OF doing so, he had put the let
ter into his his pocket. She had asked
nm h he meant by 1t; then thew
mad a violent quarrel, and ever sipce
she had been afraid of the man. She
lad wanted to tell me a long time ago.
Oh dared not,.for fear Of William. We
questioned William who was r, ugb
n sulky, and considered himself Of
Tended by II doubts of his honesty.
Papa had his room searched 10 SEQ IL
ne had stolen any more letters or other
things. Nothing, however. ,ould no
found; neither stolen articles FOR let-
tiers. Not even the letter 70 rono
which seems to have been the iost nj
the three you wrote me-"
1T was said Frank.
vi course. papa dismissed the man
And-oh, what was IL I wanted m toll
you:-l cannot remember.-So Won
wrote actually three tImesr,
Indeed, l did; three times"
And what did you sayy, she asked
with a sob in her throat.
asked you to forgive me. and
Wnether-whether all could not be the
same again. l confessed that l had
been wrong"
But you were not"
Perhaps not. ] cannot tell now. !
leit it so then. l waited and waitad
. a word from your father. And
none came"
No, none" she sighed. "And then7.
What could l have doneY,
why did you o come YOURSELF,
On, why did you never come near u.s.,
she walled. reproachfully.
lie was silent for a minute. collec.,ny
his thoughts; he could not rememhe.
all.
Tel me, Frank" she said. softly
why did you not come yourself?'
Il cannot remember exactly" ho
said. duly. 40
Then you did not think Of it,"
"Yes, certainly" said he.
Then, how was 1t you never camc~,
Frank suddenly broke down: hc
guiped down his tears with difficulty. a
gulp Of anguish.
Because l was heart-broken; because
was so wretched, so unspeakably
wretched. ] had always taken rather
cynical views Of women, and love ana
20 forth; and then, when I met Won. II
was al 90 new. so fresh to me, I felt