Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-08

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know you for a joker as ''ould have
your joke. even il you was a-dyin'.'
why. / should think as how you was
touched-here,'' said the old man.
laughingly, and putting his finger to
his own forehead.
Perhaps 1 am touched there. Mr..
Carnes: / often have a suspicion that
l may be. For, you see insanity af-
fleets opposite subjects in opposite
ways. Some maniacs, being beggars.
Imagine themselves kings. Perhaps L,
being really a gentleman, only imagine
myself o fish boy" he said. not laugh
ing. but deeply signing, as he took
leave of the old man and turned his
steps homeward. l repeat, he was no
voluntary imposter; yet. as the months
rolled on, and he became more and
more habituated to the elegance and
luxury of his home, the caressing af-
lection of the stately Mrs. Greyillc,
and the delightful love of the beautiful
Lois, his fear Of a denouement in
creased rather than diminished; for,
oh, he felt that every day brought
carer the discovery that must come at
last.
He loved the beautiful Lois with all
the pure and passionate affection of
his young heart. He knew, too. from
the gossip Of the old servants, as we'll
as from the chatting of his college
companions, that Fulke Greville and
Lois Howard, being no blood relations,
had beer destined from their infancy
for each other. And he was called
"Fulke Greville!'
You two will be obliged to marry
each other. you know, just as soon as
you are of age, whether you like il or
not. Or Madame Greville win be serv-
ing you as she did Esther; for, polite
rs she is, she won't bear contradiction
In n matter that she sets her heart
upon said Clement Courtney, the son
of his guardian, and one of his college
companions. TO him one day.
Esther! Who was Estherg' He
had never heard the name before! But
not for the world ,vJuld he have ex-
pressed his ignorance.
One day. however. when he was
alone with Mrs. Greville, he felt ire
sistibly prompted to say, despite all
risks:
Mamma" wiz you tell me all about
Esther
Mrs. Greville's face became CHASTITY.
.Fulke.' she gasped, how dare you
speak a name that has not been ut
tered in this house for years? You
and Lois have both forgotten Esther,
rs ii is natural you should-and as L
wish | myself could. Fulke, she was
the daughter of my very first mar
rage. She was ten years older than
Lois, and much handsomer, with a
brilliant complexion and burning black
eyes and hair. But, Fulke. when she
vas but fourteen years of age land
you and Lois We're but four years of
age. for it was in the first year of my
union with your father)-she was
stolen by an Irish Dragon, who made
her his wife. and took her TO his home
in the south! Since then l have never
received a letter from her, o suf-
fered her name to be mentioned in my
presence. Let it die now and hence
forth. Yet learn from her story this
one leSson-never to cross me in the
dearest purpose Of my heart. You are
aware that you and Lois are and have
been from your earliest infancy, des-
tined for each other. 1t was the wish
of my dearest husband, your father,
and 1t is, therefore. my set purpose,
You are nearly approaching the age
now, when young gentlemen, very pre-
maturely, but very certainly. begin to
think of young ladies. Fulke. lock at
me. Forget that there Is any other
young lady in the world except Lois."
As she spoke. a broad. blue glare like
sheet lightning flashed from her eyes.
but was gone in an instant.
But what a terrible look Ii was!
What n revelation OF her real charac-
ter, Now, caress him as tenderly as
she might. the fish boy would feel that
her hands were the paws Of n leopard
ess upon him. So he thought, as he
FASTENED, with trembling frame. and
blrshing cheeks. and faltering tongue.
to assure her that he loved Lois better
than his own life: that he would rath-
er have her than possess the whole
world: and that IL he lest her, he
should die.
''You shall never lose her: I will take
care of that" said the lady, grimly.
And thus the interview closed.
Married three times, and still SO
handsomei I wonder IL she killed and
ate her three husbands, one after the
other the splendid tigress. And, oh!
but won't che tear me. neither when
she finds out who | ann said the fish
boy. with a shudder. And from this
day he dreaded the denouement worse
than ever.
The denouement seemed at length ut
hand.
Mrs. Greville was preparing for a
voyage and n long residence in Eu-
rope. Her object was to place her
daughter Lois at a Partisan school.
and son Fulke" Mt n German universe
| ~, and afterward to give them the nd
vantage of extensive travel over the
| continent. While the fish boy was
completing his last term at the Collegi-
ate school and Lois her last term at
the Ladies' academy, and Mrs. Greville
was settling up her home affairs. one
morning a letter was placed i'm her
hand. Seeing the postmark, she was
about to fling 1t from her: but upon
looking closer at the writing, she
seemed surprised. and opened and Pc
rused it contents. They were as fol-
lows.
Fuljoy's Island, July 1st.
Madam-I break the silence OF many
years to inquire of you whether you
have totally abandoned your step-son,