Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-04-04

Since his interview with Chester, a
second. more thorough search through
all her fathers papers had been made,
but nothing could be discovered.
Their vas no will; there was no proof
Of any marriage which had taken place
between the parents.
Randolph Chester is a good and
generous man." said the old lawyer,
kindly, in taking his leave. Fl loves
you, and, as your husband, will pro-
tect you against the world and its
knowledge of this terrible wrong. I'm
less you marry him, / see no way to
avert the terrible disclosure, as he is
your fathers legal heir. and must. in
law, inherit the estate"
And my marriage to him is the one
price for his ~silence?"
my dear, you must not put 1t so.
He loves you. 1t is the only way pos
sible. except by r~elinquishing every
thing, which by right, belongs TO him
"But If / give up all to him-lf /
make no counter-claim-if / go away
where he can never hear of me again
surely then the world need never
know?'
How can he accept the property ex-
cept by proving his right to 1t? If you
were dead, my child, he inherits then,
as the next heir; but, living, your
claim holds good, unless proven other
wise"
IF I were dead, all would be Well"
| she murmured to herself. Can it be
that / have not the courage left to
die?"
And with the thought, a sense of
peace and gratitude stole into her
heart.
To die! Thus she might solve the
problem.
She la not seen her cousin during
these three days.
Toward nighfall he sent a message,
asking to be admitted; but a terrible
fear smote him as his eyes rested on
the pale beauty of her face.
Were his plans, after all, over
thrown? Had she discovered a paper
which had escaped his vigilance? Or
how else might he account for this
contented calm which looked out from
the lovely eyes which rested their
quiet gaze upon him.?
Beatrice, you are better?" he said,
tenderly. II dared not approach you
q NNois n NAAN" SON rs AS'N
time for thought, and would prefer
solitude, but it has been very hard not
to try in some poor way to bring you
comfort"
ITO bring me comfort?' she echoed.
YEARLY. Il scarcely wonder that at
such a task your courage failed. /
have seen Mr.. Arnold to-day. He con-
firms your story. Perhaps it is all
sr,,a r hnun NOT ctrannth 1pnoar RI
disbelieve. Doubtless, the other day, I
was very harsh n very bitter
against you. Tiff his is true, I had
no right to say what I did. l hope
Neutrality-suspicious. it,"
Like manna to the furnishing, her
words fell on Randolph Chester's sol
Could it be that, at last. the prize
was his-that. without further strug-
gle, ii had fallen INTO his eager, covet-
grasp?
At that momen something better,
nearer nobility than he had ever felt,
stirred within him. 1t was a sense Of
his own unworthiness.
Beatrice" he said, "the knowledge
of the pain my words inflicted caused
me keener suffering han any retort Of
yours born of you agony. Let that
all pass, dear. Let 1t be my task to
wipe out the memory of all this mis-
| cry as wholly as / have wiped from
my remembrance your momentary in
justice toward me. My darling! You
will grant my prayer? You will be-
come my wife,"
your wife, Involuntarily she shud-
dered as she repeated after him the
words. mo, no! Another way will be
found out Of the difficulty-a way
which Mr.. Arnold a suggested to me.
| You-you will understand tomorrow.
The property. the money, will be yours,
just the same. And, having that. you
| will not let the world know the truth
about-my mother? Promise me this?
Swear 1t to me?"
Beatrice, you are wrong, dear, In
| s~upposing that any road but one can
lead us safely out from this tangled
web, and that road we must pursue to-
gether, dear, to life's journeys end.
| why do you hesitate? Can I never
| teach you. child, loves lesson?"
The wonderful, subtle fascination OF
| manner had never been more fully re-
| vealed than when thus Randolph Ches-
ter pleaded his cause: but he spoke to
deaf ears.
The girl seemed scarcely to hear him.
She looked far beyond him, perhaps
| adown that other path out. OF the
maze, which she was to dig with her
own hands.
'To-morrow you will understand"
she whispered. dreamily.
A new fear smote him. Could she
have seen her old lover? Was she to
take his name. with all the stain Of
disgrace now covering 1t? Impossi-
BILE! He was still in prison, awaiting
a new trial, granted on application OF
his counsel. He had had direct news
of him only yesterday. What then?
Did she hope for his acquittal? and
did she still cling to him.. spite of the
damaging evidence OF his guilt?
His dread mastered his prudence.
Beatrice" he said, "you cannot be
thinking still OF one unworthy any
| thought-of Bertram Talbot, a con-
| victed theft"
AS he spoke the name, a strange
| light passed over her face. For three
days she had not even remembered the
man she loved. One thought alone had
- ~.zol i%s cta;nfuI tnnraSS nnOn