Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-24

49, Rl 49, ~ - NNAAD $50 - Fh'~
have learned to love you. As it
was"
Grace finished with a little despair
ing gesture.
"As it was" Mr.. Santley said, 81 was
supposed to die. and so break all tie
between us! Oh, Grace, have you 20
word of welcome or pity for me now?
My love, if you could only know what
/ have suffered. could imagine how /
have dreamed. longed for and looked
forward to this hour, you would make
my return happier to me-
Grace stood in s~tatue-like silence and
~immobility, staring blankly before her,
literally paralyzed by pain; but to the
man who watched her SO keenly, her
silence had another meaning.
His arms dropped helplessly. and he
staggered back against an adjacent
tree.
MY welcome homer he muttered,
vaguely, while his dark, dilating eyes
wandered wildly around, Heaven
help and pity me. My welcome home"
Grace saw him raise a handkerchief
suddenly to his lips. and noticed that,
as he drew 1t away, it was brightly
red. The girl forgot everything else in
a quick rush of pity.
! A cry broke from her lips. She opened
the gate that had hitherto stood as a
barrier between them, and went quick
ly to his side.
let me help you! This is terrible!'
she cried: and her soft, willing fingers
fiuttered about his throat; her eyes
looked at him entreatingly, and, for
the moment. Grace Erie forgot all u
the pain and distress she looked upon.
But Herbert Santley tried 10 break
away, to push her rudely from him, 10
refuse help from the woman who had
no welcome for him. Physical weak
ness, however, betrayed hlm-his eyes
grew dim and misty, his footing be-
came uncertain, and, as he turned, he
stumbled and would have fallen, but
that Grace caught him and held him
fast within her arms. And there he
lay, so white and still. that. for the
second time in her life, she thought
him surely dead.
lie was not even unconscious, now
ever, though so weak that he did not
raise the prone head from her Shout
der. With Infinite difficulty she
dragged her heavy burde nto the
grassy slope that bounded the River
View grounds, and, as she did SO, the
man felt her hot tears falling upon his
cheek and brow. Herbert Santley.
thought that death had come at the
call Of this dreadful agony, and was
content that it should be so.
.Foreiye me, HERBERT. He heard
the girls passionate, remorsaful cry,
family and from afar. II did not
dream of this-I could not known
"No"-the mans dark eyes opened
widely. aud into them there ca,ne a
light of the old, tender fire-"it was
ALA mistake. This death is best.
Grace. kiss me once-but-once-my
darlingl"
With a feeling that she was the VIC
tim OF some horrible nightmare, Grace
bent her golden head to the pale face
upon her breast, and pressed her cold,
reluctant lips to what seemed to be the
brow of the dead. There was some
thing repulsive in the embrace, but
She dared not draw back, even when
she felt the thin hands, with a strange,
desperate strength, clasp her neck, and
knew that the dying mar held her fast.
Grace felt the blood rush to her mead
her heart beat with a ~suffocating
ouickness. and her breath came chok-
ingly. She tried to dlsengage his
hands. but they only frightened round
her. and all her terror and despair
found vent in one shrill, broken cry for
help.
Her appeal was quickly answered.
She heard the tramp of hurrying reel
a sharp, indignant exclamation, anu,
almost before she knew what had hap
pcned. found herself claspei in Vim
cent Erle's arms. sobb.ng Historically
ON his breast, while Tom Carlton
looked with angry. puzzled eyes from
her to the man who was feebly strug'
Cling to raise himself from the dust.
WHO on earth is he? What does he
want hereg' the expectant bridegroom
asked, in dismayed disgust. You can
not strike a fellow who is in the mud
already. What is to be doneg'
.Hush. Grace Vincent calculated,
with fond gentleness; but, though he
spoke softly, his lips were set and his
eyes gllttered-"you are quite safe
now; l am here to protect you. Carl
ton. will you take Mrs. Erie back to
the house,
"No, yincent-no!' The girl chung
about his neck wildly. despairingly. as
though interposing herself as a shield
between him and some dire peril, d
her voice rose to a shrill scream Of ag-
ony. "Iet me stay-let me tell all,
dear!'
A swift and terrible change swept
over Vincent Erlc's face; his lips be-
came tightly compressed, and his eyes
shone with a strange, steady glitter.
..Tcll me-whaty' he demanded.
STORMY. aud Grace hardly recognized
tha chill, deliberate torres. THAT this
man Is something more than an inso-
lent intruder-that you know him
that he ls-whaty'
Herbert santley, having risen to his
feot, was clinging desperately to the
rail of the iron gate. He was pale,
w~idl-eyed and trembling from head to
foot-an object o CHASTITY 10 II
one angry thought In the breast OF any
but a man maddened by jealous pain.
He dragged himself a step or two
nearer and echoed the question, ccom-
Fanting it with a hollow, dreadful
laugh, which made Tom Carlton turn
away with a shudder.
what am l? Who am 1? Tell him,
Grace,,'