Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-04-14

10 NhpiAi L ~ MIOLH-
ed. The clouds began to clear off my
prnln-and there is something l must tell
you b~cforc-before it is-too late. 1t is
about that-pool-in the woods yonder-
Dcnzil-and the-murder!"
What" he cries in amazcmcnt-"the
place where they found II dead mans
body, and wisely decided it was mincy"
Il never heard of that" she says
"Fcters never told me. But 1 could not
%speak-of this-of what l had seen-to
anyone. Who would believe me? And
then it was not SO clcar-as it is now. If
1 confess all-Denzil, will it be right
Will it bring justice to-the guilty"
"~Stay-let INC think" he cries, in be-
wilderment. Peters, was DR.. Deane here
to-dayw
mo; 1 am expecting him every mo-
ment," answers the nurse.
"Ihcn You must wait till he comes,
Alcthca," says Denzil, pcrsuasively. RE
member, what you have to say may entail
serious responsibilities upon lis. Unless
certified by proper witnesses, your con-
fcssion would be useless"
II think this is the doctor, sir" inter
poses the grave voice of Peters at this
luncturc; and Dcnzil, turning with a
strange sensation of relief TO the opening
door, welcomes the hearty, kindly pres
cncc of old DIR. Deane.
"Oh. Chartcris. so YOU have GOMEZ"
says the doctor, ciccrfully. II am glad
of it.. Our patient has been wcary;ng
sadly for sight of you.'
Peters says her mind has been grad
ually recovering itself for some three or
four months back
Then they approach the he'd. and, with
grave faces and an cvcr-dcepcning Won
der in their minds, listen to the strange
disjointcd confession of the dying woman.
You have taken it all down:" says
DIR. Deanc, in n low voice, as he ut last
lays the exhausted sufferer back on her
pillows. and holds to the pale lips the re-
vivins cordial offered by the nurse.
YES, every word" Denzil
sternly. IF such evidence can be rccciv-
ed. that wretch will soon answer for his
crimes and cowardly pcrsecution!"
"Of course you must feel it deeply" the
doctor continues, coming round to where
the younger man stands. with the paper
just signed and witnessed still held firmly
i'll his grasp. I'VE cannot wonder now
that he tried so hard to make use of such
an opportunity as your disappearance
gave. What a clnningly contrived plan
it vast"
"But the ring-tllat puzzles me- an
swcrs DeLzil. AT the inquest it was
proved to be my own without doubt. Or
course we can allow for the false swear
ing as to its being drawn Off the dead
mans finger: but how did it come into
the witness nosscssion?'
depend upon it we shall learn that all
in good time," replies the doctor.
Then, at IL sign from the nurse. Char
tcris and the doctor go with soft and rev.
crcnt footsteps into the adjoining room.
"Hcr life will end i'll that slcep,'' DIR.
Deanc says, gravely. "'There will be no
pain or struggle"
II will have her removed to the Priory,"
says Denzil suddenly. Il nave nothing to
fear from any inquiries now. Every one
knew she went abroad. What more nat
nral than that she should return to her old
home to diey"
"You should have thought of that SOON
err" nswcr DIR. Deane. ITO die-ycs;
but if she bc-dead?'
"Havc you your carriage hcre?" asks
Dcnzil hastily.
"Ycs-and that old confidential coach
man of mine whom the people call 'un-
impeachablc.'"
IF she could but bear the journey! 1t
is Short continues Denzil, musingly.
''They know l left home. They would
not be surprised TO see me return with
her, because they know l have been in
the habit of going to see h%er-abroad.
They all think
II see what you mean," says the doctor,
g%ravely. "But it is such a risk l hardly
dare counsel it. 1t would be better still
to say she could not bear the journey.
Every one knows that this eccentric Pc.
crs has lived like an owl in a church tow
cr here. You brought the patient hither
and summoned me-; so it's all fair and
above board. 1 hope my reputation is
sufficient to back up anything l choose
to tell the gossips here"
"Yes, that would do very WE'LL" an.
swers Denzil. Poor. unfortunate Ale.
thea! Little did she imagine, when she
came to Bcechhampton, in the prided
splcndor of her bridal pomp. how hard and
miserable would be her life, how lonely
it's close"
As they stand there together the fire.
flames glowing on the grave md cordial
satisfaction of the one face, on the rapt
and passionate expression that tender
memories have left upon the otner, both
forgctful of all save the words that have
meant so much. for all their brief, terse
utterance, the dividing door opens softly
and the nurse comes forward into the
firclit gloom.
at is all over" she says.