The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-07-28

ly. and closed his lips.
1t was too late to take refuge In ST.
fence. Clara was determined on hear
ing more. She questioned Steventon
rext.
Did Frank go on again after the
halfday's rest?" she asked.
He tried to go on
"And failed?"
Eyes"
What did the men do when he
failed? Did they turn towards? Did
they desert Frank"
She had purposely used language
which might irritate Steventon into
answering her plainly. He was a
young man; he fell into the snare that
she had set for him.
mot one among them was a coward,
Miss Burnham" he replied, warmly
You were speaking cruelty and I'M
justly OF as brave a set of fellows as
ever lived. The strongest man among
them set the example; he volunteered
to stay by Frank and to bring him on
the track of the exploring party"
There Steventon stopped, conscious
or his side, that he had said too much.
Would she ask him who this volunteer
was? No. She went straight on with the
most embarrassing question that she
had put yet-referring to the volun-
teer. as IL Steventon had already men
toned his name.
What made Richard Wardour so
ready to risk his life for Franks
sake?" she said to Crawford. did he
do it out of friendship for Frank?
Surely you can tell me that? Garry
your memory back to the days when
you were all living in the huts. Were
Frank and Wardour friends at that
time? Did you never hear any angry
words pass between them"
There Mrs. Crawford saw her oppor-
tunity Of giving her husband timely
hint. ''My dear childw she said. How
can you expect him to remember that?
There must have been plenty of quar-
rels among the men, all shut up to-
geSer, and all weary of each others
IOApduy, no uOuDt.
Plenty of quarrelsy' Crawford re-
peated-"and every one Of them made
up again"
---.d every one of them made up
again" Mrs. Crawford reiterated, in her
turn. There! palmer answer than
that you can't wish to have. Now are
you satisfied! Mr.. Steventon, come
and lend hand Gas you say at seal
with the hamper-Clara won't help
me. William! Don't stand there do
ing nothing. This hamper holds
great deal; We must have a division
OF labor. Your division shall be lay
ing the tablecloth. Don't handle IL
in that clumsy way! You unfold
tablecloth as il you were unfurling
sail. Put the knives on the right and
the forks On the left, and the napkin
and bread between them. Clara! IL
you are not hungry in this fine air, you
ought to be. Come and do your duty
come and have some lunch"
She looked up as she spoke. Clara
appeared to have yielded at last to the
conspiracy to keep her in the dark.
She had returned slowly to the boat
house doorway; and she was standing
alone on the threshold, looking out.
Approaching her to lead her to the
luncheon-table, Mrs. Crawford could
hear that she was speaking softly to
herself. She was repeating the fare
well words which Richard Wardour
had spoken to her at the ball
"A time may come when I shall
forgive you. But the man who has
robbed me of you shall rue the day
when you and he first met Oh, Frank!
Frank! does Richard still live-with
your blood on his conscience, and my
image in his hearth"
Her lips suddenly closed. She
started, and drew back from the door
way, trembling violently. Mrs. Cray
ford looked out at the quiet seward
view.
anything there that frightens you,
my dear?" she asked. II can see moth
ing-except the boats drawn up on
the beach"
II can see nothing either, Lucy"
"And yet, you are trembling as II
there were something dreadful in the
view from this door"
There is something dreadful! /
feel Though l see nothing. / feel
it-nearer and nearer in the empty
air, darker and darker in the sunny
light. don't know what it is. Take
me away. No, not out on the beach. /
can't pass the door. Somewhere else!
somewhere else!
Mrs. Crawford looked round her, and
noticed q second door at the inner