Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-08-20
CHAPTER XXyI.

une, III ltS rigid CAIN, III ltS Sternly aNert-
ed gaze, came over me and stillcd the
words on my lips-the cry of my aching
heart.
"You sent for meg" he said. in voice
as unlike his own as was that altered
face.
"Yes," 1 said family. won't you
won't You come a little nearer"
He drew Il few steps nearer to the bed;
but he did not touch my hand, nor say
he was sorry for my illness or my pain.
II sent for you," l said. ''because they
have all been deceiving me. Something
dreadful has happened. IL want to
know what it is"
"You want to know?" he said, and
there was SO strange meaning in his
voice that it seemed to freeze me with
new and terrible fear. II think it is you
who ought to supply the information.'
us he dead:" gasped.
eyes," he said, stonily.
"How?" 1 whispered, shivering q little
as turned my eyes away from the iron
sternness of his face.
'',They say he shot HIMSELF
"He did not! l almost screamed. II
am sure he did not!'
he was perfectly silent.
Cant you speak to me?" 1 cried at
last. Cant you say how it was? Where
was he found?"
"By the old summer house in the plan
tation.''
"And by whom:" gasped family.
by me-" he answered.
Their looked up and met his eyes.
Heaven knows what he saw in mine of
horror and alright; but the fiery, blood
shot glance that answered them seemed
to say, he, at least, felt no regret for this
tragic end to that young life.
My eyes fell on his hand as it lay on
the white eoverlet. 1t seemed to me that
the stain of blood must surely be there.
shuddered, end grew sick with fear.
why don't you go on?" l said. why
don't you tell me the whole thing? Why
do you make me drag it from you piece
meal?'
What more do you wish to hear?" he
asked icily. "Do you wish me to lie to
you as you have lied to yourself? To
tell pretty fable about accidents? The
sound of your voice sickens me. 1t is
false as-as it's utterances. Do you
think" with rising passion leaping into
face and voice. ''that don't know he was
your lover?-that l am ignorant of how
you left the house that night to meet
him? Do you think to trick me still with
shallow pretense of tidelity-the fidelity
of wife whose heart is another's: 1t
is too late for these things. was blind
long, long time; but trust once broken
is hard to mend, and mine has gone for
ever"
.You are unjust" I said weakly. "If
Won knew all. YOU would not condemn
you would pity me-
= "Perhaps do pity you.' he said with
heavy sigh. But your folly has wrecked
two lives, and cost one. IL can't even
find pity now. From first to last have
been tricked and deceived. No woman
who was innocent would have received
such n letter as-as this" taking that
fatal missive from his breasa, ''and an
swered it in person. Facts are facts-you
can't deny them. l forbade Yorke Fer
rers to cross the threshold of my house.
In defiance of your knowledge of that fact
..-you meet him slyly-treacheronsiy
unly n shameless woman would meet an
equally shameless man. If justice has
syertaken him, he has but suffered what
he deserves. l have told myself thou
sand times that would rather have his
end than the misery and shame that are
my portion hencefOrward."
His voice ceased.
1 turned away and buried my face in
the pillows. think l only longed to
shut out sight, hearing. consciousness of
life.
81 am a failurcw kept repeating to
myself over and over again; "a dismal,
hopeless failure!'
:. Mochop;ca1lv I droy, ono h0nI ov,ov
and held it up and looked at it.
The sleeve fell back. The slender wrist
looked almost transparent. The small,
fine bones showed themselves only too
plainly now. let the hand drop again.
was startled when, in hoarse and shak-
EN- tones, heard Sir Ralph say:
"Why do you do that?"
half turned my head then.
II was only wondering" said, show
much more Gun bear, and live. Not
very much, think"
SIS it SO hard for you?" he cried pas
sionately. "Then think what it must be
for me. You have made my life loath-
some as a sin! You have tricked me to
crime which I can't regret, however
deep the sting Of its remorsew
"Crime" gasped family.
My eyes met his: the look in them ap-
ipalled me. SO may u man look who has
given and lost his all!
"You are too weak to talk" he said
abruptly; "and-and it can do no good
now" Then his voice softened. 'You
must try and get some rest" he said.
1.-THE inquest is to be tomorrow. IL am
afraid they'll want your deposition"
''Mine?" cried, almost springing up
in bed. "Why mine? 1 can tell them
nothing. IL know nothing. I was ut
home when heard that shot!'
His face blanched. He walked to the
door, then suddenly recrossed the room,
and came back to my side..
"What shall do with this?" he said