Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-05-09
CHAPTER XVIII. .Continued.)

hSipISSS liltic nlH
n looked at those gathered about
the table, and Aliens eyes met hers.
Instinctively she felt his strength and
protection could not fail her, let her
need be ever SO great.
You do not understand me-" contin-
ued Randolph, as no glass was lifted in
esponse to his own. Let me. then,
present you to my cousin, Beatrice
Markham, In the young lady you have
known as Miss Montrose. BY courte-
sy. we will still give her the old name.
Beatrice, you. at least, will lift FOUR
glass to mine?'
Had a thunderbolt been launched in
their midst. II could have produced no
more startling effect.
Randolph stood waiting, smiling: but
Beatrice sat motionless and dumb.
She had dreamed, in her folly, that
her ingognita might for a time be pre-
served. She had not argued the thou
sand chances that might at any time
disclose IL. against any and all Of
which Chester had thus boldly fortified
himself.
She felt for an instant like a GRIM
inal on whose arm the hand of justice
has been laid. Her heart beat slowly
and with difficulty; her blood refused
to flow.
Then the very facts with which she
was confronted gave her back her
courage which for the they
had robbed her,
After all. it was easier to fight under
her true colors than wearing q mask.
whose disguise might at any time be
rendered Of no avail.
II will leave you to finish the ex-
PLANTATION you have begun, Mr.. Ches-
ter" she said. with dignity. as she rose
from the table. you. doubtless, can
make Il clear why the man who obs
his fellow man of some paltry sum of
gold or silver is called thief and thrust
into Jail, while he who steals fortune,
name and identity from a helpless girl
Is entitled, in the eyes of the world, to
all honor for the act. But. understand,
Randolph Chester, I have returned TO
Grey Oaks neither in acceptance Of
your invitation nor your formally-prof-
Tered charity, but because a voice from
the dead has ummoned me. Take care
that, later, its summons do not reach
your ears!"
She finished speaking and, with a
low bow, swept from the room.
Silence fell on the little group left be-
hind her silence again broken by their
host
II W you an apology. Mrs. Layton.
and you. also, my dear Allen he said,
while an expression as of deep grief
fitted over his face, ''for not having
at oEce disclosed to YOU the identity of
my cousin In one known TO you as Miss
Montrose; but, seeing her under your
roof, and perceiving instantly that h
suiulxaI ~ &C ttnpaanontzaH nv me-
my worst fears regarding her were
confirmed. All this wretched trouble.
and the shock of discovery regarding
her parents. had turned her brain. /
feared to take any other course than
the one I have followed, of seeming to
humor her whims. lest she should re-
fuse To return to Grey Oaks, and /
shrank from employing force to bring
her here. Happily, my little plan
worked we'll. She is once more under
my roof and my protection. Although
unsupported by herself, / shall have
aer carefully guarded; nor shall h
be permitted, alone. TO leave the
grounds. Meantime, / must beg your
ndulgence for her. Civ her no hint
that we suspect her mind to be disor-
dered, and perhaps, in time. 1t will re-
cover itself. You can guess something
of the nature of this trial to me when
/ repeat that she, whom you have just
heard address me with such aversion,
was to have been my Wife"
His voice seemingly broke and. ris-
ing abruptly, he walked toward the
window. as though to hide emotion too
strong for him to otherwise conceal.
The story produced a different effect
upon the little group.
Mrs. Layton's first thought had been
q secret determination to cut short her
visit to Grey Oaks, and horror that
Cora should have been thrown in close
association with a young person whom
society could no longer regard as re-
spectacle; but. after all. Mr.. Chester
was very charming. the girl insane,
and who knew but that Cora might
prove the healer to this most romantic
wound!
Cora's bright eyes were dimmed with
tears. Had any other lips than Ran
dolph Chester's pronounced Beatrice
insane she would Indignantly have de-
MED 1t; but, coming from him, who
had already acquired so strong and
subtle an influence over her. the asser-
tion staggered her.
Miss Lorrimer had listened with a
4. COiQ Siliiep mex eyes HAGu, tcl oH tic
speaker. BUT on Aliens face. She had
watched the muscles OF his mouth
CULVER, and had seen h blood slowly
ebb from his cheeks. What part did
Il. T. play in tn drama. she wondered,
and where was he now? She had re-
newed reason for congratulation that
she had not permitted the letter sent
him TO reach its destination. Through
that letter, too. she had gained valu-
able knowledge - knowledge which
made her now distrust both Randolph
Chester and his statements. Yet she
was the first to reply to him.
"It is very. very sad,' she said.
'sReally, 1t quite made my blood run
old when she spoke OF having been
commanded 10 return here by a voice
from the dead. Mad people have
strarge freaks always. You consider
her quite harmless. Mr.. Chester"
.sOh. my dear. you quite startle met"
exclaimed Mrs. Layton.
Allen looked up. His face was very
white. and he opened his lips to speak,
but repressed the impulse and was ST.
lent.
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