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

TIE udiuleSS Oh HeT eyes. UlIAiliS uef
look many years older than the twenty
live she owned TO.
Mounting the steps. she Knocked and
inquired for Mrs .Aianton.
Yes, miss, she's upstairs" said the
pleasant-faced maid who answered the
door. "Shal | go up ard tell her you
have Gomez"
no. thank you. / can find my way
myself and, stalking majest,cally up
stairs, Mrs. Barclay-or Miss Man
ton as she was known at Clapham-
opened a door facing her, ana found
herself in Elsie's presence.
The ~latter's sweet face was pale and
tear5stained; bet. as il oblivious of the
fact, Mrs. Barclay closed the door,
flung of her hat, threw her arms into
the ar, and said, with q gasping cry:
"Oh. Elsie. my darling, | feel faint.
Quick-give me water, How / have
reached you | don't Know oh, Elsie,
hold mei' And, sinking back Oh a
coach that was conveniently near, she
went off into q fair semblance of a
f%ainting-fit.
Elsie looked 1T her and made for the
bell-pull. Seeing the movement, Mrs.
Barclay gave another gasp, and, stag
gering 10 her feet, stretched out her
hands feebly.
II am better, Elsie. Come. dear, and
sit beside me. What l have gone
through. Only for you could L have
endured so much! i have bad news for
you, oh, Elsie, what will become of
you. tied tc such a tyrant? What a bad
man he is, darling!"
-Who?' faltered Else. turning dead
" pale as she sank down beside her
friend.
WHO, but your villainous husband,
my poor dear? He is furious, Elsie.
and has set the police en- your track.
you are TO be pat away somewhere to
dive by yourself, with a grim old wo-
nan TO look after you"
Her lively Imagination was suddenly
checked by Elsie's cry of dismay, fol-
lowed by n passionate burst of tears.
Mrs. Barclay smiled to herself at the
success Of her scheming rs she drew
Elsie's fair head to her n spoke con-
solingly. while Elsie cried.
"He is a brute, Elsie! But never
mind. darling, i will take care of you.
He shall never subject you TO the cruel
indignities his jealousy prompts him
to do. He Is an inhuman brute. Like
all men, he thinks more of himself than
YOU. He fell In love with your fresh,
young beauty. and married you, think
ing you would be his slave and be con-
tent to put up with his hat ,ful temper
and his jealousy because ne gave you
fine clothes TO wear. OF course people
have talked about your running away
from him, and no doubt that is what
Is making him so bitter toward ycu.
Elsie, do not go rear him: be firm
keen away from him until his vile tenn
per has cooled down. He will come to
you then. hrmhly enough and then
YOU will be enabled TO do with him as
you please"
But" said Elsie, looking up through
her tears, what have L done that he
should be so cruelly-disposed toward
me. L was very foolish to I-n away
FROM him. / never meant to stay-you
know that. don't you?-and heaven
knows / have been miserable enough
ever since! Don't you think that II l
went to him and confessed my sorrow
he would forgive meg'
"My darling girl, it is useless to hope
It! In his present mood, he Is Il very
dangerous man. Suppose he struck you
In passion, ~Elsie-struck You In the
face, marring your beauty forever
Elsie shuddered, murmuring some
thing about Claude's never striking a
woman, she was sure.
.My dearest, the noblest gentleman
that ever lived " not anSwerabie To-.
his actions III Il moment of passion. L
once knew a man, Elsie, who was a
brave soldier and n gentleman. who
was married to one of the lovelie5t
girls. Well, one day. in q passion. he
caught her by the throat aLi tried 10
strangle her. He did not succeed but
she was such Il horrible object ever az
ter with her awful. staring eyes. that
he, shot himself rather than endure the
agony of knowing that he had made
her what she was. You would never
forgive yourself, Elsie. If Mr.. Towns
hend-"
"Oh. DON'T cried Else. in such ter
ror that Mrs. Barclay had to walk 10
the window to overcome her inward
merriment Mt the success OF her horr;-
BILE little fable.
Presently Elsie's sobs ceased, and
the girl sat up and looked around at
her friend.
Edith, you have not told me, dear.
how YOU know all this ~about-about
Claude. Have you seen himg'
.sHave j seen himT"-with an affected
little shrek. Elsie, l o cd not go
near him fer twenty thousand pounds.
No: but I Save seen your sister Judith,
and--I have been followed by n police
man.
Judith Elsie exclaimed, almost
joyfully. Have you seen dear old Ju-
dy? What did She say? Did YOU tell
her how miserable l am? She would
help me, ! know. She does not fear
any one, and would go to Claude and
make peace between us. ! am sure"
"Are you?" said Mrs. Barclay. In n
tragically dubious tone. Elsie. you
know / never liked your sister, ana she
does not improve upon further ac-
auaintance. Judith Hatfield is a trait.
ress. She make peace between you and
your husband! No, no! She would
rather make love to him and SANDER
you! DO you really believe that she
~sympathises with you? Why. her cv-
cry look and thought was for the man
you won from her! From whom do
you think 1 heard of his rage and his
vile intentions, If not from her? Did
she eviDce any anxiety on your ac-
count? No! Her anxiety was for poor
Claude Had she once said, poor