Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-06-23

Her ladyship drew him inro the sit
ting room.
MIR. Cleavland, I am so glad you
have comet | met the dear boy at Ma
deria, but thought he would rally when
he got home. Alas, that fatal Africai'
A sob closed her speech.
But l have not heard; l did not
even know Dereck had returned" he
replied, and his heart throbbed fast.
only two days Q we brought him
here. He would not come to my house.
| have Sent for his mother; but-he
wants-his wife" Lady Groby's voice
faltered as She spoke. Il sent for
you"
Mr.. Cleavland stood looking at the
floor.
1T is terribly sad" he said. "But l
do not understand. How has II come
abeut that he is so dangerously ili?'
"Oh, he has been living a rather dis
sipated life!'-and Lady Groby shook
her head. Then he was seized with
that awful African fever. But come
TO his room and see for yourself"
Mr.. Cleavland entered the shaded
apartment. He had a curious feeling
OF 1--WE as he crossed to the bed, where
something-a mere shadow of the past
Lay, propped up with pillows, breath
ing hard. The hand the lawyer took
was burning hot; the eyes that looked
| out at him from the drawn, yellow
face were bright with fever. and the
purple lips twitched mournfully.
ITS good-of you-to come, Harry"
The visitor scarcely recognized the
broken, husky voice which uttered the
words. I'm done for this time; but I
deserve it, old mani brought it all
upon myself. Don't trouble about me.
l merit-eyery-ha'wor of it, as you
| know"
Mr.. Cleavland could not speak for n
few miutes, but stood holding the hot
hand and looking into the altered face,
overcome with emotion. They had
parted in anger-there was no room for
anger now.
"Ricco, my dear boyi' was all he
could falter, as he bent above the sick
man and touched his face tenderly
with his dlsengaged hand.
The feyered eyes softened.
"You have forgiven me?' Dercck
pleaded. "And you will secure-her
forgiveness? Bring her to me?"
II WILL
'She will ~not-refuse to-come?"
There was something SO pitiful in the
zone in which Dereck asked the cues
ton that Mr.. Cleavland could not pre-
vent the sob in his throat escaping
from his lips.
NO" he replied-"she will not refuse
to come"
"Soon?" The eagerness In the af-
hicted mans face was terrible to see.
AS soon as / can bring her" 1t re-
| CURED all the lawyers self-command
to enable him to utter the words.
"I-wronged her-cruelly, Harry! o,
Heaven."
Hush. Ricco! That is all over now"
The weary head moved restlessly on
the pillow as Dereck replied:
Everything will be over soon"
81 had a curious dream last night
Afra, in her paint-stained bib and
| apron. was standing before a picture
to which she was giving a few last
| touches, while Miss Mansfield was oc-
cupied upon a lovely bunch Of spring
howers-a study for her Academy pic
ture, one which afterwards was the
1 Nft VI ptihi9 a. = tAiO ht1 ~
rank of English painters.
"A dream? Do you believe in them? 2"
Beta asked, as, with head on one side
and half-closed eyes, she noted the pc
| culiar curve of q crested daffodil. "For
that matter, / ought not to have asked
the question. for we are all dreamers
of Dreams" she added. meditatively.
"But this left a curious impression
behind it," Mrs. Paekenham continued.
IL was at Hartriggsburg, in the old
home. An African sunset was flaming
| the heavens. and as the suns rim
dipped below the long stretch of the
veldt, ! thought that two people came
to me from out the glow-my dead
brother and-the other Afra never
used her husbands name. II thought
John kissed me and drew the other for.
ward, saying, 'Afra, kiss him, tool and
in the effort to overcome my dread and
horror of-him, l. awoke. There-that
dream has been haunting me all day
II wouldn't allow a matter like that
to make an impression upon me IL l
were YOU Beta replied. Dreams are
merely the replicas Of chance impress
sions which the mind receives cncon-
~sciously during the day. and--I wish
people wouldn't com knocking at the
door when one Is busy, See who it Is,
Afra, please"
Mrs. Packenham went to the door
and threw it open.
"You:" she exclaimed, as she stepped
back behind the sweep of the heavy
curtain-"your'
Mr.. Cleavland noted the Raging Of
something more than mere convention
al welcome In her tone, and his heart
thrilled.
"You must come along with me-" the
lawyer told afra. "Your husband"
She drew sharply away from him.
"He has returned, | suppose, to per-
secute meY' Her words rang out al
most harshly. Am / to fly and hide
myself again. she demanded.
NO." he answered, slowly; "no-you
are to come TO him. He sent me for
you."
Mrs. Packenham grew deadly pale.
"Scnt your SIZE asked. with culver
ing lips. Sent you-youg"
"He sent me, aud ! viii not return to
him without you the lawyer replied,
firmly.
A flash Of revelation came to her.
l AHA fc All ~ 49, Nx..n nfxI a -. I-l,.