Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-06-17
PART ".
UI--lContinuedl

was tOttering in her oyer-tension OF en-
ergy and courage. She was staring
out at the weather with her sunSen,
gray eyes, and she shiyered rom head
70 foot. He led her back 10 the sofa,
made her sit down, and again knelt
before her in mite passionate devotion
than ever.
Eva he whispered.
'tOh. look at the clouds" she cried.
cit is pouring a deluge."
Yes sad he. What does that
matter? l love YOU"
x cannot bear up against such wealth
err she moaned. 1T Expresses me
and frightens mech, il t%errities me
so, Protect me, Frank, shelter me;
come closer
She drew her to him on the sofa.
and, opening his coat, nestled against
him.
II am so frightened. Hold me tight
iy-wrap your coat around me. OH,
do not let 1t come upon me! Lord. have
mercy. do not let 1t come over me
again. | beseech Thee"
Ii was the visionary thunder she
prayed to be spared. And she threw
both arms around her lover. clinging to
him as IL to hidc herself. 50 She re-
manned. while he held her close; when,
presently. twisting her fingers into has
waistcoat pocket, she murmured:
What is this? what have you here?"
What have you found?" he said, In
alarm.
This. in your waistcoat pocket"
"Nothing--a little phiai," he NUT
tered. "SOme.. drops for my eyes. /
have been troubled by my eyes lately"
She took out the phial. 1t vas a
tiny, dark-blue bottle, with a cut glass
stopper and no label.
"For your eyesT she said. 81 did
not know"
Eyes. really" he answered. Give IL
me-"
But she held it between her two
hands and laughed.
mo, 10. / will not give II you.
Why are you so uneasy? / shall not
break it. Does ii smell? l want to
open it. but the stopper has stuck"
Eva. l entreat you. give it me-" he
implored her. and the perspiration
stood on her brow. at is nothing but
drops for the eyes. and 1t has no scent.
You Will spill It. and it stains"
But she put her hands behind her
back.
1T is not for the eyes. aud you have
nothing the matter with yours she
said. positively.
"Yes-really-"
"No; YOU are deceivIng me. 1t Is
something else-is it not?"
Eva, give it me-"
Does it take effect quickly?" she
asked.
EVA, l insist. Give It mel' he re-
peated, angry now, and at his wits
end.
He threw his arm around her, and
tried TO sieze her wrists; but he only
grasped n empty hand. while the
other flung the phial over his head on
the floor. There was a little clatter of
falling glass, and before he could rise
she had thrown her arms around him.
dragging her down among the cush-
Ions.
let it lie there" she murmured,
with a smile. 1T IL broken. I have
broken 1t for you. Tell me, why did
you carry that about with your
1T Is not what you fancy" he re-
piled, still on the defensive.
$50 much the better-why did you
have itf"
He sat silent for a moment. Then.
yielding TO her insistence, he said:
ITO take it-when all was at an end
between us-in the evening. of course"
And now you cannot do So"
Perhaps ] can manage to buy some
more" he said, with a gloomy laugh.
But why is everything to be at an
end between u.s."
He was suddenly quite serious, mock
Ing no more at life and death.
For your sake, my angel: for your
happiness. l beeseech you, let 1t all be
ended. Let me feel that 1 no longer
need make you wretched. You may
yet be happy: but IL feel that every
thing In me binders my aver being hap
py, and oil happiness must begin In
ourselves alone"
"And do you think I shall let you go
now, that you have Just told me what
you would do In the EVENING""
But you are not to think that I
should do 1t only for your sake. / al
ways go about with that In my pocket.
I have often thought Of doing it: but
then I have thought Of you, md |
lacked courage; for know that you
love me only too WELL"
"Not too well. 1 have lived in you.
but for you | should never have truly
lived"
but Tor me you might have lived
with another, and have been happy"
"No. Never with any 9th sr. That
could never have been. l had to live
with you. 1t was Fatality"
"Ay, Fatality. BERTHE used to say"
do not mention BERTHE
As she spoke the rain dashed against
the window panes in a perfect torrent.
1T Is always raining" she MUIR
INJURED.
sYes-always." he mechanically re-
peated. She shuddered and looked In
his face.
.'why do you say thatg" she asked,
quickly.
II do not know" said he, startled
and bewildered. II really do not
know. Why, what did / say?'
They both were silent Then she be-
gan again:
Frank
my darling"
=" will ITO let you leave me again.
Not ever for a day. l shall always be
In terror for you"
LET there be In end to everything.
my child"