Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-30

IOEGS HiG--(0&ACA V1N " n111 ~ In
strncK me three or four times with the
| butt-end Of his whip. Look here!''
He showed her large wcals on the
| back OF his head and, turning his head,
| pointed to the mark OF a blow extend.
Ing from his neck to the top Of his ear.
"Of whom are yJu speakiDgY" Percy
| asked. mot Of Elsie, SurelyY
Eyes she was at the ball. | rec0y-
nized-or thought | recognized her
| and pointed her out to Claude. ! may
have been wrong"
You were not.' Claude exclaimed,
fiercely. do you think did no re-
| cognize her yoice?"
Come along up to bed, old chap;
you want n good nights rest" said Mr..
Fletcher, soothingly. Forget all abous
Elsie until morning, and then We Will
talk il over.
Look here, Fletcher'-and Claude's
eyes cleaned in his set, white face
Il have left no stone unturncd to ind
her; but, if | knew now that, by cross
inc the street we could be reconciled,
L would not move n step. Let her
go!'
Quite right commend yeai But
let's 70 up stairs now; I'm awfully
tired. Goodnight, Judy!"-and, with
an expressive glance at her, Percy put
his arm within Claude's and led him
from the room.
Twenty minutes later, when Judith
was sitting absorbed in perplexed
thought, Percy came stealing down
stairs again.
This is a bad business. judy" he
said, gravely. Hes in for a relapse.
He insisted upon my leaving him, but
he Is so excited ana feverish that be-
fore long he will be raving In deiirium,
or | am no judge. l shall sit in the
dressing-room, 20 as to be near him.
Do you think that Grace knew that
Elsie would be there? We had cards
for four, but | gave mine to Towns
bend tonight"
Judith briefly told Percy all that had
happened.
well it's a most ~disgraceful piece
Of business from beginning TO end" he
said, vexedly. Your people married
Elsie to him, and they ought 10 have
taken care to teach her her duty, il
she didn't know it but she's not a
siXteen-year-oid child. Between YOU
and me, | think it's Il scandal TO lay
traps to catch a man for his money,
and then treat him like this. AS for
Grace, I'll have it out with her, and, if
she knows where your sister is, Ill
know, too, and between us. we will
try to bring this young woman 10 her
senses. Now you 80 TO bed-you must
be tired-it's a shame that your even
ing should have been spoiled"
Not at all: i don't mind that in the
least Nor am l tired. | shall change
my dress and sit ZIP for Grace; but,
meanwhile, can we do nothing to re-
lieve Claudeg'
NO: it is best not to irritate him. /
shall make some Xcuse for going into
his room again, and, if he Is asleep or
worse, | shall run up To the top OF the
road for the doctor
1t was a quarter to five when Mrs.
Fletcher, looking dusty and tired, re-
turned home. AS she got II OF the
brougham a gentleman emerged from
the house and walked away up the
road. She stared at him wonderingly,
and was still more astonished on n
tering the hall, to find Judith there in
her ordinary morning gown.
Who was that, Judithy' she asked,
rather curly.
Doctor Connolly"
Doctor Connolly? Good heavens.
Baby-Percyr"
"Neither-don't be alarmed. 1t is
Claude"
Claude here? Well, l declaret,'
Hush, Oracle; he is very Ill, indeed.
l braved your displeasure and brought
him here, for he is in need of care, and
If you will come into the dining-room |
will explain the matter to you. But
have a cup of coffee first-I have been
making some" Judith said. quietly;
and a few minutes afterwards she was
proceeding with the recital.
We'll, l declare!' Grace calculated;
IF 1t were not so serious | should
laugh! l suppose | must confess the
truth now. l did see Elsie at the hair
dresser's, and, as she would not come
here or let me go to see her, we ar
ranged TO meet there again. Your sus-
picions prevented that, so, knowing 1t
would be a safe disguise, | wrote and
told her to hire a dress and meet me at
the Mainwarings', where she would be
able to remain safely until supper
time. | knew you would never dream
of II being so daring. But do you
really mean to say she made the coach
man strike Claude?
Yes. OF course you will give me
her address now, Oracle, or go your
self and fetch her here? She must
come to him! You will not mind
that??"
Il mind?Of curse not; for 1t Is
time they were r~econciled. | can't
have my friends treated to such n
scandal, and it's sure to leak out IL
he's Ill here without her. But Ii Is of
no use your going to her, Judy, for
laughing-"she is quite jealous Of you,
and will be furious now. If she was
watching you all the time you and
Claude were together ut the Mainwar-
ings'.''
Grace. If you have no feeling for
me, you might have a little respect"
Judith said, coldly.. Elsie told you
herself before her marriage that she
had no reason to be jealous of me: she
must, therefore, have less reason now"
Wen, you can't deny that he paid
you a lot of attention before he saw
Elsie; so that it is very bad form for
you to he so much together now; it is
no wonder Elsie is jealous.'
'If Won nareiSt IN tbot op1 cho 49,.