Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-06-08

sight of Florence Vane.
But how had she learned of her sis.
ter's death 1t had appeared in no En-
glish paper. He only knew of Ii
through the h~eartbroken letter of the
bereayed husband.
The room had lost all further inter
est. He threw himself in a great arm
chair, half I'M the shadow, and sat wait
ing. He felt no Impotence. He had
found her. Sooner or later she must
| come.
Somewhere near n clock m~usically
chimed the passage OF time. He heard,
but took no heed of It's record.
And then along the hall he heard the
! rustic Of a woman's dress, and once
more the notes of n voice. which of
late had spoken only In his dreams.
nov sounded in his waking cara
voice low and sweet as OF old, though
its words We're not addressed TO him.
Florence Vane was not alone. Some
one bad entered with her. Evidently
she had not been appraised of his pres
ence. The lackey had forgotten, or
sleepily failed in his duty. for, just in
side the door, the We paused.
NO further, prince" he heard her
say. ut is late, and / am very weary
But / must speak with you," an
swered the mans voice. Il must have
from your own lips the assurance that
this boys insolence is unwarranted,
that / may give ii the fitting punish
ment that it deserves. He entered your
| your box tonight . though /, not he.
were the intruder. I n price. and he,
a STRIPPING! Almost | forgot my prom
Use to be calm for your dear sake"
A light laugh followed this s~peech-a
J mirthless laugh-which Jared on Har-
| ny Arkwright's listening ear, and then
| she said:
"He is but n child, mon prince, and
all children cry for the 0 Have
patience with him, and do not blame
him that he loves me-"
But you, ma ~chere-you give him no
encouragement? Promise me that?
Will you not accept the coronet / offer
you, and thus give me the open right,
fittlngly to rebuke such audacityg"
Patience, mon prince.w again was
her reply. You must give me time TO
accustom myself to thoughts of honor
greater than l merit
$40 honor can equal your merit. But
you are not. then, Indifferent
Mon amir
Only these 1--WE words were her re-
ply: but. spoken as she spoke them,
tehy held a volume Of e~loquence.
Arkwright's blood chilled in his veins,
though he could not see that the prince,
in his gratitude, had snatched her
gloved hands to his lips and left there
their ardent impress.
And this boy r be said.
leave me TO deal witt him." she an
swered. Good night.
"Good-night.r
An instant later. alone annd unat-
tended, she entered the ROOM.
She east no single glance toward the
corner where Arkwright had risen
| from his chair and stood awaiting her:
but, crossing the floor. stopped before
the picture of the. cross, and a long,
low sigh trembled on the air.
The room seemed filed with the AT.
| mCsphefe OF her beauty. His eyes
dwelt on her exquisite grace as she
| stood there.
The wrap had fallen from her bare
! shoulders. and their whiteness cleaned
the whittier against the blue velvet Of
Ter gown.
For n few moments no sound broke
| the stiffness. save that he fancied that
he heard the beating OF her heart and
is own.
"Florence-' he said, at last.
1t was but a whisper. but she turned
as il a ;hunderbolt had fallen TO rouse
her from her calm-turned and saw
him standing with the loyeiight on his
eyes and in his face.
One little. glad cry escaped her, al
though she grew very pale.
Captain Arkwright. How did you
find me outg'
only Captain Arkwright, Florence?'
he replied. Have l no other well
Gomez
She had recovered her composure
now. and. with the old. easy grace and
courtesy, she held out TO him one small
gloyed hand.
Am / not very glad TO meet my
friend? Must l tell you how glad in
spoken words? Aye. glad. even though
he to me out OF the shadow of a
past whose grave l have left unmarked
by any stone. But" n sudden fear
marking her manner as she spoke. are
member In that grave lie two women
Florence yane ard Florence she
paused. then ~enunciated the name with
clenched teeth and in a tone which told
a history-"Geryase- DO not attempt
to reSurrect either. Here in st. Peters
burg | ann Madame Florence
Unless o change the title 10 the
Princess CanorachT'
"Ah, You heard the prince, l forgot
thar necessarily you must have been
forced into the role Of e~avesdropper.'
Then. letting her tone grow earnest,
she went on:
mo, Harry. His dream was vain;
but l let him dream on. Ii pleases me
to gain the triumph: 1t pleases ms TO
see him suffer as l yet shall make him
suffer. For me is neither love or mar
riage. l owe the world n debt and
must pay Ii. That Is all"
"Hush. DEAR he said. very gently;
but he saw that o then might he
plead TO change her purpose. II an
going To leave you now: IL Is late, and
heard you say that You We're weary.
But tomorrow | may come, FlorenceY r
"Yes, tomorrow" she replied. "Dine
with me, IL You will. We shall not be
alone. and I shall be Madame Florence.
-. go