Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-10-20
CHATTER NV.

Ley Ncrnnn's room WAS one of the
in"si beautiful in The hall. large. lofty,
and beautifully furnished: Il room that
mist nave been the sleeping chamber OF
Il utspn.
III. Eing that Lady Vernon WAS not
wei. sirs maid had lighted II beautiful.
hrlsfi firc. and She lay back now ~ one
OF lAr iNw lol;a-in" chairs near it. Her
Ina-fs nd tis.n of her evening dress. had
rcl.si,ld the jewels from her neck and
hair eii given her II dressing w of
lailtni h!uc satin. had left the wealth of
gele'a l.air falling like IL veil over the
mai"ls.'ss neck and shoulders. No woman
eve" .scd ,aerr lovely. more graceful.
n"i'- s'vai'i". SO Miss israton thought.
as sl'r o|penc,! the dcor and looked at her
for o:ic minute with the very spirit of
ha'r aid vengeance, looking ut her ont
of 'il's' lark. Southern eyes. Lady Vcl.-
non looked up as she entered.
~ :nn glad ynn have come, Gladie."
sh" said; II was making pictures i'll the
fire. Take Il chair mean ii: the nights
cold" and despite the quilted dressing
gown. Lady Vernon shivcred.
Giidie drew one of the luxurious chairs
10 the iirr. and sat down opposite to her:
III the heart of the crimson glare those
Two women made Il beautiful picture. the
1air onc so blonde. so spiritual. the dark
II with her Southern face and liquid
eyes. Glade sat quietly silent for some
minutes. then she said. slowly:
III you were Il wise woman I.enore.
you would let the matter die here. jusr
where it is, and seek 10 know no fur
ther." She said. You insisted to-day
that nave something on my mind. 1t
is true. but you will he sorry il you ask
me- what it is"
"Iirn l ann not a wise and
never shall he. Glade. 7 nave Just as
much curiosity as any other daughter of
Eve. perhaps Il little more. Now tell me,
wha: is it!"
II cannot tell" said Miss Bcaton.
'"wl."tlcr the news will impress you as it
did me--whcther your thoughts will take
the same dark turn as mine did: if so, 1
am sorry for you!"
N~iscfore tell you." said Miss Bcaton,
you must give me your promise, binding
as an oath, that you will never betray
me, tiiit Won will not ask how nave oh
talricl my knowledge. and that you will
swear never to mention that it was 1
who told YOU"
II need not swear" said 1%.cnorc: my
word is good as my oath. l promise YOU,
VII my hollols L VII W uilIc you, UOF
viii! l ask YOU where YOU got the infor-
nation. 1t is of .Austin's death, is it
not
ut =:icvcs mo that you should connect
Che two circumstances even in thought
She answered. II cannot say for certain
thai i! is not-yon must Judge for your
self. This is it: l know that your pres
cnt husband. Sir Cyril. was at Eastwood
Wlcl Austin Wls shot"
Tn beautiful face flushed crimson with
hot. passionate Indignation. the blue eyes
lost al their languid sweetness. and grew,
cleai Hna lli=h; like steel, the sof. lips
grey iari and stern.
4 DO not believe IT," she cried; 81
would not believe it. Gladic Benton. if
sou sworc it with yo,ir dying brcath..'
"So much Tie better" said Miss Bca-
ton; II need moi have been so frightened
at t%ei'.ag You. | wish l could share Your
unite!i-f.'
$50. do not believe it; my husband
is thu soul al truth. the soul of honor.
the perfection OF Justice. III he had been
her - wonld have said so: he is truth
s~iSc.l.'
u In not deny IL; he may he truth.
ho;iat. justice anfi loyalty embodied: yet.
aor III, taat. he WAS here. nj Eastwood.
the saiac day that TIE fatal SHOT was
.ircl.'
II VII never believe it, cried r.aay
NefNon; yet cYcs rs she spoke her heart
tuTaei sick with pain and fear; there
wa 'lsc ring OF ruth in t.ladic's VOICE.
II cannot he.icve it she cont:n:cd:
che weald havc tod No had he been here.
wiz s..ntil he hi.lc ii: Nothing s!:all
over make uir helievp HAT. 1t is a false.
COW. sftflA. sim 40 ,,it,,,,,-- ii, Isaf.s
",,,tartao,c.s he was acre" repeated
Gla1ir: II VAS he who followed yo,.
bone f.ai night when YOU were so star
tied 81 W. MS iaotsteps YOU heard. his
eye N3u saw shining through the trees:
IT VAS ne vHisra The servants saw by the
garcra :satu AIS! on Tho lawN-he and no
Other. 20 tri:a IS heaven is above us"
~ 4, NOT heiioyc ii. Gladic."
u can ~ no fUrthcr-l saw him :ny-
self. Locking f.om my window i'm the
early dawn, | saw him standing looking
at yci:ts."
"O.i. heaven. that ! should not know
how to deny slci, things, yet should
know they are false"
Nay, my darling. they are true: do
not mug that false hope to you. heart:
do hat say for one moment that it is I'M
true. III it were SO l would thank heay-
Ell 10. the lie. Lrno.c, l saw him."
Then why have ynu never said so he
fore: Why have you lived under our
roo:. eaten Of OR bread. been one of us.
yet kept this secret in your breast like Il
poisoned asp. all these yrars-why, Gla-
die. w!iy?'
"i:nsh. my dear. calm yourself. l
spoke the truth-noii,ing but the truth,
befc:e heaven. l saw him; but rcmem-
Der II was the early dawn of morning,
and . had been thinlin. of him during
the night. / really believed that it was
a de.i.s;on. ! knew II r,aa stood there,
but l said to MYSELF that it was my fancy
which had given him 81 Cyrii's features.
I slioald have though; 1t wicked to have
told that whirl, v,nu!l most certainly
have Drawn suspicion On liim-but. to my
great horror. my fancy was truth. l
know now II person to whom he spoke
and who spoke TO him. and yet kept his
secret"
I-uove's beautiful face had grown ter
ribly :,,;r. ii seemed to her. in some