The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-14
CHAPTER Nv. (Continued.)

what! You've seen 1t, a you?'
she whispered. "They only comes by
night, don't they? Poor lad it's odd
for i'm to come back to the old place
Xix. that, amt it? Lucky I amt
afeared of i'm. Walks there every
blessed night, e does, an
She stood alone in the garden; Nu-
gent Leathwood had broken away from
her and had gone racing through the
garden, stumbling against trees blindly
as he ran toward the house where the
cheerful lights cleaned from the win
dows. The old oma looked up at the
deserted part of Rickerby's Folly and
laughed softly to herself.
Presently in the quiet street the rum
BILE Of wheels was heard, and a cab
stopped at the outer gate. Then Cor
nelius. with much servility. assisted a
young girl to alight, and gave instruc-
tons in regard to h bringing In Of
boxes. It was something, in that grim
placqSto hear the quick, excited chat
ter IL a girlish voice; but it was UNI
cerny and gruesome, knowing all that
they knew, to hear her frequent ques-
tions concerning Gilbert Rickerby.
Where was he? Why had he not been
to meet her? How scon was he COM
ing?
Nugent L~eathwood, who had re-
COINED something Of his composura,
met her 1t the door, and smilingly and
slankly welcomed her home. Come
In! come in" he cried, as he took her
hands. I'VE have such a lot to a to
each other-and you must feel tired
and hungry after your long journey.
Come in!" r.
She stood in a lower room Of the
house and looked about her. The scrap
of fire which had been kindled in The
wide, old-fashioned crate, was expir-
ing; the only light in the room came
from two candles, set on the mantcl
shelf: the only man to welcome her was
this smiling creature, who h inward
ly distrusted. The place-the hour-the
eilencc-all struck into her heart with
q chill. She hal been kept under grim
restraint for SO long. and had looked
forward so joyfully to this home-com-
lng-this meeting with her lover; and
now a horrible dread seemed to be
creeping over her.
Where is Gilbert?" she asked "You
said he would be here to meet me.
Where Is he?"
neutrality-suspicious.; you are in such
q desperate hurry to see this lover of
yours" replied Leathwood, waving a
hand towards a chair. 'Sit down and
have something to eat. Time enough
to talk Of lovers-say, tomorrow"
She looked around the room In per-
p;exity. Cornelius had vanished-prob-
ably to see about the preparation OF a
meal. She was left there alone with
Nugent Leathwood; and the silence
about them seemed to beat in upon her
heart and to stiae her. Then she heard
Nugent speaking.
st told you, little Olive Mallory, when
I wrote to you," he began, speaking
slowly and very distinctly: II told you
that you were to come here to meet
Gilbert Rickerby. Before we discuss
Gilbert Rickerby I want to take you
back a little to remind you Of some
things which have happened within the
past year or two"
IT am listening" she said, in a sort
Of GREATNESS whisper, and without TAX
lng her eyes an instant from his face.
-Four years ago., when you were a
mere girl, you had some romantic
dreams about this Gilbert Rickerby,
you thought there was no man in thu
world like him; you were certain that
yQ6 INO u yOu WCAC IA SOSSSAASA SAA
the end of time. I suppose, in that,
YOU were lite every ether girl tina was
ever barn into the world"
ct loved him with all, my heart and
SOUL" she said, steadily. II love him
now. My life has been a hard one, and
1 was as much a woman then as I shall
ever be. -Four years has made no oil
ference in that"
NVTYo ol11 II 14-ayn chal1 coo " no QQl0.
tightly. "Well, you parted from this
forced to part with him.
Gilbert Rickerby went his way into the
world, as other men have lone before,
and as other men will do again. 1t had
all been very amusing, I suppose-those
secret meetings, stolen kisses and
protestations of love. But
you take it all too seriously, my dear"
ut is everything-it is my life to
me-, she said, earnestly. "Mr. Lenth-
wood. why do you waste time like this?
I came here to meet Gilbert, who has
returned to me after our long separa-
ton. Where is he? I want to see him
at once?"
Nugent Leathwood paced about the
tloor for a few moments, with his hands
clasped behind him. Stopping sudden
". he looked up and said: Suppose /
told you that you would never see him
again?"
She made. a surprised movement to-
wards him, and then checked herself,
with her hands clasped on her breast.
eel don't understand" h said. you
ere trying to frighten me-"
..Indeed, L am not" he replied. =
am telling you the simple truth. Gil
bert Rickerby Is 5dead!"
She cried out suddenly, and covered
her face with her hands. He moved
nearer to her, and spoke almost in her
EAR.
..You think I have cheated you-hed
.to you. I have done nothing Of the
Kind. I brought you here to meet Gill
bert. Rickerby; and, on the very night
he was to have arrived, he was killed
A the street, An accident-merely an
accident that might happen to any
man."
why did you not tell newly did
not write to me?. h cried, With
i uncoyering her face:y Why did
8 bring me here, with my heart full
ofs 10y Ct the prospect Of meeting the
ma / Iove-the man 4 have waited Tor
90 patiently
His zone changed moment
close beside her, he spoke. ~
= woes which caused her to drop her
I,ands from hersface daTecoil from
him. .Becausges Swanted vow
Because i waited u look akafn into
fhssa eyes which had 5beWitchedS ;ne..