Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-06-02

uchct0. Dclu MdUSHelu nau neard Mis-
Packenham's story from her uncle, an,
feeling that it was far from being
matter for common conversation, cor
tented herself with such fragments o
Information as the forsaken bride an,
her faithful friend chose to impart.
Beta liked Mr.. Cleavland, whose nde
ity to the lonely girl In her anomalou
position elevated him in her eyes.
My uncle wrote of you as IL yol
we're his own child" Miss Manstiel
said, as she laid a letter upon Afra'
knee from the good old man.
He was my fathers friend and mar
ried him to my dear mother. He helC
me In his arms at the font, and laugh
my brother almost everything he knew
Mothers family discarded her becaus'
h accepted my father. She was very
pretty, but delicate-never intended foI
the rough life she had to encounter
But she often told me that she neveI
regretted her choice. We were very
poor; but life is simple in the wilds
and we were perfectly happy until sh,
died. That was the beginning of oul
troubles. / went south, to the goot
sisters at the Mission, while Jack re
manned with father. Then my aunt OF
fered to provide for me, and father
would have liked me to return home
But his death changed everything, anC
my brother and l resolved to live to.
gether. We could have been very hap
by again-indeed, we were very happy
until Aunt Mary died. 1t was about
that time when Mr.. Packenham Joined
Jack, but | remained with the Sisters.
M brother, however, made a terrible
mistake about the mine. He wrote such
letters to me about his new friend,
whom he loved and had such conf
dence and pride in, that | longed to see
MT. Packenham. Oh, l was young and
1gnorant-how could | tell how things
would turn out?"
when that awful accident happened,
and | Went home, | thought Jack had
not said a word too much. Then his
partner was-but L can hardly describe
what he was-but it seemed as il there
were two Derecks, the one who was
everything to-to-loye-and his oppo-
site. While we were together-by
Jacks bedstde-he was gentle, consid-
crate and generous to a fault, making
nothing of the loss of his money. He
promised Jack that he would watch
over me until death. and offered to mar
ny me then and there. 1t was his own
suggestion, although he asserts now
that he was entrapped into it. What
could / do? My brother was dying.
My father, brother and my aunt, who
would have given me a home, we're all
gone. l had no money left, and as
there vas nothing but beggary before
me. | had, seemingly, no choice. Nor
was there any time TO deliberate, for
Father Dudley was obliged TO go, and
we were married. The excitement al
most killed my brother; and Dereck"-
her face ACKNOWLEDGMENT helped
to nurse him. Then two kilograms
arrived, which seemed to come be-
tween us and alter his whole nature.
The look hat vas in his eyes when he
bade me prepare TO accompany him to
England and take leave of my dying
brother, terrified me. / could not do it.
The man who could look and speak
like that was not the mar / bad loved.
but some cruel stranger. l stayed with
my brother, who seemed to rally.
after a time Jack sold the farm, but
not the mine, for no one would make
him an offer for 1t, and by easy stages
we made way TO the coast. Father
Fletcher came with us. for | could ney
er have accomplished the journey with
Jack by myself. The passage home
swallowed up almost all our money;
but the doctor said my brother must
travel in comfort il he wished TO reach
I,.-ln0l al;-A any ~ ma IN hltc-
bands home. After we passed Made
ria the weather grew fearfully cold.
oh, you can form no idea of how 1t
seemed to nip US up-we had never felt
damp coki before. But Jack lived
through it aud reached this gloomy,
dismal London alive. Then he wrote
to Dereck again and again, praying and
begging him to come over Oh, l cant
bear to think of It, Then our money
dwindled, and my brothers cold be-
came worse, and-he died. Beta. there
are memories that are dreadful to re
CALI have had my share
Afra paused, aud a long silence en-
sued. 1t was Beta who at length broke
4.
"But he acknowledges you as his
VILE, Sic tChahhNts ohd ppm
your wants"
Filings me what he has most of and
cares least for" Afra returned, in a
tone which Miss Mansfield wen under.
stood. II take what think l am en-
titled to-not one farthing more"
when he returnsy" Beta Queried.
Afra rose from her seat and walked
20 the further end Of the studio.
1.-The Dereck Packcnham l knew Is
dead and buried" she answered. 1.-THE
man who ruthlessly flung me aside
who failed me in my uttermost needs
a being with whom I have only such
legal dealings as are absolutely neces
sary. II he returned and stoed here to
morrow, i would calmly tell him So"
divorce him?"
Beta could tell by the infection OF
Mrs. Fackenham's voice, how her sug
gesticn was taken.
"We will not discuss that phase of the
question:" she replied.