Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-08-13
CHAPTER NNlv.

MI that day and the next j was 100 III
to move. Tho faithful Mavis attended
me- and Darby. like II tender sentinel.
was ever hy my side. From them learn
ed tha. the party had been roughly broken
up and that Sir Ralph had gone To London
on "ur.cni business. Mrs. March had
lcf, also that same evening. and amaze
mcnt was rife in The servants hall III her
sudden departure.
And N"rkc:' | asked DARBY. family.
"Wherc is he:"
"lIc left las, night" she said. But he
said sood-by to me. and begged me to
give you this letter"
lay there weak and faint. and read
that letter. Ii began without prelude or
formal address.
II hear You are i'll. l am no: surprised.
] know. too. that this illness has been has
tened by what occurred yesterday on ac-
count of that letter. Sir Ralph as good as
told me 10 leave here. and have done so.
but am not far off. ! mean to see You
again before go back to London. l will
SEQ you have no intention of calling ut
the Hall while your husband is away. but
j Shall he in the plantation by the old sum-
mcr house every afternoon from TO Il till
j see You. Joan, you must meet me. or it
will he worse for you-for us both. ask
you from no idle motive or unworthy one.
but | think You will regret il To the last
hour you live if you refuse my request.
Ever yours. IOikE.
read the mad. impnlsive words with
an evei-incrcasing sense of Indignation.
/ tore the letter in half. and waS just
about 80 hid narby throw it into the fire,
when some strange. ncXplcabic fancy
prompted mo to preserve it. ! put the
two halves together. and replaced the let
ter in us envelope. then turned To the
chi,d'> wistful face.
'i'id Iorke say anything To You about
his urclc:" ! asked. "Do You think they
have Guarrelcd:"
II dom, know" she said thoushtful!y
"Eai Norke seemed very. very sad. lie
told mc he would Ike to shoot himself"
| Sl.ivcro,l.
''ioor Ncttic.' l Thought with II pas
sonafc rcvnision of feeling. .'She is walk
in:, along h.indfold oh her path; |. at
least. mine. black and dreary rs L is =
Tl" day passed: the nigh, came. 'Ihou=.,
wcarcd and worn in mind and body. !
slept hi; little. Towards morning ! fell
into Il deep s.oop. When | awc,ie ii wa,
ten o'cioci i-;cn O'Clock. and II chill. '!aa.:'.
misty day. AS the hours passed s;r;n.se
cNcia;aan; took possession OF me; Il .avoi'
Sh flash burned in my cilcok> Il new AMI
vivid strength seemed 10 bear mp my
limbs. and naction grew more and mnre
iiksome. After lunch. Darby lay duwH
on The ouch and presently fell asleep !
81; hy the fire. and read again and AGAR.
thai strange. wild letter; ard. as / rca!
it, stronger grew the impulse 10 meet
Yorlic !'orrcrs.
"l.c shall not prosecute mo any more. -"
! said 10 myself pnssonately. II will
tel, him the truth wthou; disguise to-day
tell him that hate han: that 10 his
se!iishwcss | owe n! my misery: that
never. never wish to see his face again..
Desperation ncrvcd me with its rockies.
courage. and remember l went 10 N"
room and dressed myself in 81 thick fur
lined coax. whose long straight folds fe.
to my feet. and fastened my hat with
cod and trembling fingers. an,l. IKE Il
thief or cnl.l:it. cropt ont of In" warm
bright room. past The sleeping child. and
then oui by the library door. Oh 10 ;hg
terrace and through the shrubberics. TN
seca Ny living soul.
In quarter of an hour was at ths
plantation. Outlined against the dreari
ness. and the darkness. and the mist. I'll.
lai.on: and close beside il. leaning on hi
gun. and with strained and eager eye
fined on the path troL. stood Norile Fer
rcrs.
He saw me. He came s,raish, 1owart
me. his eyes wild. his hand outs,rctched
did not take it. kept mine fo.de,
within my cloak read something ii. hi
face Sor; of shock.
..1l-y, y,,, ir,,, vow. he
huskily
"Whatever have been" / said. bo
ginning 10 tremble with excitement. =.
owe 10 you. First to last you have bee,
the evil genius of my life. Now." viii.
an effort at calmness. II have come her
for the last tiine of my own free will
WHAT have you 10 say 10 me:''
Many ,hngs." lie said; but you M
them AL out of my head while you loo
at me like that
II Will not !ool, at YOU Mt ALL" said
turning my eyes away: but | think
struck ne with Il strange pang of nit
that the bright young face should hav
grown so lined and haggard. Begin"
ut is hard to dash into subject i
cold blood like that" he said: but 81
Ralph has found out that THAT | Low
you.'
THAT you did love mo, You mcan."
corrected quickly.
"po not deceive yourself" he said. wi.
passion. II have never changed to you
in ,.,:::'i. | t.td 10 play III il: wo;,.
not believe in myself. IL engaged IN,
self to Nettic Croft in one of these dc
perate moods when you had stung ar
tortured me with your GOODNESS. l Ike,
away from you: that was just as bad.
came, and was irritated to fresh agon
The very touch of your hand is like i
other woman's. My lie and days al
haunted by you. Joan. let us recaptul
the old joys and live for each other as
as once we vowed to do"
had listened, rigid, dumb, mute fro
sheer amazement. My eyes were on IL
damp leaves piled about my feet. cou
not lift them or meet his yet.
"What do you-wish?" asked at laa