Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-12
CHATTER Nv. Continued,

~ IS ~ 49, %LSAN - &ANE go EA%h -
hks that. ain't it2 Lucky Il amt
afeared Of i'm. Walks there every
blessed night, e does, am
h stood alone I'm the. garden; Nu-
gent Leathwood had broken away from
her and had gone racing through the
garden. stumbling against trees blindly
as he ran toward the house where the
cheerful lights cleaned from the win
aows. The Old woman looked up "a the
deserted part of fdskerbys Folly and
laughed softly to herseIf.
Presently in the QUIET street the rum
bic Of wheels was heard, and a cab
stopped at the outer gate. Then Cor
nefius. with much seryiiity, assisted a
young giri 60 aIight, and gave instruc-
ti0ns fh regart to the bringing in of
boxes. IL was something, In that grim
place. to hear the quick. excited chat
ter OF a giriish voice; but Ii was un-
cenny ahd gruesome. knowing all that
they knew, TO near her frequent ques-
tons concerning Gilbert Rickerby.
Where was he? Why had he not been
TO meet herr How soon was he COM
ing?
Nugent Leathwood. who had re-
geined something Of his composure,
met her al the door, and smilingiy and
st9nkly welcomed her home. Come
In. come lni" he cried. as he took her
hands. we have such a lot to say to
each other--and you must feel tired
and hungry after our long journey.
Come int"
h stood III a lower room of the
house and looked about her. The SCRAP
of fire which had been kindled In .he
wide. o~id-fashioned CRATE, was expir-
ing; the only light I'm the room came
from two candles, set on the mantel
shelf: h only man to welcome her was
this smiling creature, who she Inward
ly ~distrusted. The place--the hour-the
silence--ail struck into her heart with
a kill She hal been kept under grim
restraint for so long. and had looked
forward SO ~joyfully TO this home-com-
ing-this meeting with her lover; and
now a horrible dread seemed to be
creeping over her.
Where is Gilbertg' she asked you
said he would be here to meet me.
Where is hep"
"Petience-patience: you are in such
q desperate hurry to see this lover Of
yours replied Leathwood. waving a
hand towards a chair. "Sitedown and
have something to eat. Time enough
GO &alk OF lovers-say, tomorrow"
She looked around the room IN per-
p.exity. Cornelius had vanished-prob-
ably to see about the preparation of a
meal. She was left there alone with
Nugent Leathwood; and the silence
about them seemed to beat In upon her
heart and to stile her. Then she heard
Nugent speaking.
eI told you, little Olive Mallory, when
s-~~kx 40 xrr.. - 80 hasxAp MO rims
slowly and very distinctly: II told you
that you were TO come here to meet
Gilbert Rickerby. Before we discuss
Gilbert Rickerbyl I want to take you
back q little to remind you C. some
things which have. happened within the
past year or two"
'I am listening" she said, in a sort
Of GREATNESS whisper. and without taxi
ing her eyes an instant from his face.
-Four years ago, when you were a
mere girl, you had some romantic
dreams about this Gilbert Rickerby,
you thought there was no man In the
world like him; you were certain that
the two of you were bound together till
the mi OF time. I suppose, In that.
YOU were lire every ether girl that was
ever barn into the world" 4gY
81 loved him with all my heart and
SOUL she said. steadily. II love him
now. My life has been a hard one, and
/ was as much a then as l shall
ever be. Four years has made no diff
ference In thati'
aWe shall see--we shall see," he said.
lightly. well. you parted from this
loyer--wcre forced to part with him,
Gilbert Rickerby went his way into the
world, as other men have done before.
and as other men win do again. 1t had
all been very amusing. I suppose-those
secret meetings, stolen kisses n
whispered protestations of love. But
you take Ii all too seriously, my dear"
TT ia everything-it is my life TO
me-" she said, earnestly. MIR. Leath-
wood, why do you waste time like this?
L came here to meet Gilbert. who has
returned 10 me after our long separa-
ton. Where is he? j want to see him
at ouce?" A
Nugent Leathwood paced about the
floor for a few moments, with his hands
ciasped behind him. Stopping sudden
~, he locked up and said: suppose i
told you that you would neve see him
again2"
She made a surprised movement to-
wards him. and then checked herself.
with her hands ciasped on ner breast.
81 don't understand she said. You
are trying to frighten me-"
Indeed. 4 am not" he replied. Il
am telling you the simple truth. GIL
bert Rickerby is dead!"
She cried out suddenly. and covered
her face with her hands. He moved
nearer to her. and spoke almost In her
ear.
aYou think I have cheated you-lied
60 you. I have done nothing OF the
kind. I brought you here to meet Gil
bert Rickerby: and, on the very night
he was TO have arrived. he was killed
In the street. An accident-mereiy an
accident that might happen TO n
man.
why tid you not tell me-why did
you not write { M p she cried, with
out uncovering her face. why did
you bring me here, with my heart full
" joy. at the prospect OF meeting the
man 1 iove-the man j have waited for
SO PATIENTLY"
His tome changed In a moment;
standing close beside her, he spoke. In
q voice which caused her 10 drop her