Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-07

will know l am here.
She seemed so terrified, and cast 80
many agonized glances at the closeu
| door, that Pansy forgot fcr OWE learS
at the others distress.
..I.m not going to call out; only your
coming in so silently startled me, sne
! said. gently. Are you my cousin Ell
sie?" -
.Yes. yes. Don't speak SO u
Whisper. or they will find am with
YOU. and they never allow me to talk
! TO anyone-and l Im so lonely.
She drew nearer TO Pansy, d
| looked at her searchingly. She was a
fragile and very delicately proper
toned girl, with a small, fair, oval
face. thai would have been pretty nau
IL been less painfully pinched ana col.
orless. Her hair hung in elf-locks OF
JustreIess brown about her shoulders.
Her dress was badly made and or the
coarsest material.
Pansy stopped and kissed her kindiy.
IL am very glad to find l SHAH nave
a companion so nearly my own age. 1T
will not be half so dull as | feared. we
must be good friends
.Ah! no. You don't understand. we
cannot be friends openly. They VIII
never allow me to have a companion,
for fear | might tell something! she
exclaimed, with a wild look in her eyes
which seemed bred OF a haunting fear.
II know very little-nothing, indeed.
of their business; but this is a dread
full house-a dreadful prison, as you
will find" She crept closer to Pansy.
and caught her by the arIn. Put out
49, IG.l. -, SaInpnn will 500 IN under
the door. | have shot the bolt, so she
cannot come in. LIZ you will go TO Ded,
| will lie outside on the coyeriet,
we can talk, but only in whispers.
To say the truth. Pansy was rot very
sorry to have a companion; so she ex-
tinguished the light, as desired, n
got into bed, with a shudder OF ire
pressible repugnance. Elsie extended
herself outside, but not without listen
ing, breathiessly, for any sounds in the
house.
They think that I am safely in my
own little room. Salome always locks
me in every night. and | used TO fear
being left alone so much that l founa
a way or getting out of tne window on
to the sill which runs along from L
window TO another. From thence l
can get into the house, for none OF the
~fastenings are secure Salome never
troubles about me until morning" she
said, ~shuddering as though with a sud-
den terrible thought. Il think she
would leave me locked up if the house
were on fire. They all wish l was
dead know they do"
Hush, Pray don't say such terrible
things" urged Pansy. Mortified at
these strange revelations. why are
you so frightened OF them aily You
have been brought up here, haven't
your
Yes, yes. All! such a weary llfe.'
walled the girl, pressing her cheek
against the hand Pansy had extended
to her. How often | have longed TO
die since L was a child! In time-in
time l will tell you more-all l know,
for l saw you this evening when YOU
came home with father, though you
did not see NE, aud | liked and trusted
your face. Yes, l will tell you some
things that will make you fear the
dark as much as / do. Hush! How
horribly the wind shrieks.''
She clutched at Pansy's hand in sud-
den terror.
Promise me you will never let them
know have been talking to you, or |
shall never get another opportunity.
They believe me to be half-witted; 1t
is not their fault that I am not, for
they have done their best to drive me
mad. 1 never talk nationally to them,
lest they should set a closer watch on
my movements, for they seem to be
afraid OF every word l utter In the
presence OF strangers"
She paused to listen ~intently, and
Pansy noticed that even the scratching
Of mice behind the wainscot caused
her to start violently. She felt in
stinctiveiy drawn to this ~friendless girl,
although her wild and exciting 6isclos-
ures were far from ~reassCring.
Tell me-" she whispered, sis your
mother deadY'
Yes, so they tell me- said the girl.
mournfully. 'She went to Italy for
her health when l was a child and died
away from home. 1t Is said that the
death of my uncle, her twin-brother.
clused her last illness. All, il makes
NE shudder when / speak Of thatv
Was she, then so attached to him 20
asked Pansy, stroking the girls thin
hand re~assLringly.
Yes; but his death was so sudden
so terrible. l can just remember the
confusion and horror of 1t all. He
Hush!"
Again she raised herself uponher oil.
bow to listen breathlessly.
He was found dead In the marsh
neld-dead, with his head battered I'M,
u s'nothered a faint cry at this hid
eous recollection.
They brought him home here GOV.
ereu with a sheet. and my mother went
quite mad. l was very young at the
time, but | a hear her shrieks and
uptraidings now. After that eyenin
never saw her again. My father took
her abrad almost directly, and I think
must have been very Ill, for I cannot
remember anything beyond that dreao.
Iui ume for years. 1 think" she said
dreamily. that they are partly right
My head Is a~ffected-at least, I am Oft.
en- so dazed with loneliness and nonot.
ony that my memory fails me. Now
now have talked too long-too much
~ the past is growing dim and uncer'
tain"
She broke into a passion Of cu,at
weeping that, with all it's bitterness
was so subdued, that Pansy's heart
L ~ hnns lA.