Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-24

LET me fetch one" Tom Carton
pleaded; but vincent's hand came
down upon his shoulder with q strong,
OBTAINING grip.
''Siay here, old friend. and leave the
easier task TO me!!- he said. in the same
controlled tone: but for the first time.
some OF the fierce anguish he felt was
apparent in the haggard eyes. "Out
of this room | can breathe and think.
"Yes. yes-I Sect the other cried, his
voice full of feeling and sympathy.
Go ut n ce old man.
"And, il you take my advice" be
added, soto voce, as the door closed
silently behind the stricken man, you
viii choose the doctor who lives at the
greatest distance and 90 the most
roundabout way to reach him. II
this gentleman should slip his cable
before you return-why, 80 much the
better for US air.
10 allay the miserable excitement
that possessed him, Mr.. Carlton paced
up and down the room, n walk that
presently brought him again hes de
the bed on which Herbert Santley sill
lay in that deathlike swoon.
AS his eyes fell upon the wretched
mar his hard heart contracted with a
sharp, remorseful pang. To look on
even an enemy's pain and not to pity
il. was, to Tom Carlton, an impossible
thing.
And yet it's hard on the poor beg
gar. too he muttered. twisting his
big moustache with fingers that were
less strong and steady b usual, ana
trembled a little In the performance or
their accustomed duty. Il suppose he
had some reason for keeping out or
the way and letting things 20 so fatal
ly wrong Perhaps he is a downright
lunatic; and that is hard on him. Any
how. it cannot be a cheerful thing TO
spread horror and d~esolation round
one. and be so heartily wished into
the grave as this unlucky sinner is To-
nightr!'
Suddenly, as though the muttered
words had reached his ears, Mr.. SAINT.
ley opened his dark eyes and turned
them upon the watchers face.
My wife,. he cried. family but dis
tinctly. "Graee-where is She? Was
italia dreamg"
"A dream? Yes-and a jolly bad
dream, too,' Tom replied, with inco-
herent desperation. 'HCome--none OF
that, you know".--as the sick ma
tried to struggle up. you have to lie
there ~peaceably until the doctor
comes"
The old, fierce, rebeliious spirit
showed itself in Herbert Sankey's
eyes, and he tried to shake himself
free. But he was like a child ia Tom
Cartoons clasp: and, realizing this, he
vented his wrath and agony in Il
dreadful scream that set the strong
mans heart beating. Reverberating
through the corridors. the cry brought
into the room the last person Tom
wished to see there.
Not you. Mrs. Erle-not you..' Mr..
Carlton cried. in a choking voice. as he
saw what seemed the wan, wild-eyed
shadow of the once bright Grace come
hurrying TO his side. LET Ruth come
or your mother, not your
Ruth is with my mother, who Is
ill.," she answered, in a dull, spiritless
tone.
But her speech was interrupted by
that weird, terrible cry; and, forcing
herself by a strong effort, to look
round, Grace saw that Herbert SAINT
ley was stretching his gaunt hands to-
wards her with n desperate entreaty
that wrung her tortured heart.
"Grace-my wife!'-the words We're
forced from the living lips only by a
p%erternatural effort. and yet there was
a terrible ring of triumph in the tone
"I-want-to tell-you"'
ooh, hush!' the girl cried, every 9TH
-. caavsn,. fnp.ntn,N ,, -, ~ tsicnl
with this piteous struggle with over
mastering weakness and pain. TELL
me nothing now. Be silent and pa
tient, for your life's sake"
Grace bent over him, her pale, sad
face softened with angelic pity, and
her arm slipped under the aching
head.
Tom Carlton thought he had seen
something like that look in the eyes OF
some altar-shrined Madonna, but new
err on any living woman's face before.
He turned aside to brush what he
considered the sign of an unmanly
weakness angriiy away; and when he
looked back again, Herbert Santley
had relapsed into a death-like swoon,
and lay once more, white and motion
less. with his face still pillowed on
Grace's shoulder.
"Shall I-move himg' Tom asked, in
a subdued tone.
But Grace only shook her head. She
knew that the mans life hung by so
frail a thread that the slightest thing
would sever it, yet she did not wish
that he should die. If the vague.
formless terrors and agonies that
seized her in rapid succession took any
definite form. they centered in Vincent
Erie: and all her hopes were breathed
in the wild prayer:
"Oh. let me die, and not look upon
his paint"
But the dread and the aspiration
were alike hushed here. She was Cor
the moment conscious only Of her
seemingly lifeless burden, and did not
speak or stir until startled by Tom
Cartons exclamation and the opening
of the door. when she raised her eyes
and met Vincent Erle's miserable
glance.
1t was but for n second that the
glance Of wife and husband met across
the bed, but that second held for both
a century Of pain.
The doctor came forward with his
soft step, and relieved the girl of her