Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-02-28

frysting place. and hid myself TO see
what the dear girl would do. and !
take credit Tor the possession OF a self
restraint that was truly wonderful See
lngin what a great longing held me TO
rush out and comfort her she stood
and looked round eagerly. and Their !
heard her-sor ] was bat a few PAGES
from hrr-say. softly. Where is h4.
An. Jack. darling. my heart hungers for
you."-and when ] had her al this dis
advantage ] rushed 0ut and did my
best 10 satisfy her hunger.
Her warm kisses d touch Of her
hand as h pushed back my hair 10
get a better look al me. and the JOY
that danced and sparkled in her glori-
Gus eyes. told me that she was mine
forever, even as ] Was hers. and that
nothing now should part US until the
one OF us stood and looked dow upon
the dead face OF the other. gone before
TO await the more perfect union Of soul
that would live FOR eve and ever,
And aow that Ihe fear Of the yenge-
ance OF the dreaded Thirteen was lifted
from him. Mr.. Courtney came back 10
something Of the old cheerfullness Of
the days when he was lord and master
Of Courtney Castle. and the meeting
between him and my father was Of the
most cordial nature. for he received us
at Connemara Cottage with all the old
time courtesy of which he IA past
master.
While our elders withdrew and dis
russed with becoming gravity h union
of h families, Nora and ] betook our
selves to h garden. and il our conduct
was not governed by the strict ETH
auette that prevailed indoors. we yet
managed 70 pass half an hour very
pleasantly before we were called TO re-
cefve our sires' blessings. with a hearty
grip from the one for me. and a father
~ kiss from the other for the blushing
Nora.
One more scene. and the history Of
the Ragged Thirteen will be as a tale
that in told.
The packet that Lennon had given
me contained the address OF his wife,
and furnished me directions by which
/ might easily find Jim Mcguire. and
further armed me with an authority
upon the production OF which my old
friend would be at once restored TO me.
I also found a letter addressed TO me.
written by Lennon. during the last day
OF his life. giving me fuller details OF
the dual existence he had led. n j
understood clearly how ne had been
dominated by his mother and Sweeney.
and how they kept continually alive
within him the idea that he must sacri-
flee everything 20 the one end and aim
OF becoming his brothers avenger.
Hard by a fourishing town on the
south coast, In a cottage smothered in
ciematis and guelder roses. dwelt a
lady whose card would have informed
you that she was Madame LATTE. but
III I knew. by reason OF what Len
mons packet had told me. was none
other han his widow She was a teach
er Of music, and the daintily furnished
drawing room into which I was shown.
by a neat maid. and the general air OF
comfort were conclusive proofs that
her efforts TO obtain a living had been
crowned with abundant success. She
was a woman drawing nigh TO her for
tieth year. and her face. though II
showed some traces of sorrow. was vet
a beautiful one, and her soft voice. as
she saluted me. set my heart beating.
What might be the object of your
visit. sir she asked, when / had seat
ed myself. II have not the pleasure of
knowing your name. and IL YOU have
called upon me with regard TO taking
pupils. / may say at once that my time
Is. at present. fully occupied"
II have called upon a far more urgent
matter than that" 7 said. and IL is OF
SO delicate a nature that I hardly know
how { begin. If I seem to have some
knowledge of your private affairs. you
VIII see. when I have told my story,
that l have como by that knowledge
accidentally. j know. for instance.
that YOU name Is not LATTE"
Pardon me. sir she was begin
ming, when I interrupted her.
Believe me" ] said. that what
4 have TO tell o concerns most nearly
MT only your happiness. but also that
. OF one who was onee very dear TO you.
I To relieve your suspense. Jet me say
that ] was present when Maurice Len
! non. who was your husband. died I'm
4 Fiji: that he expired in my arms, and
that he gave me directions by means
OF which I might find you He also told
me of the cruel wrong he had done you
and said he would do his best TO re.
pair hat wrong. II is only natural that
YOU should be deeply moved by what ]
am saying. and. IL you prefer il. / car
come again presently. when you have
mastered the shock which my words
y must have given you"
She sat for some time without speak
y ing. Then she faced me steadily.
4 Tell me all" she said. and with that
] gave her a fun account Of 10 I had
come In contact with Jim Mcguire. and
of all hat happened to him. And
was. perforce. obliged TO give her time
20 grow calm again when she had
heard OF the strange calamity that had
come upon him, and as soon as she
could listen TO me 7 went on:
1T is 20 see whether we can restore
his mental balance that I have come tc
you. Is there anything you could &c
Whereby you might stir the chords OF
his memory
4 She arose and went 10 the plano.
There is a little Irish ballad that he
was intensely fond Of" she said, -and
thar he always made me sing 10 him.