Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-07-09

eyes burned with fierce, unholy flame. and
l looked back to them cold, still, uniear-
ins. Then a flash of sunlight shot across
our path. The lake waters shimmcrcd
undor It's golden touch; the drops from
the lifted oars fell like jcwel-hames across
its still and ripplclrss surface, and sud
denly. without word or warning. long.
reEcrberating echo shook the silence as
with thunder. Darby's cry of terror echo
ed my own. Yorkc half srrang to his
feet, but the rowing girl pushed him back
to his place.
"fls:oi! she said, with a broad grin.
"Only pistol. People shoot him." And
stra!glltway from under the seat she pro-
duced am old rusty looking blundcrbuss,
ana began to jabbcr away in her uncouth
ula!cc: with the greatest tlucmcy. UNI
derstood afterwards that it was the GUS
tom to let off Il pistol nj this spot.
The child WAS trembling in my arms.
Her fears helped to subduc my own.
soo.hcd her. and held her closely to my
side while still the boat glidcd on, and
finally shot UP to Il little promontory on
The cast Shore and there stopped. oh, the
delight of touching land again. ! sprang
ont and gazcd around. but WAS trembling
still. Then l t.rncd to Yorkr my face
Y t'ii '.'S o!it HitEt VI
| How d..c,l sou speak ST. to me?" l
cried, pasiioEa.ciy. IL. was cruel cow
arclly. hruta..''
think You would have minded if | had
carried out my threat"
\ ''You must not hc cruel to Jo," said
Darby, lifting up that pure. calm face of
hers rcbuk:ngly. ".!o is very good, and
Il YIN IN n,. Aud nJ., 1.,,%
night. and size was very i'll. do not
like hcr In cry. and will tell Sir Ralph
if you vcX her."
| 4Or!ic's brow grew very black.
'Lravc the child here for Il moment"
he said. 'an,i walk OH With me. VIC are
bound to have it ont sooner or later. The
present time is as good as amy. DO not be
alarmed. sha.l not hurt you. Tho
the murder mood has passed.
II am not afraid of you CIR ANYTHING
you can do | answered. quietly, as |
unlinkcd the ch:d's hands from mine and
led her 10 IL seat beneath the trees. but
you are r:gh:; mus. know why You have
behaved like ths--,v!,y YOU have forced
me Into such a position. Your presence
here is all insult to Your uncle. and your
pretended fr.endiinuss II disgrace to both.
III is nninan!y and cowairlly TO revenge
yourself OH lie by actiAg ais You have
| chosen to act.
we lAnvcd on. just near enough to keep
tho child in sight. hut far enough to be ont
| of hearing.
'lf You had only waited" began Yorke
-"if y"n had only trusted. ~ il had
not lei my brutal temper get the better
of me! Joan, why did You marry my
uncle:'
He was so good" cried family; $50
unscl'ish. and he helped us in such sore
straits. He saved Darhy's lifc-hc has
rescued father from ruin, and-and he
loved me-"
"ics." answered Yorkc gloomily; 81 al
ways told you that. and always knew 1
should have no chance against him in the
long run. You women want so much
an idea! so spo:iess. Il physical man with
the soul and nature OF an angel. All! if
You only knew our trials. and snarcs, and
temptations! We fail ycu in a weak mo.
mcnt. and then you :rr relentless. Joan.
would you lave married had you not
ceased Ia believe in meg!
No. ! said brolcn,y: 'you know that"
Nell. said i'orlic. II wonder who has
been most to b!"me-you o. I: Not that
1T maiters much now. The mscEcf's
9onc-irrcparab!y done. .Ioan. | wonder
ii YOU believed loved you:'
"ics. i answered nnstcadly; 81 did.
That made it nj! the WORSE
And now?' he said. and that old hate
full snccr was on his lips. "Now, of
course. we are 10 be virtuous and good
to go away. to turn our backs on cnch
other. and on all that makes life worth
living. Is that to be the program? Play
c,;., n .J,;, n n
fashion: lock up memory and its treasures
like an cmpticd box that one tosscs into
Il lumber room. DO you think that's an
adequate description. Joan:"
''lt will do" l said, trembling like a
leaf.
turned bnck; l went down the rough
path: l took the cllili's hand in mine. and
stumbled like Il blind thing down to the
waters edge.
"Take me homer l cried wildly to Sir
Ralph as we met face to face. "Oh. take
me home! This place is horrible. 1t ter
rifles me. l can't bear any more of it
l can't indecd.''
| And he humorcd me.
He said no word. asked no questions,
but l heard his calm and CHEEKY voice
talking to Darby. and its tones inscnsibly
soothcd my Jared and trembling nerves,
and the wild. hystercal terror sllps;ded.
/ Swiftly and surely the boat glided on
amidst the golden warmth and color of
the day. but IL sat there with hidden
face and trembling limbs. deaf and blind
to the beauty. and the stiffness. and the
peace. only praying over and over again
in some drcar. hopeless way.
"Help me to bear it. o Heaven! Help
| mc-Oh, help ME to bear it!'