The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-12-12


'T am not at all sure that my daugh-
ter will see you,' said krley Ransome.
s.I must say that she has been cruelty
treated You are peer of the realm,
Lord Caraven, and have you behaved
MS a gentleman to my child? Have
you treated her with courtesy or affec-
tion?"
Let me go to her at once" said
Lord Carayen. 'Do not be hard On
me, Mr.. Ransome-I have had a great
deal to suffer" And these few words
disarmed the lawyer.
They, went together to Hildreds
room. Arley Ransome spoke first.
Mildred, / have something very
particular to say to you-open the
door"
There was not southland Lord
Caraven began to feel slightly alarmed.
"Hildred," cried the father, Il have
a message from your husband"
Still there was no sound, and, unable
to control himself, the earl cried out:
Mildred, for heavens sake, speak
TO me! Let me in--I want to see
you!"
The sound of his voice seemed to
have an electric effect upon her. The
next moment she turned the key in
the lock and opened wide the door.
With cry of fear and surprise he
started back when he saw her. He
had seen her lately so beautiful, so RAJ
diant-now her long black hair hung
In disorder over her shoulders; her
face was pale and stained with tears,
her eyes were dim. her lips white. He
hardly knew her.
"Hildred," he cried. NShe looked at
him with dim, sad eyes.,i
"You!" she said. rs it you who
thought me guilty of MURDER"
Lord Caraven turned 70. ,Afiey Ran
some.
Leave me alone with her. he said.
Il have much to say"
Mr.. Ransome went away. The earl
entered the room and closed the door.
He went to his wife, holding out both
his hands.
will you forgive me?" he said. g,
can never pardon myself"
But she shrank from him.
You believe that / committed muir
der" she answered. mo, / can not
touch your hands,"
H1ldred, listen. 1t was almost all
your own fault--you said you were
guilty"
mot Of murder" she rejoined. 81
could not have supposed that you
would think me capable of that. much
as you dislike me-
II do not dislike you, Hildred.p said
the earl, in voice full OF emotion,
"and ! am indeed grieved at having
offended you. Do not refuse to pardon
me-"
There can be no pardon, my lord. for
the wrong you have done me-" she re-
piled
And then the earl knew that, IL ever
he won his wife's pardon, it would be
q work OF patience and OF time.
He gazed anxiously at her. She look
ed pale and wan, with the stains of
bitter weeping on her face. He saw,
too. that she shivered like one seized
with mortal cold.
Mildred" he cried, do forgive me
you do not know how grieved 1 am
TO see you like this. Iwant to tell you
how the misunderstanding happened.
Will you listen?"
Yes" she replied, mechanically: and
she sat silent and motioniess while he
told her the story. She looked at him
when 1t was ended with dull. dim
eyes.
II am very sorry" she said, that
Blantyre made the mistake. | almost
wish that he had shot me through the
heart. What have / to live for?''
Il could not spare you, Hildred-you
have been the good angel of my life!"
he cried.
You would be better without me.
Your estates are free and unincumbered
now-you have reused yourself to q
sense OF your duties-you know how to
perform them. ] am of no more use
am sorry that John Blantyre missed
his ain"
''This is not like you, Hildred. Where
is your bright energy. your hope, your
cheerful animation"
she clasped her hands with a shud-
der.
Il am SICK" she said; sick with
terrible despair
He was at loss what to say TO her
she seemed immovable. Suddenly her
face flushed, and bright light came
-into the eyes that had been so dim.
You sent me from your house, Lord
Carasen. and pronounced me guilty on
what seems to me very slight evidence.
may cssim to be at least as credulous
as yourself, yet declare that had any