Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-12-01

for the end" began to utter words Of
hope 10 those who nursed the patient
with such devoted care.
"As he has not sunk yet, and there Is
still great vitality in him, his consfitu-
ton must be so strong that he may yet
pull through" the medical man said,
cheerfully.
Grace had turned from him, dizzy
and faint, hating herself for the terror
that came upon her as she listened to
these words.
How dare / wish him dead?" she
asked herself, again and again. WHO
am | that | should think of purchasing
my happiness at the price OF Il feilow-
creatures life? And yet how cruelty
he acted in letting me think him dead
fer two long years"
Grace saw nothing of Vincent in
those long days. The two who had
been SO blindly happy together shrank
from the most casual meeting. But
Ruth, who loved her brotherin-law
dearly, and TO whom his haggard, mis-
cradle eyes We're a perpetual re-
proach. could not keep from talking of
him, even to her sister.
IF he would only go away she ex-
claimed. in a burst of sympathy. He
might bear his pain better at a dis
lance; but he thinks only of you. II
he goes now, the people will talk, or
course; but anything is better than.
| seeing him die or go mad before ones
very eyes,"
Ruth spoke ~impetuously; and her
words fell harder than she was aware
OF. But Grace did not answer, only
trembled and drew her breath a little
faster. Her silence irritated Ruth, who
continued, rapidly:
"Of course, if-this man-dies-
'He will not diep' Grace uttered. in
the slow tones of absolute conviction.
"And If he livesT' queried Ruth.
Her sister drew n long breath, then
answered, as she had done many times
before:
My duty is to him.
at is not,It is to your true husband
Vincent Erie" Ruth cried, her eyes
flashing. "You never loved Mr.. SAINT.
ley Grace"
..No-but | married him, and swcre,
with my heart, as well as my lips, TO
honor and obey himf'
"And he deserted you, and broke the
marriage bond. He must set you free,
now Grace. You need be his WIFE no
~longer-nay. you never were-you were
| only. at best. the bride Of a day to Her
bert Santley! But to Vincent, it is diff
f%erent.''
"Oh. hushr' Grace rose quickly to
- -. -. loo,,I ,,rrofcn1 hnp nalA
face full of a new, pathetic dignity.
She could not bear even her sisters
reference t him. Only she and one
other knew what she had baeD. n
what she was still to Vincent Erie.
As she thought of all that had been
and must be-of Nincent's agony, Of
her own despair, and of the happy
dream from which she had been so
rudely awakened, and the dread reality
of the present clrcumstances-her
overtaxed strength yielded. and, with
a bitter cry, she hid her face among
the cushions.
'.oh. Vincent, my darling! l could
bear ii but for you"
Forgive me, Gracer. Ruth mur-
INJURED humbly, appalled, at the result
of her words. not thinking of the COM
fort and safety there We're in those
bitter tears. 81 was cruel and selfish;
but everyone and everything seems
cruel now she added, her own tears
falling upon the golden hair see
pushed back from her sisters brow.
Indeed, it was hard for the n9st
hopeful to discern one CLEAN of prom
Use in the painful circumstances sur
rounding them. Though even In their
own hearts they hardly dared to con-
TESS it, the only possible hope of each
seemed to be in. Herbert Sankey's
death. But he grew stronger day by
day, and might, with care and pru-
dence, last many years, as the doctor
assured them, with his bland, profess
sional smile.
Hearing this, Vincent Erie silently
prepared himself for the final cruel
wrench. and Grace for the long mar
tyrdom TO come.