Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-04-21
CHAPTER N1v.-(Continued.)

as he leans against the high oak chimney
piece. resting his aching brow on his hot
claspcd hands. "Sle is, she must be, all
l imagined. oh, darling, my darling,
wha, can be coming to me, that i'll my
heart there turks even now the shadow of
tina, old sad fear, the fear that, do what
l may. strive how I may, l can never,
never lie to you what you are to me! L
will write to her again" he says, sudden
lN. as he rings for lights and stirs the
fire into Il bright and cheerful blaze. II
get melancholy and morbid in this gloomy
house. oh. how different every room in
it will look when my darling's lovely pres
ence is among them ALL
When the lights are brought. he sits
down to his writing table and
his letter. 1t is the third lie has penncd
to Yolanlc since lie left her. and he can
not help the soft rcproach that steals
through its loving sentences II shows
the greatness of the disappointment her
silence has been.
Later. when he is safely closeted in his
own room. the library door opens softly,
and Pauline Ray enters. In II second her
eyes discover the little pile of letters on
the writing table. She sweeps across the
room and bends over them.
"lust as l t%housht!!' she says to her
self. He has written again."
She takes the letter to Yolandc in her
hand and gazes mt it as though she could
have vented all the rage and fury boiling
in hey heart on the small, innocent looking
miSSivc.
"Can l dare stop it-again" she says.
Then her hand closes over it.
Half an hour after breakfast next
mc,nin. Denxil is informed that Mr.. Her
rick has called TO see him on important
business. and he turns his weary feet to
the library with an utter hatred and hor-
rog oi the task before him.
II am sorry to trouble You Mt such an
unconventional hour. MIR. Charteris." says
the old hard-visnged lawyer. but Mr.. Sta
plctc. has put this paper into my hands,
md l have. of course, come to know If
Won have any objection to my making i'm
mediate use of ity'
Not the slightest"
"Iou Soc" goes OH the lawyer. coolly.
sit might not be pleasant to have the
name brought forward so publicly. OF
coarse the man accused here will leave no
stone niturncl to defy conviction. Are
yov prepared for what must cnsle. Mr..
Chartrri>? Are there 10 secrets connect
Ell With this unhappy lady which sou dare
no. Let into the light of outer curiosity
nnd ,liscusSion!'
The young mans pallid face ilushrs to
the very brow.
My affairs are pretty generally Known.
it GEMS he says. hauglitliy: II should
scarcely have thought they could have
penetrated to your retreat. though, MIR.
uc,rick."
I'VE men of the law hear and seq
strange things: our only defense is that
We can keep IL quiet tongue in our heads
about The secrets we chance to discover
.~rejo;ns the old lawyer.
YOU must do your duty. of course"
says Denzil CharteriS. coldly. II am the
las, man likely to- interfere with you in
any measure you adopt. While this poor
lady lived l did indeed dread publicity
as To iicr state and conditions: hut now she
is beyond all reach of consequences. all
morbid hnrro. of the fate that might have
been hers in the years that are past
Put are YOU aware of vow own risk.
NJ. Cilartr.iS!" demands the Old lawyer.
"Were yoIl justified in--in conccaliny this
matter. however we'll meant your mo-
tivcs:"
In NY own mind ! WAS" answered
Denzii. calmly. 'It should never have
been known if | could have helped it while
she lived. Now. of course. n,y actions
must take their natural Consequences"
There would he nothing 10 fear if it
were not for-Budd." says Mr.. iIerrick,
mrditatively. But you see. MIR. Charter
is. what IL loopllole of escape this offers,
why WAS she i'll hiding? Why did she
not ut once make known what she had
SEEM will be naturally asked: and YOU
alone know if the answer will he sa;isiac-
tory.
.You are very kind" is the cold 10.
joindcr: but. as | have said before. jus.
ticc must he rendered TO the guilty. a:d
this strange and secret crime fatlome(
at last. If ! had withheld this cnnfcs-
sion out of selfish consideration To IN,
own feelings. | should have deemed my,
self MS guilty as the criminal HIMSELF"
That little cscapadr of YOURS eos; IL,
some trouble in the first instance. NJ.
ChartcriS." remarks the lawyer: and yc'
wc may have cause to he grateful: fo.
had it not been for that. this discover,
would never have been made. MIR. Char
ferris" he goes on glimly. have you cycl
pictured to yourself that mans feeling
when The dog led linn s~t,ai-ii: ca 20 III,
.iast pace he would have Willingly so,igat
when before the m%rirderrr's sight rlaS
have arisen the awful vision of his vie
SINS doom? don't envy him the scnsa
ions of that moment"
Nor L." Dcnzil. rising as TIL,
lawyer riscs, and feeling a half sense oi
relief that tho interview is over.
From time to time l shall let You know
how affairs go on" says Mr.. Herrick
wondering why the hand cXte..ed to hin
is so dry and burning. and the handsome
face of the young man SO cnreworn ant
%ssard. You are not going to run ava.
from us again. l hope? Your evidence
will lie the first we shall require: apd yol
must be within easy distance. IL possible
II was thinking of returning to Wale'
sext seek" says peuG