Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-01-14
I never-never shall want to tell it to
any me but you," she answered.
But between such n man and such Q
girl it was a dangerous secret to keep.
Chapter xiv

girl 1t was a dangerous secret to keep.
CHAPTER XIV.
One day Rosie had met Captain Dorsay,
by Encouragement, in the park, when
they were startled by hearing an mp
preaching fOotstep, and n moment later
Lady Ewell stood before them.
Anger was flashing in her eyes and
mantling on her cheeks, but, taking no
heed of Captain Dorsay, she walked
straight up to Rosie Ewell's side.
"You wretched girl" she exclaimed. 81
guessed how it was. You must come
home at once with me to your brother"
"Gently-gcntly! Lady Ewell, if you
please. You are going n little too far" he
said. II do not think that even Sir WI
frid would find fault with my accompany
ing his sister in her afternoon walk"
ID you suppose l didn't see you?" she
retortel, sharply, with your arms round
her waist, and kissing her as openly as
il She had been our wife? Don't at
tempt to deceive me, Jack. l have sus-
pectcd how things were going on between
yo,l for some time past, and was deter
mined to see for myself. And you shall
not disgrace the family by making Il fool
of this girl for your w amusement, and
l tell YOU so. once and forever. 1t is
lucky L have discovered your tricks before
they had gone too fur"
"How dare you speak of such IL thing i'll
connection with-with Jack and meg"
cried Rosie, with her face ailame. lie is
going to marry INC some day-are you
not, Jack:-when he has more money,
and"
Going TO marry you!.' repeated Iona,
with whitening scoln. ".A likely story.
AS if Captain Dorsay would. or could,
ever marry anybody. He knows well
enough that there is Il barrier that must
ever PREVENT
Lady Ewcll," exclaimed Dorsay hasti-
ly, II must cntrcat you to hold your
tongue. That story was told you in the
strictest contidcnce-it is known to scarce
ly any ctlcr-and if you repeat it now
you will be guilty of breaking your own
most sacred word"
II will be silent on only one condition
that YOU tell this girl before me that
there is an insupcrable obstacle to your
marrying her Tor any woman), and that
you never could have entertained the idea
of marriage while making love to her"
Miss Ewell knows it, he replied un-
easily; Il have told her plainly. 1 re-
pcatcd it only ~to-day-that l cannot mar
ry-that it is impossible. She has been
perfectly awale Of the fact from the be-
ginning"
and yet you could go on meeting him,
and kissing him." said Lena to Rosie.
You are a paragon of virtue, upon my
word!!'
Rosie, for her part, was leaning up
against Il tree, white and breathless with
surprise.
Not now, Jack" she gaspcd; II knew
you could not marry me just now. But
by and by, surely, you have said again
and again-indced, l had no doubt but
that YOU would marry me by and by"
Il must beg, Miss Ewcli," interposcd
Lena, with virtuous severity, that YOU
will not call this gentleman by his Chris
tian name in my presence. What has
happened behind my back, l thank hcav-
ell l neither know nor care; but while |
am by, | request you will remember that
belong to the same family as yourself.n
"ltosic. | entreat you. leave u.s. M
calculated; go back to the house. This
is no scene, no knowledge for you.'
mo. no! l will stay, and I will know
all" she answered.
II mean you to know ALL" said Lena,
all that mans trcachcry and falscllood.
He has been my lover for years. he pro-
fesses TO be my lover still; and, if it had
not been that he cannot marry me, 1
never should have married your brother.
But no other woman shall have him,
while L stand by to prevent it. He shall
not deceive another girl as he did me. You
are mine, jack" she continued ticrccly,
mine by virtue of that secret, and when
you desert me the world shall know it as
plainly as l do"
What is this sccrct?'' demanded Rosie.
in Il faint voice. Captain Dorsay, do tell
me. Let me know the worst at once."
Il cannot deny that l have been fortu-
nate enough to enjoy much of Lady
Ewell's favor before she was Lady
Ewcll." replied Captain Dorsay; but
naturally that is all over now.''
"You know better. 1t is not over. You
told me only last night that it would
never be-" interposed Lena.
You will not allow me to say Il word
for myself" he said, turning away.
"It is enough. l don't want to hear
any MORE sobbed Rosie; II have been
very foolish, l dare say. and very easily
imposed upon; but you know, Captain
Dorsay, that what she thinks is not true"
Il am perfectly aware that no one but
myself has been to blame in this mattcr,''
he replied, land l ask your pardon, Miss
llwell, for amy unpleasantness to which
it may have given rise"
He raised his hat and turned away as
he spoke, feeling very shamcfaccd ut be-
ing found out, and very r%evengeful toward
the one who bad wrought this mischief
between him and Rosie. And she, too,
with one parting glance at him, COM
mcnced to retrace her steps in the oppo-
| site direction. Lena, who did not know
what revelations she might not, in the
innocence of her heart, Immediately make
to her brother, sprang after her.
"You cannot so home alone in this state,
Rosie. Let me so with YOU"
mo, no. l do not want anyone-you,
least of all. Please leave me entirely to
myself"
but what are you going to do? You
must not repeat what has occurred to VIII