Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-08-05
fancy he is free just now" Egerton made,
no answer, nor did Standish press the

ssO " AOk uAu oIuAOk6A UHEHA vlG
question.
They discussed E~gerton's plans till they
neared the metropolis, and Standish re-
marked how clear and defined they were.
They had evidently not been thought out
on the spur of the moment. Then they
spoke of Callander's probable return, and
Standish fancied he could trace a Ger
tain reluctance on his ~companion's part
to meet his friend.
III shrinks from the pain of seeing
him." thought Standish. ut is natural,
especially as he is evidently weakened
and depressed"
at Waterloo they parted, each going
their W way. Standish found various
letters, invitations and notes awaiting
him, amongst them one from Miss Onke.
ley.
do come and see us as soon as YOU
can. We have heard that you went down
to Eastport, and are dying to know the
reason why. Have you found out any.
thing?
"Imagine! Mrs. CALENDER is to arrive
the day after tomorrow. 1 had a letter
from Miss Boothby. The poor old thing
seems Guite worn out, for my aunt has
been very unwell. and you may imagine
what that means to her attendants.
IF Mr.. Eserton is with you, pray bring
him. He is more interesting than ever.
Yours truly.
"HENR1ETTA OAKELEY."
II hope Miss Oakcley has not communi.
Gated her knowledge or suspicious to Dor.
oth1.' said Standish to himself, when he
finished this epistlc. II do not want her
to he disturbed with any fresh informa.
ton; she is in Il pitiablc state of nervous
depression as it is. l wish Henrietta
Oakelcy would take her and the children
abroad, to some place quite u%nconnectcl
With the past. l must talk to her about
this"
Looking at his watch, he found it would
not be too late to present himself after
dinner.
He felt somewhat uneasy until he had
seen Dorothy, and was certain the first
glance Mt her face would tell him how
much she knew,
THE Indies had left the dinner table
and We're in the drawing room," Collins
informed the late. but welcome, visitor
when he opened the door.
Miss Oakcley was Mt the piano when
Standish was shown in, and Dorothy sit
ting on IL low chair by the fire; the dane.
ing light played upon the red golden
brown of her hair, the pale oval of her
delicate. pensive face; she was more
dressed than lie had yet seen her, that is,
her black dress was opened in II long ",
an inner edging Of white Grape almost
filling up the space, her elbow sleeves
showed her slight white arm. Standish
was almost frightened to see how fragile,
how fairy-like she looked; she ought now
to be looking more like her own bright
self. The recupcrative power of youth
ought to assert themselves by this time.
AT the first syllable of his name, sha
started up and ran to meet him.
How good OF you to come at once.
P;sll! l know you would"
"Mr. Standish! This is delightful! I
nm dying to hear what took you away to
that wretched place." cried Miss Oake.
ley, coming Over to shake hands with him.
"Yes, Paul, tell us everything" echoed
Dorothy, ''but first for my piece of good
news. I had quite n nice letter from the
Colonel. He will he home in a week or
two."
"Ha! that is good, indeed! Now I have
a little. a very little. to tell YOU. 1t leads,
we'll really to nothing, and it is painful
do YOU still wish to hear it,"
II dO!' said Dorothy in Il stitled voice.
Eyes, of course we do" cried Henrietta.
drawing Il low easy chair by the fire.
Dorothy nestled into the corner of a sofa.
which was partially in the shadow, while
Standish placed himself on an ottoman at
Miss Oakeley's left.
He described the meeting with Ritson,
and gave Il brief summary of his commu-
nication. He could not we'll make out
what effect the narrative had uDon Dor
Othy, as her face was almost hidden from
him, but when he came to that part of
the story where Ritson said the man he
had seen with the ladder was about the
same height and size us Egerton, she ut
tered an inartieulate exclamation and
leaned forward as IL startled.
How extraordinary" cried Henrietta
Oakeley. Il call this very important; it
proves to me. that the deed must have
been done by that drendful. horrid sailor.
He certainly was very like Mr.. Egerton.
1t seems such u shame. How ~dreadfully
i'll and Worn he looks, poor fellow! I feel
quite sorry to see him. Do you know, I
feel so convinced it was one of those
blOOdthirsty monsters who committed the
murder, that l nave told Collins to take
that wrctched parrot and sell it for what
he likes? Don't you remember, Dorothy,
how l exclaimed at the strange likeness
to Mr.. Egerton? Dorothy, what is the
matter. Dorothy? Oh, Mr.. Standish,
| what"
But Standish was already beside her.
| Her head had fallen back among the
cushions, her hands. cold and %deathlikc,
| lay lelplessly at either side.
"She is gone! She has faintedw cried
| Standish, in despairing tones. For
heavens sake, call Nurse! l do not know
what to do for her" md he began to
chafe her hands gently.
Henrietta rushed first to the bell, which
she rang furiously, and then to the door,
where she called loudly for every servant
in the house, till the room was half full.
Just stand back, every one of you, and
leave the room this minute,' cried Mrs
McHugh, authoritatively; "all she wants
is air-and quiet"
10 be continued.j
His Reason.
Senator Sorghum had been doing his