Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-03-14

from this, my Hhdi
again Bertram Talbot forces ms "as
into the grounds, l viii shoot MIN uo""
like the thief he isl
"Papa,' cried the hap sh"
"Will YOU not listen TO me? L VIII ooe'
Won, If you wish TO break ny near.
But Bertram is going away, ana must
see him once more. / must tell MN
what YOU have said. He knows that
all nv heart is his, as 1 know that all
his heart is mine. He Is coming mere
tomorrow night, papa. because 1
asked him to come. He only came to-
night to bid me goodbye, because ne
ia going away to work and make a Tor
tune. to prove to you that he cares
nothing for my money. Oh, papa. why
are we rich, If it is TO bring US only
wretcbedness?'
you say this man dares to again
propose a second meeting etwee you
for tomorrow night? Beatrice. you
have overstepped my patience beyond
its limits. Go to your ROOM. You VIII
remain there until l and Bertram Tai
bot have met"
'Oh, papa" / may not see him once
may not soften TO him, ever so little
the bitterness of you most cruel de-
cision? Papa, how can l obey you ID
this?"
AT least, Beatrice, I car force obedi-
ence. See to IL that you do not drive
me to take so desperate a step. Now,
go to your room, and when We meet
again, understand that this mans name
is never to be mentioned between u.s."
Papa. l will obey o 1 am help
| la.c 4 rarnnt raha1 Pnf nna 6nv Won
will regret that you have entailed upoh
me his bitter anguish. / do not owe 1t
TO you, papa. 1t is Randolph Chester's
doing. DO you hin / do not recognize
his handiwork? Oh, a why do you
let this wicked, designing man glide
like a snake between us? Would to
God my eyes a never looked upon his
facet"
Hush! Not another world" ex-
claimed Mr.. Markham. more sternly
than he had eve before spoken in the
presence of his idolized child.
Beatrice CAV him one glance of mute
reproach, and then sadly, but without
defiance, left the room.
Scarcely had the door closed behind
her than her father was tempted to
hasten after her and beg her forgive
ness, as though he had been the cul-
prit; for, after all. what was there In
the world compared to Beatrice's hap
piness?
She had judged him rightly. but
Chester who had watched the ending
of the interview, now entered h Ii
brary.
Il almost regret telling you. Cousin
Donald" he said, re~proachfully. Il
did not wish Beatrice to be made
wretched, but indignation at this fell
lows presumption mastered me. The
base advantage he took, too of a girls
weakness and your hitherto generous
kindness"
His words did not fail Of their mark.
They, for the moment, banished Be
atrice from her fathers thoughts and
AIMED the flame of his wrath against
the youth who onc had been dear t.
him, and whom now he termed inter.
loper and fortune-hunter.
Il will win you, yet, my lady" so
s~oliloquised Randolph, when at last he
had babe his cousin Goodnight, and
sought the retirement of his own apart
ments. II will win and wear you.
though whether / must love or hate
you / cannot tell"
Slowly the long hours of the succeed
ing day wore away. Beatrice sat, ST.
lent and impressive, in the exquisite
room which had been to her the scene
of so man. happy hours, within whose
walls her heart had first whispered to
her it's awakening to the dawn of love.
To-day all saw faith in her lover has
fled. The night fell and the moon rose.
the little clock chimed the hour when
she n Bertram were t. have me,-
Was her father already at the rendez-
vous. She rose n crossed to the WIN
dow facing the lawn.
Two figures were at that instant
crossing 1t, n approaching the house.
She recognized them both. They were
her father and her lover. Randolph
Chester was nowhere to be seen.
A half-hour followed. All was silent.
was going on in the library be-
low her?
Another half-hour had passed. but
still Bertram Talbot had not left the
house..
A sudden impulse seized her to GO
Down stairs, to see Bertram once again.
and in her fathers presence, promise
to be true to him, though their separa-
ton was eternal. She was no coward
and beside Bertram she might, indeed.
be brave. Swiftly she threw open the
door end FASTENED down the steps. but
on the threshold of the room she
paused. She could heal within angry
and excited voices.
It's a lie, Mr.. Markham" she heard
Bertram say Il never made such a
proposition to o M daughter, Have
ever lied to you, that you should doubt
me? win you not rather doubt one
who brings to you a tale so infamousp
At least. you win let me see Beatrice
again.
Never, You shall never ook upon
her face, Whatever money you need I
will give you. I offered you money once
before. but only across my lead BODY
shall you reach my child"
Money m insult-you are generous