The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-05-03


tress; but for long he held out steadily
against her.
lone night--it was late at night
Lilith came to me.
"'He has done it, she exclaimed
triumphantly. He has made out the
will at last! All that he has VIII Do
mine. Come and sign 1t as witness
Evan
II feebly protested, saying that IL
was sin to deprive the other chill
dren OF their inheritance, but Lilitn
only scoffed. You will understand
how far had fallen by that mean IN
fatuation when / tell you that l tol-
lowed her and signed the paper as
witness.
"a few days after Sir James died.
There was no contested case. The chill
dren were too. young to understand
matters, and their guardians were cas-
lily silenced.
"Lilith still encouraged me, and l
visited the house, which was occupied
by her and Lady Westray. II was
while doing so that, by strange acci-
dent, j discovered the secret which
legal eyes had not detected.
"Sir James signature to the will had
been forged!
II shall not lengthen my story by
going into the details OF my discoy-
cry. Enough that taxed Lilith with
it, and she defied me to prove it. When
she saw l was in earnest she changed
her tactics; threw herself on my mer-
cy, knelt to me, besought me not to
bring this awful disgrace upon her;
then promised she would look after
the Westray children and keep them in
as great comfort as ever they could
have had il the property had come to
them. I was weak; yielded.
II know my part was base one;
scorn and blame me for it as you will.
l went abroad. BY that time l had in
herited small income which left me
independent passed year or two
bear-shooting in the Rockies. Con-
science pursued me. l saw Lilith in
her true light. and all the false glamour
that had surrounded her vanished.
II came here. You know-at least,
Elspeth does--how Lilith tried to re-
gain her old power over me- When
she saw 1t was useless, she defled me
to do my worst. Well, let us cast no
stone at the poor, silent dead"
He paused. The faces of the three
who had listened breathlessly to him
were very pale.
Magnus was the first to speak. He
held out his hand
Forgive nae, Monteith. have been
unjust and suspicious; but your story
Is strange beyond fiction"
Monte;th grasped his hand.
you won't refuse me what I've come
to ask from you, then, Halcrow! You
know what it is"
He put his arm round Day, who was
trembling and pale; but the action
brought the rosy color rushing back to
her cheeks.
"You are going to take my Star Of
Day from me, then? Well, I suppose
it must have come sooner or later, and
rather you than any other man, Mon
teith," said Magnus, his voice just a
little unsteady. Sod bless you, my
little Day! kiss me-"
"Magnus. I'm not going to leave
YOU" cried Day soothingly. But she
bent and kissed the SCARED face, her
tears running down upon it. Then, on
a sudden impulse, she turned and
kissed Elspeth Troll.
"And now wish to have this maiden
just for a few minutes to myself" said
Monteith, standing up and drawing
Days arm through his own. Nurse
will you wait with your patient till
We come back? After that shall take
you back to Crag Castle"
Elspeth said nothing, but her lips
grew tremulous.
you loved her once, and before me-
Evan" Day whispered as they were
strolling down the garden, with his
arm round her and her head near his
shoulder. And she had such an in
fluence over you-more than / shall
ever have!"
For evil" said Monteith thought
fully. Then he bent and kissed the
sweet mouth. "She was a 'baleful
STAR Day, to lure me to base and un-
worthy ways from all good and noble
ones; but you are the Daystar that
will God willing e1lida me- through
the shoals and quicksands Of life un-
til'-he paused and added reverently-
God Himself takes us both into His
eternal day."