The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-12-14

''That reminds me, ne is waiting for
me at his club; he was afraid to come
back and face you, so ! must be going
Well, goodbye, Godfrey; / hope thai
you will think kindly of me sometimes,
Notwithstanding it all, and although
/ have for the first time in my life in
dulged in the luxury Of telling you
everything that Is in my mind. An,
you don't know what a luxury 1t is to
be able to speak the truth just for once.
Do you know now that l am going to
leave you-it is very odd-but l almost
feel as though / loved you again, as
] used to do so many years ago! At
least / am. glad to have spent all this
time with you, though / was often
dreary enough, because ! know that
shall never meet a man like you again,
and my mind leaves you hardened and
braced and polished by contact with
your bright intellect, and by the con-
slant study and application you have
insisted on till it has become second
nature to me. l shall miss you, Geoff-
| ISy uuI uOJ oo luSh do sou VIII AiiN'S
me. You will be miserable without me,
and no other woman can ever fill my
| place, because | do not believe that
you can. find any who Is my equal in
intellectual resource. You see what
happens to people who indulge in
scruples, Are you not sorry that you
| did not marry me now?"
Fanny" / answered, solemnly, for
by this time comprehended the whole
horror of the position, II thank the
Providence which preserved me from
joining my life to that of a woman SO
wicked as YOURSELF
Really, Godfrey, you are quite en-
ergetic! l suppose that you are piqued
at my going. Well, I must be going
but before go will lay down little
axiom for your future guidance; fear
you will think 1t cynical, but the truth
is often cynical. Never trust woman
again. Remember that she always has
a motive. II she is under twenty-five,
seek for it in her passions; after that
in her self interest
At this moment her face changed,
and as it did / heard the tap! tap! Of
the passage. The door opened and the
| boy entered-a feeble, understood lad,
with a pinched-up white face and pair
of beautiful blue eyes.
Cousin Fanny" he said Che al
ways called her cousin, as he entered,
| suyh 4 yino
for you everywhere. Why have they
been taking away your big box? You
are not going away to stay without me,
are your"
| Your cousin is going away for good
JOHN" / said; and next moment l re-
| GREETED it, for it was dreadful to see
the look of agony that came upon the
poor lads face. He loved Fanny with
all the strength of his sensitive anu
| exaggerated nature, and for years had
scarcely been able to bear her absence,
even for a day.
''Oh, no! no!' he screamed hobbling
| up to her and catching hold OF her
dress in his hands Don't say you're
going, cousin! You can't go and leave
me behind"
Godfrey" she said in a choked
voice, ''let me take the boy with me.
He is my weak point. love him as
though he were my own. Let me take
him. He shall be looked after!'
| II had rather see him dead," / an
swered, sternly, little guessing how
soon / should be taken at my word
She stopped down and kissed the lad
and then turned and went swiftly-al
most at a run. He seized his crutches
and limped down the passage after her
at an astonishing pace, calling her by
name as he went, till presently one of
the clutches slipped, and he fell help
Tess upon the stone flooring, and lay
there, still screaming to her through
the hall door, which she slammed be-
hind her. When / reached him he was
In fit!
The whole thing formed the most
horrible, and in its way the most tragic
scene that / ever saw; and l often
dream of it even now. And here may
add that my poor boy never recovered
from the shock. He fingered three
months and then died in his sleep, ap-
parently from pure hamilton. Well, It
was meGUiful release from a life OF
almost constant pain!
| That was the last time that / ever
saw Fanny Denelly, or rather Fanny
Hide-Thompson.