Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-08-30
( % % 3 6566-6-6 -6-6766-6-6666ON
!: 4 SIRENS R ! VICTIMS 5
. BY Frances Warner Walker. *
90 d o d a o 90 q a a q q q a J
BY Frances Warner Walker.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Only last night. at this hour, she had
| fancied all was lost, and 10! tonight
the very goal was reached-the soa
beyond her widest dreams or hopes.
In the beautiful old house, surround
| ed by its spacious park, which was
| pointed out to strangers, not only as
] one Of the city's most elegant homes
| but rs belonging 10 one or its Oldest
! and most aristocratic names. she now
stood, mistress alike. OF house and
| name.
To such title she had already decreed
| Grace Hawthorne must, sooner or lat =,
| hold only secondary claim. She doubt
| ed not her own diplomacy to effect this
end. And IL diplomacy failei--why,
there We're other means.
| But that the pale child whose small.
cold, trembling hand had been extend
| ed to her In welcome. could prove, I'm
| any way. an obstacle between her and
the plans Of her ambition, was not, for
a moment. TO be considered.
suddenly, the yellow eyes darkened.
the pupils contracted. the smile died.
and tiny frown puckered the low
| brow. A cloud had swept across the
sun upon the horizon of her thought.
| She sighed.
A strange look of softness rested on
her face.
Harvey" she murmured: Harvey!
why did you help me do this thing?"
Then, as IL impatient of her own
weakness, she recrossed the floor, and,
hesltating but an instant before the
closed door. softly opened 1t and en-
tered the adjoining room.
Ciftaan rpfputao lafar ana IN tba
lounge drawn near his bed, she lay.
wrapped In dreamless slumber, while
her young husband. forgetful of his
pain, and welcoming wakefulness, lay
and watched her with eyes Of worship
ful fondness.
Only last night he had welI-nigh
cursed her, and to-night-it seemed to
him an eternity must be vouchsafed to
him for atonement.
SO he reasoned while she slept--the
only one of the little household, except
ing those who made up it's domestic
service. from whose eyes sleep had not
been banished-she who to others had
decreed the Punishment Of Morpheus,
herself accepted his embrace.
Alone I'm his library Edgar Reynolds
sat until the new dawn broke. Strange
rumors had reached him Of the early
life of the woman whom fate had
thrown across his sons path-whom
fate tonight had brought beneath his
roof, and had made sharer Of the
proud old name-a name sometimes
shadowed by the reckless living Of it's
men, but never hitherto tarnished by
the lack Of purity and honor Of any of
its women.
Yet. she was his sons wife. Well, he
would not begin the new life by suspi-
cion. He would Judge her by the flu
ture. not her past. After ALL. nothing
definite had been said or proven
against her: and what woman, young,
beautiful and unprotected, can escape
the breath OF scandal?
But II was broad daylight when he
forced himself to accept this latter
reasoning, and his soul sickened with
instructive dread.
He knew not that in the room above
him another vigil was being kept. as
Grace. sitting beside her open window.
as she had sat motionless through the
long hours of the night, watched the
first faint herald in the east Of the ris-
ing sun.
She had needed the darkness. the ST.
lence, the nights sympathy. while she
shivered, all unconsciously to herself.
in the throes which marked the birth
of her woman's soul.
How strange the law In human Iifei
that birth and suffering are synony-
nous terms, from the birth of life tt
self to that of all the noble or ignoble
qualities which are to dominate that
life!
She knew not all that these rangs
portended. She only knew that every
nerve WAS strained to bear the burden
Of her anguish. About her heart was a
sense OF suffocnting pain.
She held both hands tight pressed
upon 1t, with a sort Of mute contempt
that they were SO small. and soft, and
white, and failed so utterly to crush
down the nameless agony which grew
into absolute physical hurt.
mo wonder that ne loved her!"
thought the child. In loyal acknowledg-
ment of, the marvellous beauty of the
face whose smiling eyes had held her
speIl-bound beneath their gaze. "She
is SO beautiful. and her voice! never
heard a voice which held such music,
But-but will ker hand be ever ready
tonight. for Harry's needs? VIII she
make the long hours less wearisome TO
him? All, yes. yes! cannot be 50
mean and pitiless that already should
question her. Oh. God" her heart cried
out. as she fell upon her knees IN the
faint morning light, teach me to be
true to myself. worthy the love to
which I must henceforth give nc
name!
| CHAPTER VI.