The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-05-15

one of her mothers trunks. In any case,
there 1t was, abandoned in the drawer OF a
table at an hotel.
Oh" he thought bitterly, "if l could only
feel as coldly towards Catherine as she feei1
towards meri His resolution had resisted
much: but this final trial of his self-contrd
was more than lie could sustain. He drop
ped into a chair-his pride of manhood re.
cooled from the contemplate weakness OF
crymg--he tried to remember that she Ind
divorced him and taken his child from him.
In vain! In vain! He burst into tears.
CHAPTER &XXNII.
With a heart frightened beyond reconcilia-
ton tnot the first reconciliation unhappily),
with hopes revived, and sweet content re-
stored, Sydney'S serenity of mind was not
quite unrutlied. Her thoughts were not
dwelling on the evil life which she had hon.
estly deplorcd or on the wronged wife to
| whom she had been eager to make atone
ment. Where Is the woman whose sorrows
are not thrown into the shade by the bright
renewal OF love? The one anxiety that troub-
led Sydney was caused by the remembrance
of n letter whicl, she had sent to the convent
at Sandyseal.
As her better mind now viewed it, she had
doubly injured Herbert-tirst in distrustlng
him; then by appealing from him to the coln-
passion of strangers.
III the reply for which she had rashly ask
ed was waiting for her at that moment-if
the mercy OF the mother superior was ready
to comfort and guide her-what return could
she make? How could she excuse herself
from accepting what was offered in kindly
reply to her own petition? She had placed
herself, for all she knew to the contrary, be-
tween two alternatives of ingratitude equally
unendumble, equally degrading. To feel
this was to feel the suspense which, to per-
sons Of eXcitable Temperament, is of all trials
the hardest TO bear. The chambermaid was
still In the room. Sydney asked II the post
Office was near the hotel.
The woman smiled. Everything is near
us, ma'am, in this little place. Can we send
to the postoitice for youY!"
Sydney wrote her initials. "Ask, if you
please, for a letter addressed in that way"
She handed the memorandum to the cham
bermaid. Corresponding w,h her lover
under her husbands nose!" That was how
the chambelmaid explained it below stairs
when the porter remarked Thu" initials look
ed mysterious.
The mother superior had replied. Sydney
trembled as she opened the letter. 1t began
kindly.
Il believe you, my child. and l am anxious
to help You. But cannot correspond with
an unknown person. Ii you decide to reveal
yourself it is only right to add that L have
shown your letter to the reverend father
who, in temporal as i'll spiritual things. is
our counselor and guide. To him i must re-
fer you in the first instance. His wisdom
viii decide the serious question OF receiving
you into our holy church and will discover,
in due time, il you have a true vocation to a
religious life. With the fathers sanction,
you may be sure of my aifectionate desire to
serve you.'
Sydney put the letter back in the envel.
ope, feeling grateful toward the III ther Sill
perior, but determined by the conditions i'm
posed on her to make 10 further advance to.
ward the Benedictme community.
Even il her motive in writing to the con
vent lad remained unchanged, the illusions
to the priest would still have decided her on
taking this step. The bare idea of opening
her inmost heart and telling her saddest Sc.
crets to q man, and that man a stranger, was
too lepellent to be entertained for q moment.
In a few lines of reply, gratefully and re.
specially written, she thanked the mother
superior, and withdrew from the correspond.
eHce.
The letter having been closed and posted
in the hotel box. she returns - the sitting
room, free from the one doubt that had
troubled her, eager TO show Herbert now
truly she believed in him, how hopefully she
looked to the future.
With a happy smile on her lips she opened
the door. She was on the point of asking
him playfully if he had felt surprised at hel
| long ahconna-Jvhen tba siybt fhat mat bo,
eyes turned her cold with terror in an in
slant.
His arms were stretched out on the table;
his head was laid Of them; despair confess
ed itself in his attitude; grief spoke In the
deep sobbing breaths that shook him. Love
and compassion restored Sydney's courage.
she advanced to raise him In her arms-ant
slapped once more. The book on the tabl,
caught her eye. He was still %unconsciou.
OF her presence: she ventured to open it
She read the inscription-looked at him
looked back at the writing-and knew thu
truth at last.
The rlgor of the torture that she suffered
paralyZed all outward expression OF pain
Quietly she put the book back on the table
Quietly she touched him and called him b,
his name.
He started and looked up; he made an at
tempt to speak to her in his customary tone
"lCidn't hear you come in" lie said.
She pointed 10 the book without the slight
est change in her face or her manner.
81 have read the Inscription to your wife,
she answered; II have seen you while yol
thought you were alone; the mercy whic]
has SO long kept the truth from me is mere.
wasted now. Your bonds are broken, Hel
bert. You are a free man."
He affected not to have understood her
She let him try to persuade her of it, AM
made no reply. He declared, honestly tie
clared, that what she had said distressed
him. She listened in Submissive silence
He took her hand and kissed it. She let hir
kiss 1t, and let him drop it at her side. Sh
frightened him; he began to fear for he
reason. There was silencc-long, horrid
hopeless silence.
She had left the door of the room open
One of the servants of the hotel appeared
outside In the passage. He spoke to solnt
person behind him. perhaps the book has
been left in here" he suggested. A gentle
voice answered: 81 hope the lady and gen
tleman will excuse me If l ask gave to look
for my book" She stepped into the room t.
make her apologies.
Herbert Linley and Sydney Westerfielc
looked at the woman whom they had out
ragged. The woman whom they had out
ragged paused end looked back at them.
The hotel servant was surprised at theil
not speaking to each other. He was a stuplo
man; he thought the gentlefolks were
strangely unlike gentlefolks i'll general they
seemed not to know what to say. llerber
haOnanau IN hn standing naa rpSt IN him. II,
thought it would be only civil TO the gentle
man to offer a word of explanation.
"The lady had these rooms, sir. She ha.
come back from the station to lock for {
book that has been LETT behind"
Herbert signed to him to go. As til, mar
turned to obey lie drew back. Sydney lat
moved to the door before him to leave the
room. Herbert refused to permit it. "Sta,
here" he said gently, this o is yours
Sydney hesitated. Herbert addressed he,
again. He pointed to his divorced wife