Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-11

Flif IN SItt tIltN SllOlitt OHN uIu, Dtc
teded by the dog.
"A few days ago." he continued. las
you are. perhaps. already aware,
WAS tried ut Winchester for the man
slaughter Of my cousin Derek, and
found guilty"
"Oh. yes! | saw a full report of the
trial in the Times. and | fairly criel
with joy Over the clever snub the judge
gave 10 the jury for their shameful
Terdict. 1t was splendid
Then you didn't believe me guiltyy'
The large, honest eyes met his eager
glance unfinchingly. II believe you
capable of such Il crime" she ey'
claimed. Indignantly. Are you mad,
Captain Deanc, Or is this some ill-tiined
JEST
Neither" he made answer. drawing
n deep breath. Pray, forgive me. You
can have no idea how the sting Of that
verdict rankles in my heart"
Then pluck Ii cut. as you would any
ether sting" she broke In, eagerly.
And now tell me what it is you want
me to know and believe"
'It was that-my Innocence" he ex.
p.ained, somewhat lamely.
"Oh,. -. Was that all?'
you see, | could not bear the
thought of quitting England without
solemnly assuring you that | am guilt
less Of my cousins death"
''Then o are going abroad a2Sin?'
Yes; after what has occurred, ! see
nothing but TO bury myself and my
misfortunes in some remote colony"
Captain Deane tor Major. is il not.
now Dhaye you yer been accused of
ccwardice?" queried Miss Danyers. af-
ter n brief pause.
Not since my last fight at school,"
he answered. smiling, family, ut the
question. "Whyg"
Because, to be candid with you, |
do not think YOU are facing this trou-
BILE as n brave man should" she pro-
tested. firmly. Nobody, whose opinion
is worth having. can possibly agree
with the finding of those stupid Win
chester jurymen: the judge who tried
the case practically ignored 1t. and all
the newspapers | have seen approve OF
his conduct. In short, no n believes
you guilty. Yet. merely because your
punctilious sense of honor has been
wounded by those yokels. you propose
10 run away aud hide yourself! What
more could you do If you We're guilty?
You are wrong, quite wrong, | am sure
yo,i are"
Il wish l could take the same view OF
the sad affair as you do" exclaimed
Oscar. But you do not know all. Miss
Danvers. My cousins death places me
Eext in succession to the baronetcv.
Can you not see how tlis a~ccentuates
the verdict? How car l remain TO
benefit by the death of the lad whom
| stand convicted Of having slain? Ii
is not in me 10 do 1t | have sworn
shall not"
Very well" was the clear-headed re-
joindeT. keep your cath. But how does
this compel you to leave England? You
are not obliged TO assume the title Mt
your uncle's death: and. IL your scru-
pies dehar you from spending the reve-
nues. you can very easily assign them.
to say. st. Georges hospital. You will
still have your profession. as before
No: l have anticipated the decision
Cf the authorities at the war rffice, and
lave ent in Icy papers
i .'Then IL Is Useless my demonstrating
with you any further" she said, with Il
pronounced ring OF yexation in her
lone. Il can on y express "a hope that
sou will some day take a more reason
able view of your position, and wish
you G~od-speed."
Had Oscar been less morbidly sensi-
+, 1--WE to his own estimate OF the worlds
: opirion. he must surely have OWNED
the reason which prompted his fair
companion TO dissuade him from his
1As,tN -. s..ef.N,G pnt b. xxsa ., tttn.l
10 everything EXCEPT his own wounded
serse of honor; 1t did not wen occur
to hiIa that she could still are for him
ate. that whitening verdict.
Ii was very kind OF her 10 endeavor
TO cheer him up by making light OF the
/! d~isasteI-ycs. very kind, indeed. But
their ways must henceforth lie apart.
She realized this, and, therefore. she
babe him Gol-speed. Fool! Why coull
he not see TINT he had opposed his own
obstinancy TO her colnmo sense until
he had left her naught else to say.
Ieve. they say. Is blind. Wounded self.
esteem is binder still-if that be posi-
bile.
rGood-byc. CT Miss Danvers."
he said. taking her outstretched hand
, reycrently In his. ''rhe heaviest part
of my punishment is gene since | know
from your WI lips, that | am innocent
In your eyes. The rest | must bear as
best | can. Goodbye. . dear. /. AMI
God bless you always
'Good-byc. then repeated Glare, al
most In u whisper. She turned 10 20.
ard then paused. .'Once more | tell
YOU. Oscar Deane," She added. brayely
and firmly enough. that you are
wrong. Nobly wrong. il may be: | am
not able to Judge of that. But wrong
10 yourself and to those who-who
care for your
" ever a man deserved TO lose his
sweetheart. surely Oscar deserved to
lose Clare Danvcrs. Her last words
should have opened his eyes TO The fact
that she had been lighting for her W
happiness as well as his, In combating
his resolve 10 exile himself: that he
was. In sooth. very dear TO her. But
his eyes remained closed To everything
save his own fancied dislI0nor: and he
allowed her To go, without uttering one
word OF the love for which her srave
young heart was pining.
"God help me- he murmured. The
last ray OF sunshine has gone from my
wretched life.-
H. did not occur to him that God