Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-03-17

Unable to bear the light. raIlying
manner that Clovis had assumed to-
ward her for the purpose of CARRYING
on his faithlessness, Blanche had left
nome and gone upon the stage. But
absence did not work her cure. She
plned after her old lover, and at length
she resolved upon writing Clovis such
u letter as must elicit from him some
declaration of his intentions.
she haI told him to send his answer
10 Mlysore Lodge, to the care of her
mother, and she was now going there
to get it
On the way her thoughts were full of
the letter she was expecting. What
was she TO do if Clovis told her that he
wished to have nothing more TO do
with her? Life would no longer be
worth anything to her. What did 1t
all come to? What had she to live
forE Dark thoughts of suicide surged
through her mind. At one moment she
would shrink from them with horror
the next she would gloat upon them
with a strange enjoyment that was
more than half pain.
Her mother received her with some
surprise, and Immediately began n
long. fearful account of her w%retched-
ness, of her husbands neglect of her,
OF the visit the police had paid them,
u of the fact that since that time
kisch had hardly been seen at the
house, but had directed taat all let.
tiers We're TO be sent TO him at an adj
dress in Holloway.
blanche scarcely listened to her. She
Il got her letter, and was busy read
ing 1t. 1t was us she had feared.
CLOVIS pretended to treat the whole
matter as a joke, IN d assured her tnat
he had no mind to stand in the way of
any more fortunate rival. He said he
had long since given up all p~retenSi0ns
tn her hand, and he had TO doubt that
in u few weeks he would be forgotten
las no doubt he deserved TO be.
This light way of treating what was
to the poor girl almost a matter Of life
or death, enraged Blanche more than
anything else he could have done. She
kept her strong. white teeth firmly
%clenchcd, and let her eyes wander owe
the neglected lawn and the budding
trees without seeing them.
Yes, she said to herself, she would
let him see that this was no jesting
matter, Perhaps, when she was dean.
he would be sorry that he had treated
her in that heartleSS way. 1t would lee
in all the papers. She did not like To
think of that. But there was no other
way of reaching him-of making him
suffer a thousandth part of What she
was suffering now. Why should she
liyef
Il don't believe, Blanche, you have
been listening to one word have been
saying to YOU
Her mothers grieved tones penetrat-
ed to the girls brain and reused her.
At any rate, her mother had done no
harm-Poor mother. She was suffer
ing cruelty for the one fault of her
life!
My thoughts were wandering a bit,
motller.'' she said. in a voice of unusii-
al gentleness, but something has been
vexing me What was it you were say
ing?"
SIS it that letter from Clovis that has
been troubling you, my child? Don't
bother your head about him! He's n
bad lot. And besides drying her eyes
on the corner of her apron, Il don't
believe it's a bit of use. | think he's
in love with someone else, now"
whats that you sayg" asked the
girl, quickly, flushing up to her fore
head.
"Oh, it's nothing for you to grieve
over. But l thought, from his taking
her away SO sudden, and his manner
to her when she fainted-the tender.
like way he looked at her, and the way
he took her hand when he helped her
to rise-that he was in love with her.
Perhaps | was wrong"
what on earth are you speaking
about, mother?"
why, haven't | been telling you,
though l promised | wouldn't speak OF
it to a soul. and Kisch would kill me If
he knew" The poor nm looked
round as il in terror.
HE is not here, mother" said
Blanche. coolly; and il he was, he
daren't harm you while am by. Now,
tell me about this young woman. Tor
I'm determined to know, and you may
as well make a clean breast of 1T soon,
err or later. Who was this girl, anu
how did she ONE here!"
Then, bit by bit, Blanche drew from
her mother the story OF Ursula's i'm
prisonment in the house and OF her re-
lease.
And it's not at an end yet" moaned
the poor Oman
How do you mean, it's not at az
endl'
81 know you father is plotting
against her again. He slept here the
other night, and you know he talks In
his sleep. And l have put this and
that together. / told him from the
first that no good would come of 1t.
but he only lauged at me. What they
can want. prosecuting a poor girl like
that for. [ can't think
Poor girl. indeed! / think you have
feeling for everyone but me. mother
The old woman stared. She could
not understand her daughter. for she
had no idea how the demon Of jealousy
was tormenting her. and whispering TO
her that IL this girl were out OF the
way, her lover might come back to her,
why should you interfere?' the de
mon whispered to her. Most likely
she Is one of their creatures who has
betrayed them, and they want to Sc
cure themselves against further
treachery. Leave her alone. It's no
business of yours"
Yet she could not Danish from her
- 49, oevaot of what har mother