The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-03-09

able necessity of his novel position.
A week passed by, and though the
fractured bones were improving Sun,
the sharp-eyed surgeon was dissatisneo
with his patient.
HE is fretting himself into feVer,
he will die on our hands yet' saio
he lugubriously. there is something
on his mind, and all the medicine IN
the world will fail to reach it,,
Strange youth" answered the count
gravely. Il can make nothing out OF
him. He viii, not even tell his name.
The daring he displayed in Lady Elo-
| lante's behalf seems strangely lncoh-
| gruous with his present sullenness.
Lady Violante must try 10 move the.
rock" said the physician, qnietiy siiiii-
ing at the girls earnest, wistfui race.
So Lady Violante sent away the
nurse, and ventured into the SICK
| chamber.
She advanced to the couch, her dark.
ewes soft with pitiful tears, her sweet
face tender with gentle sympathy, ana
laying her cool, white hand-tne mana
! that Count German had so vainly
! longed to kiss-upon his clenched,
burning fingers, she said, entreatlngiy:
Dear friend, you are unhappy, you
are grieving over some hidden sorrow.
You do not mend, you brighten the
physician. You will die if you persist
| in dwelling upon your trouble. Con-
| fide in me-let me help you-oh FOR
my sake. for my sake who have brought
all this pain to you, do not die and
here Violante paused, choked by a
flood of tears.
He looked at her vonderin@ly, and
| said, slowly:
For your sake? what will it be to
your"
Lady Violante brushed away her
tears to answer reproachfully:
do you think | have heart OF
stone? 1t will be everything to me to
see the preseryer of my life restored to
health and happiness"
Happiness echoed he, with bitter
emphasis, sis word whose meaning
have never known. You must urge
some better plea"
She looked at him sorrowfully. The
pallid, handsome face, the restless eyes,
the tumbled jetty waves of hair,
through which the one free hand had a
trick Of plunging itself, TO free the ir-
ritation there was no other way OF
manifesting All these appealed ire
sistibly to Violantes tenderest compass
sion, and seemed TO explain somewhat
the singularity of his behavior.
Alas said she, can it be there is
any human being so beset with misfor-
tune. his love of life has fled? Surely,
then, there is some one who loves you,
for whose sake you should strive to re-
cover?"
He wafMXdying, earnestly, her in
genio2 lie Ind then, suddenly, he
earth see it. before me. | can trust
you. Lady, sweet lady, there is one
favoryou may do for me. which will
give ne rest and quiet, if such a thing
is possible for me in this most unfor-
tunatt affair.""
Vioante bent eagerly forward.
Thank you, oh, thank you, anything
whatever you may ask, will be so joy
fully performed in return for debt
that an never be worthily repaid"
My, nay" said he, with an i'm
patient gesture. Talk not of graft
tude, | beseech you! nor promise rash
ly. { is no common boon | ask of you
1t is strange, unheard Of. | know not
but improper; but remember it is al
your own option"
The glow faded from her face, yet
she asked earnestly: What is it?''
FRS. Lady Violante Beauvais,
must appeal to your honorable gener-
osity, a2d beseech you to keep sacred
silence upon the request, whatever you
may decide"
Il promise" answered her sweet
clear tones, while her cheek paled
little.
Still he hesitated-a flush passed owe,
his face and then died off, leaving i
almost white. The fiery light of tn,
dark eyes was flooded away by sud
den rise OF tears, as he said. vehe
mently
WHY do hesitate-simpleton that
am! Idread to fill you with distrus
and suspicion. Oh, Lady Violante, if
could .nly tell you everything. all m,
wrongs and woes-but, as there is
, HEAVIER above us, nothing of any gull
on my part. You, in your angelic in
nocente are not more free from stail
of crime, than L." and, quivering witt
emotion, he clasped the one useful han,
, over ais eyes.
Nay said the girl with gentle dig
nifty, there is no need of the assur
ance. ! am confident of it already. On
, who risks his life to save another VIII
! L. -, L.