Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-08-30
CHAPTER v.


with unfaltering steps she descended
the, stairs as Andrew, the butler
crossed the hall to make the announces 2
ment that dinner was served.
avn you take my arm. uilcie. Ed,
gar. or shyllI take ypnrs2n4 she eaiIed
almost gaiiy, frora the thresholde
room.
s'it is j. my child, who must hence.
forth lean en- you.,, he said. and fstt
his TREMBLING hand upon her arm
while he dimly wondered II. indeed, .his
fear had been misplaced for the bIishi
upon her life. AFssssa.. &.
( At that moment loud peal of the
bell started them .both.a cIt seemed &c
sound some new dispster.. 4.
4 Yesterday she would have. let him. in
any trouble. be her shield. To-day, In
stinctively. she gently pushed him
back into his easy chair. and went ou,
into the hall as Andrew opened the
front door. sItt
in a few moments she returned, and
crossing the room knelt down by his
side, .8s -ttSts
H'Uncle.' she said, '.there has been a
railroad accident, and Harry is In
Jured, but not. think. seriously. His
--his wife Is unhurt. She sent mes
senger here from the depot to ask what
she should do, and have given orders
that they should come here at once. !
felt IL would be your wish, Uncle Ed
CARAT least I knew that you would
forgive me that so soon claimed for
Harry the pardon you have promised
him. Where else should he come but
TO his fathers house?"
That woman here-to-day! My boy
hurt. dying, perhaps, Oh. what mis-
fortune has not this entaiied upon us?'
Hush. Uncle Edgar. Think how
y sad an ending this is to Harry's wed.
ding day. We must think now, not Of
Ourselves, but of him and of--his wife.
Uncle. YOU will receive her. not forget
ting that she b Harry's wife and your
daughter"
He looked don at the loving, pleas
ing face upturned to his.
Child" be. said. ARE you an angel
OF forgiying. plying love? For your
sake. and because you ask 1t, Will
try and look upon this woman only as
my boys wife; but let her beware--let
her but sully the atmosphere you
breathe--let her be one whit less pure,
less true than the proud station she has
STAINED viii warrant. and"
He did not finish the sentence. Five
iittle fingers were pressed tightly over
his mouth.
q, LET us not cloud the future with
foreboding, Uncle edgar" spoke
sweet, low voice in his ear. I'VE are
to welcome Harry and Harry's wife to-
If,,. 81 Hx. fr. ,,,1
an hour yet. will give orders thai
dinner be kept waiting. and see that
their rooms are in readiness"
Her voice was strong. but her face
was colorless as rnarble---even while
she FASTENED into the garden and
robbed the rose bushes or their choic-
est blooms. f-tsS-
yesterday I thought he loved me-"
she thought. as she arranged them in
bowls and vases. Yesterday? No,
only last night; and to-day, tonight,
am scattering flowers through the
rooms for Harry's bride. Ah,"--as the
sound of wheels on the drive be,ow the
windows reached her ear-"ah! they
are come"
A moment later the front door was
thrown wide open, and she herself
stood on the threshold to meet the
woman. the shadow OF whose influence
already had fallen athwart her young
life. Could the veil which hid the fu-
ture from her sight have been torn
aside what revelation would have froz-
en- on her lips the welcoming smile!
And was II wrong that no premonition
warned her?
A few hours later, and white and
suffering Harry Reynolds lay back
with closed eyes among the pillows of
& his bed. His broken arm had been
set, his bruises dressed, and the
thought that he was cnce more in his
old home made even his sufferings well
come. Across the pain which racked
him, like sunbeams threading their
way through the darkness, came the
memory OF his fathers welcome. the
pressure of his hand, the sweet, low
music OF Grace's voice. ~ a3s
They had all left him at last with his
wife, and he had sent her into the mex,
room TO lie down and rest--was con-
tent to be alone and dream. But
could he have looked beyond the closed
door which separated the bed rooms
he would have seen that already was
her vow of obedience disregarded.
The bed and lounge were alike un-
touched. With quick. nervous motion
the young wife paced up and down the
FUN length of the moor.
On the thick carpet her football was
unheard. She had exchanged her trav.
cling dress for loose-fitting robe o
white, which fell in Vatican folds from
her shoulders TO the ground.
A flush OF triumph was on her cheei
and had kindied Its fires in the great
yellow eyes until they fairly blazed.
She made no sound as she moved
She seemed to belong to and form Z
part of the silence of the room
But Il was a silence such as nigh
exist In the heart of yesuvius. when I
breeds the horrors it later must belcl
forth.
Once she paused and held paused an
held up her left hand TO the light. I
was small. and white and beautifully
shaped; but It was not her vanity ha
moved her 70 its inspection. Nelthe
did IL bear q single jewel.
Only tiny circlet of gold inelose
It's :hird finger. but this IL was whic
Mt 49,