Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-29
IL EaGaZ.> .... ~. ).
ELIZABETH
m1annidge, . -

/ Kate. / feel that my reason has been
restored to me for this purpose. If fol
nothing else, and l consecrate my life to
the work"
But Mrs. Martin had no thought OF
staying him, or arguing against his *.
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 mex street ana
vanished from her sight.
"A miracle, indeed!' she murmured,
in an awe-struck voice. mo wonder he
calls IL so. He is sane-abeclutely SAM
-self-reiiant and self-contrclled. too;
but what may be the effect of seeing
Philip? Will ii 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. 1t cannot be
that / am going to lose control OF him
now, just when / reed all the power /
possess in every direction? But Is he,
indeed, sane? Is not this, rather a new
phase of madness. and / am deceived
by a clever piece OF acting? Robert is,
perhaps, the murderer, after all, n all
this is assumed to conceal his crime.
But 10, that Is impossible. There is too
--Gc.. method in 1t for madness-Ah!"
IL was only Bertha. who had softly
stolen to her mothers side n 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 it you, child? How Won frighten-
ed mel"
Dear no wonder you are
nervous and easily startled. I'm SO sor-
ry / spoke suddenly to Uncle Robert!
Forgive mel" and the affectionate girl
drew her mothers face close to her own
and kissed it.
Mrs. Martin returned the caress with
unusual tenderness. She was deyotedly
fond of Bertha, and she felt almost des-
olate in her own wickedness at that
moment.
Her daughters fresh, innocent face
was no rebuke to her, but Bertha's evil
dent love and belief in her was like
balm to her disturbed spirit. 1t both
soothcd and stimulated her, for in all
her worldly schemes, in all her daring
ventures, whether wicked or merely
ambitious, she always justified her ac-
tons by the reflection that verifying
was for the sake of her children, whom
she loved more than herself.
Never mind, darling. There is no
need 10 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"
She uttered the last words slowly, and
I'm an absent minded manner, for her
attention was suddenly attracted by an
approaching figure. whose actions were
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 Wow 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. h.
began wildly throwing his arms about
and talking aloud.
What can be the matter with him."
said Bertha. "He doesn't look as IL he
had been drinking. oh. dear me!-bul
no! It's IMPOSSIBLE"
The last words were spoken in a tone
1 OF SUCn eEluenL DtNllGeI IIlCIll lidI 4
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?"
mo, mamma-at least, not that I am
,~r 81 aaara-- don't rpnNv who ha
is, or il l ever saw him before, but If
not. IL was some one-oh, so much like
him
when. child? Where? How strange
you talk, And VIVA are you blushing
UP in that way for?? You look as If
you had been guilty of some serious
fault"
mo, no, lear serious
fault, IL fault at all. Please don't be
angry with me, and I'll tell you all
about IT,"
Before Mrs. Martin could make m
reply. the cause of their remarks had
come so near them, still g~esticulating
wildly, that 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 ave no sign Of being
under the influence of liquor. although
his actions. at a distance, might easily
nave suggested such an explanation of
them.
He was pale. almost to lividness, ex-
cept in each thin cheek. where burned
the hectic flush or fever. His eyes weru
wild and CLASSY, his parted lips parched
and Vivid. and his rich, lark hair tam
gled and tossed wildly from his brow.
His hat was gone n his coat 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. IL
was evident that he was quite uncon-
scious of their presence.
Strange! The young mans face is
familiar to me, too.r Mrs. Martin said.
in a low tone. Where have | seen him
before?"
AS If the sound of her voice had set
his thoughts going again. the stranger