The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-07-02
cnAr1sER xxxv1u.
FACE TO A C

Willie as DEAN, ncf lips QulitIlHS Will w
element, her superb dress of pink iaocade
all disarranged, her golden hair falling over
her beautiful shoaldcrs-a sight not to be
forgotten; she held Pauline by the hand, and
mali her life Lady Darrell had never looked
SO agitated MS now.
"Gaptain Langton,' said Lady Darrell,
twill you come here? l want YOU most par
.sw,sa " pure chance that she opened the
library door-it was the one nearest to her.
"Wilt you follow mc?i she said.
lie looked from one to the other with some
what of confusion i'll his face.
Miss Darrell!' he cried. why, I thought
you were at OmDerieighm!
Pauline made no reply.
Lady Darrell held the library door open
while they entered, and then she closed it,
and turned tbs key.
Captain Langton looked at her iii wonder.
"Elinor," he said. what does this meant?
Are you going to play a tragedy or Il farcc?'
That will depend upon you." she answer
ed; Il am glad and thankful to have brought
You and Miss Darrell face to face. Now l
shall know the truth
The surprise on his face dcopened into an
angry scowl.
What do you mean?' he demanded,
sharply. 81 do not understand"
1t was a scene never to be forgotten. The
library was dim with the shadows of the atl-
tumn evening, and in the gloom Lady Oar
rell's pale pink dress, golden hair, and white
rms bare to the shoulder, seemed to attract
all the light; her face was changed from its
great asitation-tle calm, fair beauty, the
gentle caressing manner We're gone.
Near her stood Pauline, whose countenancc
was so!tened with compassion and pity I'M
utterable, the dark eyes shining as through a
mist of tears.
Before them, as a criminal before his
judges, stood Aubrey I.angton. with an an
cry scowl on his handsome face, and yet
something like fear in his eyes.
What is it?' lie cried, impatiently. ~
cannot understand this at all"
Lady Darrell turned her pale face to him.
Captain Langton,'' she said, gravely,
Miss Darrell brings a terrible accusation
against you. She tells me that you stole the
roll of notes that Sir Oswald missed, and that
at the price of her life You cxtortcd an oath
from her not to betray you; is it trllc.:y
She looked ut him brayely, fcarlessly.
ut is a lie!' he said.
Lady Darrell continues:
Here, in this room, where we are stand
ing now, she tells me that the scene took
place, and that, finding she had discovered
you in the very act OF theft you heldIa load
ed pistol to her head until she took the oath
you dictated. Is it true or ~false?:"
at is a lie!' he repeated; but his lins were
growing white, and great drops stood upon
his brow.
s'She tells nc" resumed Lady Darrell,
shat you loved her, and thatyou care only
for Darrell Court, not for me. Is it truce"
cit is all false he said, llo~arsely-'sfalse
from beginning TO end! She hates yc;,, she
hates nip, and this foul SANDER has only been
invented to part us"
Lady Darrell looked from one to the other.
Nov, Heaven help me!' she cried.
(which am | to believer
Grave and composed, with n certain mai
esty Of truth that could never be mistaken;
Pauline raised her right hand.
Lady Darrell" she said, II swear to you,
In the presence OF Heaven, that l have spok-
ed nothing but the truth"
And / swear it is false!" cried Aubrey
Langton. +a
But appearances were against him; Lady
Darrell saw that he trembled, that his lips
worked almost convulsively, and that great
drops stood upon his brow.
Pauline looked at him; those dark eyes
that had III them no shadow save of infinite
pity and sorrow seemed to penetrate his soul,
md he shranli from the glance.
"Elinor," he cried, You believe me, sure
~? Miss Darrell has always hated you, and
this is her revenge"
Lady Darrell" said the girl, 81 am asham-
ed of my hatred and ashamed of my desire
for vengeance. There is no humiliation to
which | would not submit to atone for my
faults, but every word l have said to you is
true"
Once more with troubled eyes Lady Oar
rcll looked from one to the other; once more
she mulmured:
Heaven help me! Which am | to believer"
Then Captain Langton, With a light laugh,
said:
rs the farce ended, Lady Darrclle You
see 1t is no tragedy after all"
Pauline turned to him, and in the light of
that noble face his own grew mean and
weak.
Captain Langton," she said, ~ appeal to
whatever there is of good and just in you.
Own to the truth. You need not be afraid OF
it-I-ady Darrell will not injure you. She
will think better of you il you confess than
if you deny. Tell her that you were led into
error, and trust to her kindness for pardon"
"She speaks well, !" observed Lady Darrell,
slowly. slf you are guilty. it Is better to tell
me so.''
He laughed again, but the laugh was not
pleasant to her. Pauline continued:
c the evil rest where it is, Captain
Langton; do not Make it any greater. In
your heart you know that you have no love
for this lady-it is her fortune that attracts
you. II you marry her, it will only be to
make her unhappy for life. Admit your
fault and leave her III peace"
you are a remarkably free-spoken young
lady Misc DnrrnIl-ynu have anita nn orn.
torical flow of words. 1t is fortunate that
Lady Darrell knows you. or she might be
tempted to believe you. Eltnor, l rest my
claim on this-since you have known Miss
Darrell, have you ever received one act of
kindness from her. one kind word eycil?1'
Lady Darrell was obliged to answer:
MOI
"Then I leave it, he said, ato your sense
of justice which of lis you are to believe now
her who, to anger you, swears to my guilt,
or me who swears tony innocence? Elinor,
my love, you cannot doubt me-"
Pauline saw her eyes soften with unutter-
able tenderncss-he saw a faint flush rise OH
the fair face. Almost involuntarily Lady
Darrell drew near to him.
II cannot bear to doubt you, Aubrey" she
said. "Oh, speak the truth to me, for my
loves sake!'
i 40 speak tlc IFutl. come WIFI me,
leave Miss Darrell for a while. Walk with
me across the lawn, and l will tell you what
respect for Miss Darrell prevents my saying
here
Lady Darrell turned to Pauline.
81 must hear what he has TO say-it is only
Just"
VI will wait for YOU" she replied.
The captain was always attentive; lie went
out into the hall and returned with a shawl
that lie found there.
You cannot 30 out with those beautiful
arms uncovered, Elinor," he said, gently.
He placed the shawl around lei, trying 10
hide the coward, trembling fear.
AS though, | did not love you,'' lie said,
reproachfully. ''Show nj another woman
only half so fair"
Pauline made one more effort.
Lady Darrell" she cried, with outstretcll-
ed hands, you will not decide h%astily-you
will take time to judgeY!'
But as they passed out together, something
in the delicate face told that her love for Au-
brey Langton was the strongest element i'll