Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-11-07
CHAPTER xxvr-aContinued)

VA IN {" NAtoN cAAI was AAAN iAIA1SA~a -
the situation, and that he was helpless
to move her by any further threats. At
all times ne knew that Clarice could
only be governed through her affections
land now she had nothing more to fear
where her affections were most ardent
ly placed; her lover lived, she was
convinced of his constancy, she could
prove his innocence, and he was wait
ing to throw himself at her feet.
But even yet Mowbray would not give
up. Shirley, perhaps. did not yet know
how matters stood. There was one
chance yet. and he might be able to
prevent them from meeting.
"You believe all you say, Clarice," he
said, slowly, watching the effect of his
words. but you may find how mistaken
you are when Shirley Austin stands in
the murderer's dock"
Clarice turned pale, and for a moment
her resolution seemed shaken; but the
color returned to her face. she smiled
proudly, and said:
Shirley Austin viii never stand in
the murderer's dock"
tMowbray left the room and hurried
to his wife's apartment. She, at least,
never deied him. and her power over
Ciarice remained unchanged.
You must reason with Clare" he
i said, abruptly, "or else she will ruin
everything by marrying that fool. Aus
tin. n throw away the magnificent
fortune we have worked so hard to win
for her"
4 What do you mean, dear?' inquired
Y his wife looked quite pleased. Has
Shirley come back again? You know 1
thought 1t was very cruel of you to
prevent Glare from seeing him. Brian,
he has always owed her, and she will
be happy apart from him.
Mowbray stamped his foot with inn
patience. and seized his wife by the
arm with a grasp that panied her.
Brian, you are hurting me! Are you
going to strike me?" she asked, pite-
ously, and he shrank in fear.
She was the one ~creature left iii the
world now who believed in Brian Now
bray. and he felt a curious shock at
4 feeling her shrink away from him in
alarm. His grasp relaxed. and he
1 placed his arm about her slight but still
graceful figure.
Don't be foolish, my darling! You
know / am more anxious for you than
for myself" he said, with an appear
nee Of much tenderness. IF Clarice
acts with such folly, we will be again
reduced to poverty; so win she; for
Austin has returned poorer than when
he went away"
but, lie she loves him, Brian, dear,
her happiness is surely of more conse-
quence than all this wealth, which she
can't enjoy. Why. she's worn nothing
but plain black since she came into this
grand house. OF course she can't help
that, being a widow; out even before
Il poor lear Mr.. Grawson was murdered
In that awfully cruel way, Clarice did
not take take one bit of pleasure in her
Il lovely clothes. So unlike a girl of her
age, and so unlike her, too, when she
used to be happy Now IL she marrles
4 Shirley, 1t viii be all so different; be-
cause we won't be reduced to poverty
at all. Brian, you forget! Our annuity
Is for life, and quite enough to make US
very comfortable: while Clarice will
have a third in spite of the will, and
that will be a handsome fortune in it
self. Oh, 1t viii be just charming. |
shall see her happy and light-hearted
n again, and / will have the comfort OF
seeing her beautiful and appreciative
of the lovely dresses / shall select for
her.
Mowbray turned away with a NUT
tered oath.
"Fooll' he growled, under his breath.
"Let her only have money enough for
fine dresses, and some one as simple as
herself to talk with about them, and
she cares for nothing else
n He strobe away, and, seizing his hat,
II went out into the street.
III The chance of retaining the prev
ileges of Philip Grawson's wealth be-
came smaller and smaller. He began
n TO wish the murderer, whoever Ii was,
would rid the world of Shirley Austin;
for then Clarice would never marry,
But instead of that. he must make up
his mind to see Mrs. Martins schemes
succeed just where his had failed.
He wondered where Austin was. Had
the young nan perhaps left the city?
Perhaps he could SO work matters as
to make Shirley do so, il he could but
find the fellow.
And then he remembered the letter OF
Mrs. Martin which he had intercepted.
She must know where Shirley could be
found. and with that thought he turned
his steps to finding her-for he knew
where she lived.
But Mowbray found Mrs. Martin a
III changed changed that she
no longer seemed the woman whom he
had feared as a formidable rival In his
w schemes for wealth.
Bertha and her mother bad returned
III from their visit to the clergyman whose
name had been used on the cop in
closed to them Of Letty's marriage GER
tificate.
To their horror. they learned that the
use OF the clergyman's name was a for
gerry, the ceremony a mockery, and the
man who performed II, whoever he
was, an imposter.
IT had teen cleverly done; but ever II
1t had been clumsily accomplished, poor
Lefty had been too innocent to suspect
a fraud.
Mrs. Martin was quite broken down,
and even the sight of her old enemy
could not rouse her to any show OF re-
s~istNnce.
III II know nothing of Mr.. Austin" she
said, in a broken voice, ''The hand OF
I'D God is heavy on me. Mr.. Mowbray. One
III daughter has forsaken me for a villain,
and It seems as IL death had deter
&t xnfnad IN clafu1 the other have