Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-07-29

'oo'h VI leNtl, consequent NEuh oNSi-
fatigue and excitement. sometimes brings.
The tiny whisper went on: he heard it
quite clearly. though it bore him at first
no great meaning.
'What is it: Why have you come?
You frightened me-
Then different voice. thin. attenuated.
but louder. SAID. Enlightened YOU, did /!
Well. YOU may be sure shan't stop long.
l want to know what YOU were telling
that doctor fellow while | was out of the
room this evening. and what you meant
by bringing him here, and where You got
him from"
An odd dream. this: Armathwaite turn
ed his head on the pillow. but still the soft
buzZng voices went on. the weaker one
speaking now.
IL told him only what everybody can
see-tlat | am growing stupid, nervous,
ill.,"
iii! Well. it is your own fault if you
are. You won't go out. Only the other
day you were invited to The Crags. and
THE Crags! No 1t would do me no
good to go there. Let me so away. On,
Ned. Ned. let me so away. l am no
comfort to you. only a burden to you.
Try as may. am nothing to you. You
will not treat me as Il wife, or even as
sister. Oh. l have been trying for days
and weeks to get courage to speak to you,
to call back my old spirit. to insist on be-
ing treated fairly: but my mind and my
will seem to be ebbing away. l cannot
tell what has happened to me, but l think
l am-dying.
The blood rushed suddenly to Arma-
thwaite's brain as these words, weak and
faint. but clear as a bell came to his ears.
He was not dreaming; he was listening
to the plaintive outcry of wife who felt.
rightly or not. that she had been cruelty
wronsed. The words told him that it
was the mans voice he heard next.
Dying! Stuff and nonsense! Don't
for goodness sake try to make yourself out
a martyr to my cruelty. What on earth
have you to complain of:
The answer came very slowly. as if the
words were dropped out one by one under
the oppression of despair.
"What-have-I-to complain off,
"Well, well. l don't pretend that You
did not expect a different sort of life
from the one we lead. But circum-
stances
u CIRCUMSTANCES. w uul
can Justify man for treating girl as
you have done me? l must speak, must
speak: | will be quiet enough tomorrow,
| but tonight l am excited, my head feels
strange and light-you must hear me now.
have something to ask you
well. what is it,
LET me go and see DR.. Peele."
| "Dr. Peele! What do you want to go
and see him for: There is nothing the
matter with you: if you think there is,
| you can consult this young fellow Arma-
i thwaite if you like. I'm sure he lakes a
deep interest in you. and will prescribe
whatever you have Il fancy for; that's the
sort of doctor you want, like all women
a good looking fellow to feel your pulse,
and look into your eyes, and vow yours is
the most interesting case he has ever come
across. I'll speak to him tomorrow
And l will so tomorrow and see Dr.
Peele.'
But why? Why? Look here. be hon.
est. and tell me what you want to see
him for:"
"Can you pretend to be surprised that
| I want to see the man who has been my
guardian and friend ever since l can re-
member? 1t is nearly three months now
since have seen him. l have not had Il
talk with him since the winter began
What DO you want to have a talk with
him alone for? 1t can be only for one
thing that you want ito grumble at the
! life YOU lead, or ut me, or at something
Ned, you, might trust me that it isn't
| for that. Why. if ! wanted to complain
shouldn't | have begun before? Do YOU
ever think what Il strain upon me my life
has been ever since the day l married
YOU: The moment saw Lord and Lad.
| Kildonan in the church that morning. anG
noticed the change in your face and the
GOODNESS of your hand as it touched mine
l knew that had made dreadful mis-
take. AS clearly as ! know it now.'
"Nonsense-all nonsense! l was nerv
GUS. naturally enough. hadn't known
/ they were in London. and l knew theil
coming meant that l must give my mine
to some dry business or other. instead OF
to the pleasure man naturally looks for
ward to Oh his wedding day. 1t was moi
my fault that l was sent off to Moscow
that very day on Lord Kildonan's bust
ness. DO you think l should have mar
ried you at all if l had expected to hav,
to go off like that at a moments notice.
Il remember quite well how they car
ried you away with them. and l had thu
sense and spirit to hate Lady kildonaI
for it,
But you were hard and cold to me
You said bitter things. You would no
even give me wife's goodbye. If 70,
mad been kinder then. l should have hur
ried back to you. and everything woult
| bovo haan lifforonf'
mo. no, no! How could be tende
and sweet to you when l saw that ever!
light word this lady said moved you NOR,
than my tears? 1t was not in human ma
ture to bear thatand on ones weddin:
day! All the time you We're awaT l wa
full of remorse that had been hard. bu
knew even then that you never though
about it. If You had. would you hay,
stayed in Paris three weeks after yor
business in Russia was done. with a brio
waiting for you IN England? OF cours
not"
But vas in Paris on business. yo'
know that. with Lord Kildonan.'
'And Lady Kildonan. | frankly owl
that all the love had felt for you whel
you were kind to me in London and seem
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