Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-23

MrS. bITclay SITOue 10 tie ldDle, HIu,
seating herself at the tea-tray, took up
the teapot, as she continued:
elsie, there is IL very true saying
about a woman scorned being a devil,
or something of that sort. Now Judith
is not angry with your husband fer
choosing you; she is bitter against you
for your being chosen. There-don't
cry any more, dearest, but come ana
eat, drink and be merry, and snap your
fingers ut Judith and Claude"
.Oil.' sobbed Elsie, miserably, i
don't think you can be right about
them. Judy was SO good and loving to
me, so was Claude. i am sure that IL L
could only see him lie would forgive
me-"
Mrs. Barclay set her lips tightly for Il
moment: but. having with much wis
dom, repressed her feelings. she rose,
ana, going to the girl drew her to her
feet saying, mischievously:
Elsie, you shock me-you do, indeed!
Why, you told me that your love had
been given [ o Captain HERBERT Come
to tea, for goodness sake, before L
faint, You are unnerved now,-but in
an hours time you will be better, when
| VIII give you the details of our future
movements. But we must not remain
here after 10 morrow; If we do. your
husband will be on the trail"
And then. seeing that Elsie looked
rather as If she wished he were already
there, the ~arch-schemer skilfully
changed the subject back to Captain
Herbert. Then, as she furtively
watched the youlg w:fe's sad, down
east face, she thought she would not
have to exert herself much to keep her
in entire subsection.
Meanwhile, Judith just managed to
catch the train, and made her way,
with all speed. to the hotel where Mr..
Townshend and her father were stay
ing. She was very sorry TO find only
her father there, writing away, as II
for dear life, his table being covered
with sheets of Ms. He looked very
much annoyed at the interruption. II
gazed at Judith v~acantly; but, when
she had kissed him, he seemed sudden
Ivy TO r,hollect that he was not at
home.
"Why. my dear judy" hG exclaimed,
''you are in town. What has brought
you? Nothing wrong. L hope"
No answered Judith, slowly-she
was beginning to feel tired as well rs
depressed-"no; only that i have vast
cd my money and time
And then she told him of Mrs. Gar
diners suggestion and the result.
Dear mel" circulated Mr.. Hatfield,
sit WAS a very happy thought of Mrs.
GARDENERS, Well, We must follow that
up. / wish Claude would come liz! He
is in and out all day, Judy. looking
about him in the streets. as If he ex-
pected to see little Elsie there. you
know. AS | told him, that would not
be at all likely. Still. it is better that
he should occupy his time in some
way. for, when he remains in, he is so
restless that he quite affects me, II |
am unable to write or do anything
else. When he is away. Well. for
instance. / have written two or three
chapters since four o'clock for "A
Withered Heart" simply because 1
have been undisturbed. You came in
at a critical moment. Judy: but, of
course. you could not help that-in-
deed. I am very glad TO see you. even
Mt such an u~n1ropitious moment. for
your anxiety Oh your sisters account
quite puts to flight certain assertions
made by one or two members Of the
llfiillN us ~ NOui ~
ence in the matter. / felt very much
annoyed when the remarks were made,
feeling they were quite unjustiiied as
All. here is Claude!2
Much to .Iudith's relief, Mr.. Towns
bend ca1ae in. He started violently at
seeing her. and his weary face became
illumined by a great hope: bue. as he
realized that the girls greeting smile
was a faint one, his face speedily
clouded over again.
~ had hoped you were the bearer OF
good news" he said, rs they shook
hands.
II hoped I should have been; bur |
have met with a great disappointment.
However. / want you TO follow UP the
clue which l think is worth trying"
Claude listened with great inteatness
to the recital OF her interview with
Mrs. Barclay. and. at its close, asked
the very question Judith dreaded:
"Who is this Mrs. BarclayT
"She is the wife of ii captain In the
merchant service, whom we knew
through Mrs. Gardiner, and she lives in
= cottage at Richmond. / believe Elsie
is hiding because she is ashamed OF her
precipitancy; but Mrs. Barclay is not
the sort of woman who would advise
her for the best. Have her watched,
Claude."
Il will. I left Burton. my agent.
down stairs, and | will go and consult
him. Probably he will start at once
for Richmond. You will look after Ju-
d,th's comfort. Mr.. Hatfield. as. OF
course. she will remain here during the
night" and he hurried away.
.'Of course" assented Mr.. Hatfield,
removing his longing gaze from his
Ms. .'Now. my dear, whit will you
have? Suppose we say cold roast
chicken and coffee? Judy, he as quiet
as YOU can. for / want to get on with
my work. here are plenty of newspa-
pers about, so you can amuse yourself
until Claude comes back. ] SUPPOSE
You will go back early tO-morrow y
Mr.. Hatfield was writing and judy
was almost doing when Claude re-
turned. abour half-past twelve. She
started up: bnt II glance at his face
sufficed TO tell her that he had met
with no success
"No," he said. in answer to her mute
~glance-.'we were a few hours too late.
Burton went first and inquired for
Mrs. T~ownshend. only to receive a re-
ply similar 10 that you did. Later, !
wen. in and asked for Mrs. Barclay,