Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-29
III FATAL v..s nm :
ELIZABETH
n1dnridge, . =.

/ Kate. l feel that my reason has been
restored to me for this purpose, If foi
nothing else, and / consecrate my life to
the work"
But Mrs. Martin had no thought OF
staying him, or arguing against his OK
pressed intentions. She was, indeed.
too perplexed and bewildered to know
what to do or say, and, in silence. she
followed her brother to the street door,
and stood watching him until he had
turned the corner Of the next street ano
vanished from her sight.
"A miracle, indeed!" she murmured,
in an awe-struck voice. N wonde he
calls il so. He is sane-absclutely san&
-self-reiiant and self-controlled, too;
but what may be the effect of seeing
Philip? Will IL upset Roberts reason
again, or is the change a permanent
one? / scarcely know what to think OF
what to wish; but Robert has always
been fond of me, and for SO many years
a mere tool in my hands. IL cannot be
that / am going to lose control of him
now, just when / need all the power 1
possess in every direction? But Is he,
indeed, sane? Is not this, rather Il new
phase of madness, n / am deceived
by a clever piece of acting? Robert Is,
perhaps. the murderer, after all. and all
this is assumed to conceal his crime.
.But 40, that Is impossible. There is too
..uc. method in It for madness-Ah!'
lit was only Bertha, who had softly
stolen to her mothers side and placed
her hand on her mothers shoulder; but
Mrs. Martin was decidedly unnerveo,
for she started violently and uttered an
exclamation Of positive alarm.
rs IL o child? How you frighten-
ed mel
Dear mamma no wonder you are
nervous and easily startled. I'm so sor-
ry I spoke suddenly to Uncle Robert!
Forgive mel" and the affectionate girl
drew her mothers face close to her own
and kissed 1t.
Mrs. Martin returned the caress with
unusual tenderness. She was devotedly
fond of Bertha, and she felt almost des-
olate in her own wickedness at that
moment.
Her daughters fresh, innocent face
vas no rebuke to her; but Bertha's evil
lent love and belief in her was like
balm to her disturbed spirit. 1t both
soothed and stimulated her, for in all
her worldly schemes, in all her daring
ventures, whether wicked or merely
ambitious. she always justified her ac-
tions by the reflection that verifying
was for the sake of her children, whom
she loved more than herself.
Never mind, darlingi There is no
need to worry yourself. No harm was
done. Your uncle seems strangely
calm and quiteA-master OF himself. He
has gone to poor Philips house, for he
feels that he ought to be there"
hi uttered the last words slowly, and
In an absent minded manner, for her
attention was suddenly attracted by an
figure, whose actions We're
| sufficiently strange to justify Bertha's
wondering gaze. as well as her own.
The figure was that of a young man
who had come into view just as Robert
Grayson had turned the corner, and al
though she had seen him from the mo-
ment he first came into the street. Mrs.
Martin had hardly been conscious of his
presence till, on a nearer approach, n
began wildly throwing his arms about
and talking aloud.
What can be the matter with him."
said Bertha. "He doesn't look as If he
had been drinking. Oh. dear me.--bu,
no. It's impossible!"
The last words were spoken In q o
of such evident bewilderment that Mrs.
Martin turned and looked sharply at
her daughter. To her utter surprise,
Bertha was blushing brightly as a rose.
while the girls gaze remained fixed up
on the stranger. as IL fascinated.
What in the world Is the matter?"
asked Mrs. Martin. Do you know the
| young man. Bertha?"
aNo, least, not that I am
aware off, meant don't know who hes
is, or ii / ever saw him before, but IL
not. il was some one-oh, SO much like
him.
when. child? Where? How TRANCE
you talk. And what are you piushing
up In that way for?? You look as il
! you had been guilty of some serious
fault"
mo, no, lear serious
fault, If fault at all. Please don't be
angry with me, and I'll tell you all
about IT."
Before Mrs. Martin could make
reply, the cause of their remarks g
come so near them, still gesticulating
wildly, tina the mother and daughter
retreated from the open door into the
hall.
The young man paused directly in
front OF them, and Mrs. Martin then
observed hat he gave no sign of being
under the influence of liquor, although
his actions, at a distance, might easily
have suggested such an explanation of
them.
He was palG, almost to lividness, ex-
cept In each thin cheek, where burned
the hectic lush of fever. His eyes werS
wild and CLASSY. his parted lips parched
and 1ivid. and his rich, dark hair tam
gled and tossed wildly from his brow.
His hat was gone and his Goa was
torn open. his cravat united and his col
lar was loose, leaving his massive, mar
blelike throat bare TO the chilly evening
breeze.
Although he had paused right at their
door. and was, apparently, looking
straight at Bertha and her mother. 1t
was evident that he was quite uncon-
scious of their presence.
Strange! The young mans face is
familiar 70 me. too" Mrs. Martin said.
in a low tone. Where nave / seen him
before?'
AS IL the sound of her voice had set
his thoughts going again. the stranger
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