Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-07-01
CHApTEI, XXEV.


ooh, who is it that has come, Hester?H
she asks, hoarsely, clinging to the door.
for the room seems suddenly to whirl
around and fade away. and her hand,
clutching the door. grows icy cold.
mr.. Farren," Hester answers, coolly.
"Why. what on earth are you making
such tragical piece of business of his ar
rival for: never knew he was particu.
lar friend of yours before
Ibid he bring any news?" Muriel per.
sists, passing by her enemy's taunts I'M
noticved Did he: did he! Oh, Hester,
DO have pity on mel"
DO have pity on you?" Hester repeats.
with scornful mirthfulness. ''Do have
pity on you.' and tell you the news? Well,
believe his news is that there is a hope
Of small dividend being paid next half
year on poor auntie's South Araucanian
Railway shares-We.l! What is the mat.
ter with you now!'
For at the other side of the fireplace.
Muriel sees the curtain thrust aside and
Hannah. twisting her face into the most
extraordinary contortions of voiceless err
treaty, and with both hands held up, and
all her fingers silently reckoning in fran
tic manner. as she stands hidden from
Miss Stapleton's view: and in a moment
her young mistress ruSLes across the
roon knocking over some of the spindle
legged. modern-antique chairs recklcssly.
and is in Hannahs arms before Hester
percoives the ambush that has again de-
teated her cruel longing to torture her de-
fenseless rival.
"Yis. me darlin'! yis, ashore" Hannah
says. convuls;vcly. but rous:ns to the bat.
lie with Celtic readiness and delight.
whist, now. honey! The best O. good
news for yeh, NE child, ou'y she wouldn't
let yeh Lear it as long as she could keep
it FROM yeh, ashore! Wicked, inselent
woman ycrsel', Miss Stapieton. me jewel!
an take that now! An sorra bit O yeh'll
ever get her to torment her an brak her
heart, an make little of her, and fret tho
innocent sowl out OF he. as we've been
dom sence yeh come here! An take that
ROW. Whist, me darlin': He's come
home to yeh. aSilia: h;mselfs come back
to yeh. me Garlin, an he's waitin' up
stairs for yeh. an dyin' TO see yea, an
why wouldn't Ee!"
My husband! My husband" the poor
girl gasps. wildly. trembling and laughing,
while great tears roll down her face "Oh.
Hannah! Hannah! where is he? Oh,
E:ic!-Eric-oh, my husbap~--oh.
Eric. my darling"
She tears herself from Hester's angry
grip and Hannah's circling arms, and
darts. swift as hunted hare. out through
the passage. into the hall. up the ,tairs,
and is beating ut the door of Mrs. L,ew-
e.lyn's chan Der. ere Hester can <ollow
and overtake her
But there is q moment or two OF DELAY
ere Eric starts up to open the door. and
the poor child. standing outside. feels that
her case is too desperate for fears 4, stay
her beseeching hands or voice, asd she
beats and bruises her soft palms on the
panels of the locked door. and crics mad
~ for admittance.
Erie! Eric! Eric. 1t is l. Murie!! 1t ia
Muriel, Eric! Let me in, Eric! Oh, won t
you let me II, Er;c:"
Poor Eric's Quivering fingers wildly lock
| and unlock the door uselessly in his fran
tie haste, and when he opens it she still
reiterates her piteous entreaty. though
his arms are around her, and though he
carries her into his mothers room. shut
ting the door in Hester's face as she ac-
tually tries to follow them. And Mrs.
Llewellyn tearfully hurries out of the
room, recognizing poor Muriels claims
at last. and leaves the girl and her welded
| lover alone together, with all the woes
Of earth passed away, and al the joys OF
paradise hcrs-for a time at least.
| (To be continued.)