Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-05-23

beauty which ever since has haunted
me. You are the one woman In all the
world No. do not start and draw
away your hands. I have not forgot
ten either my honor or my plighted
VOWS! Miss Lorrimer has never be-
lieved herself mistres of my heart, new.
err coveted that position!" he added,
with a little harsh, bitter laugh. 'She
will be mistress OF my house, my home,
my wealth. She win be none the rich
er, none the poorer for his brief cpl
sode of my life, which has so chanEsa
all it's c%oloring; but I shall be the rich
er, ever in my added loneliness, in the
new emptiness which existence must
henceforth know for me, robbed Of
you preSence-richer for having
smelled the fragranceof loves bios
som-richer for having tasted the in
effable sweetness of the draughts
whose dregs are bitterer than death
richer for having seen h picture whose
coloring can never fade, and which
alone is framed within my soul! Be-
atrice, 1t is neither your fault nor mine
that I ave owed you. / make 1t the
plea TO ask but n boon at your hands
to be Of service to you. Will o re-
fuse it now?'
"Colors seen by candlelight do not
seem the same by day." interrupted a
mocking voice both knew full we'll.
DO allow Miss Markham to sleep up
on our interesting proposal, Allen.
An interview in the morning, though
less romantic, might possess greater
propriety! All, here is the book OF
which I came in search. Unexpected.
ly. / opened on the pages of another
more interesting Singular
that we should all appear restless to-
night! Hereafter I promise to take my
stray volume with me on my first re-
firing. 1t Is embarrassing to play wit
ness or eavesdropper. Goodnight"
stop! One moment, Edith" ex-
claimed Layton. "our words hold an
implication which, in justice to Miss
Markham, cannot pass. You speak as
though this interview had been plan
ned. 1t was as wholly unexpected as
is ours now, but since you have heard
all that ] have said, I must leave my
fate in your hands, Edith"
With a low inclination of the head,
Beatrice slowly walked past them. ana
assembled the stairs leading to her
room.
Miss Lorrimer watched her with
curling lip and flashing eye, until a
bend in the staircase hid her from
view.
You mean your freedom Is mine to
return to you, Allen Layton?" she said,
slowly. you mean that, having over
heard all that you told this nameiess
heroine, my dignity will not permit me
to hold you to you vows? o mean
that knowing the casket you offer me Is
wholly empty, I should return 1t TO
you? Why? Tell me why! Accord
ing to your own words, this knowledge
is not new to me. According TO your
w conviction, I wish no place or
part in your heart. According to your
belief. o V has never entered into the
terms of our contract. Then, I hold
you to 1t. Ay. as relentlessly as ever
Shyiock did. If It is your name, your
wealth, your house I covet. give them
to me-. Our engagement remains IN
broken, Mr.. Layton. unless you cancel
the bonds between US. Goodnight"
She fitted noiselessly from the room;
but once within the four walls of her
apartment, she let the mask of calm
ness fan.
Up and down the floor she paced, like
a fierce lioness pent within its cage.
"I might have won him-I might
have won him. but for herr" she MUIR
INJURED. "Why did I come here? What
madness brought me? o. God, it is I
who will go mad! His home, his
wealth, his name I covet? This he be-
lieves: and I would give all-all for
n little word of love, one glance, one
kiss to tell me passion had awakened
his soul. She-she can win Ii ALL To
me he throws the dry crust, n be
lieves It satisfies my hunger. His wife!
Vain title, empty name! I would rath-
er be his slave, his servant, and kno
myself necessary to one hour of his ex-
istence, one minute of his happiness,
than live a lifetime by his side with
starvation slowly consuming my soul
Allen, are you blind? Can you not
see? Oh, God, show me some way in
which, through which she. not he nor
I. may be he victim of my own love.
passion and hate!"