Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-12-16
XXy.

Lazy Beatrice no l0nSCr-rcturneu TO uer
room. She fastened the door, she secured
herself from all observation, and then
gave loose to the hot, angry passion that
ragged within her. Her eyes cleaned with
fury; her face, in its livid passion, was
terrible to see. She set her teeth, she
clinched her strong white hands; hate and
murder ran riot through her veins.
She stood there like a beautiful, sullen
fiend, forced to own that the Nemesis she
had laughed at and scorned had ov%crtakcn
her at last. Further than that she would
not go. She would not say to herself that
her sin had found her out, and heaven
itself had punished her. She scoffed Mt
the notion. "Her fate" she said to her
self with q sneer, twas in her own hands,
and she might win yctw
Not until evening was that hateful Sc
cret to be made known. She had still
many hours, and it was, perhaps, in her
power to sweep the woman she hated from
her path-to slay her as she would fain
have slain her son. The value Of q human
life was as nothing to her in her moody
madness. What did it matter il, after
death, the secret were known? 1t would
be hushed up then. Lord Selwyn would
do anything to keep it from the world.
After death its revelation would not in
jure her. His lordship would then, in all
probability, look upon her us deeply in
jured. They would have to go through
the marriage ceremony again, and there it
would end; no more would be heard of the
matter!
As for the sin-bah! what mattered sin!
IF a man sees a tigress ready to spring
upon hin and rcnd his heart, he sees no
harm in shooting it down." she cried.
why should my heart, my honor, my
fair name and that of my son be rent?
Why should I not destroy the n who
would so rcnd ity'
With flushed face and cleaning eyes
she paced up and down her magnificent
room.
"The first thing" she cried, 81 will
drive to Redruth and get what 1 want.
Before the sun sets we shall see who
wins!"
She never thought of going to sleep; her
brain was too excited, her heart too much
agitated. Sleep while she lived-that hat
ed, loathed woman!
Her purpose gained strength every
hour. No need to enter into its terrible
dctails-no need to darken Il memory that
was never too fair. When the sun rose
She had regained her outward calm, she
was herself again; stern, cold and proud.
She was the first to descend to the break
fast room. The morning was beautiful,
as some of the darkest days in life often
are-screne and bright, the skies blue, the
air fragrant, the birds singing, bees and
butterflies lowering round the sweetest
blossoms, n morning that reminds one of
Paradise. Lord Vivian had not yet left
his room. Beatrice went to the window,
opened it, stretched out her hand idly and
gathered one of the large white roses that
came peeping in. She stood idly watching
the sky, the trees, the flowers, and no
warning came to her of what that bright,
sunny morning might bring forth; there
was no cloud i'll the sky, no dirge in the
sweet, joyous music of nature. no kncll
in the glad song of the happy birds.
And no remorsc came to her either. She
thought quite calmly of the fact that be-
fore that same bright sun set she should
have taken her r~cycngc-shc should be to
al intents and purposes Lady Selwyn,
with no rival TO fear, no fair-haired wom-
nm to dread. Before the sun set!
The cry of a little child aroused her. 1t
was pretty, imperious Lance, led in by
his nurse.
81 beg a thousand pardons, my lady,"
b said; but Master Lance will not be
dressed until he has been in to kiss his
mamma"
She turned and took him from the wom-
ans arms. Wicked, cruel, mad as she
was, there was unbounded love in her
heart for this her only child.
She kissed his beautiful face, she ca
ressed his bonny curls, she twined the
soft, loving little arms round her neck, she
called him by every endcaring name She
could invent.
Then to herself she murmured:
ut is oil for you, my darling-all for
you"
And again no warning came to her TINT
the soft little hands carcssed her for the
last time-that for the last time that beau
tiful head was nestled to her heart-ti,at
never more would the baby lips kiss her
or lisp her name; no warning, although
even at that moment a dense, dark
shadow hung over her, Il stern angel, with
drawn sword, stood by her side.
Take him away now, nurse" she said;
81 hear Lord Selwyn coming"
And long aftcrward the woman told
how, when she reached the door, the babe
looked back and cried, "Mammaw and
her mistress took him again, lavishing the
sweetest carcsses upon him, calling him
by the most endcaring names.
"Poor lady" said the nurse afterward,
when she told the story; sit really seemed
MS though she knew what was going to
happen, for she never kissed the baby
again"
CHAPTER XXvI.
Papa whispered a faint voice, 81 am
much better, l feel life at my heart again;
do you think I shall get we'll now?'
Yes, my darling" said his father;
"heaven has been very merciful and has
spared you to me this time"
There was q smile on Rupert's face as
he listcned-a smile that had not been seen
| there for many long. sad weeks.
Lord Sclwyn turned to The gentle, pa
tent woman who knelt by his sons side.
..Rnpert." he said, "you must always
remember that, after God, you W your
life to the careful nursing Of Mrs. Riv-
eran