Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-12
CHAPTER ". Continually

night, con tley. IOOf Eau IL JUL
for i'm to come back to the old place
Xix, that, amt, it? Lucky 1 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 woman 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
young girl to alight, and gave inStruc-
lions in regard to the bringing in Of
boxes. 1t was something, in that grim
place, to hear the quick, excited chat
e. ter of a girliSh voice; but it was un-
cerny and gruesome, knowing all that
they knew, to hear her frequent ques-
lions concerning Gilbert Rickerby.
Where was he? Why had he not been
to meet her? How soon was he COM
ing?
Nugent Leathwood. who had re-
gained something of his composura,
met her at the door. and smilingly and
s,ankly welcomed her home. Come
in! come in.'' he cried. as he took her
hands. I'VE have such a lot to say to
eacn other-and you must feel tired
and hungry after your long journey.
Gene int
She stood in 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 she inward
ay distrusted. The place-the hour-the
silercc-all struck into her heart with
q chill. She ha 4 been kept under grim
restraint for so long, and had. looked
forward so joyfully to this home-com-
ing-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 hep
neutrality-suspicious.; you are in such
a desperate hurry to see this lover of
yours replied Leathwood. waving
hand towards chair. sit down and
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
meal. She was left there alone with
Nugent Leatlwood; and the silence
about them seemed to beat in upon her
heart and to stif1e her. Then she heard
Nugent speaking.
81 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"
81 am listening she said, in a sort
of GREATNESS whisper, and without TAX
ing 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 th4
world like him; you We're certain that
the two of you were bound together till
the end Of time. I suppose, in that,
YOU We're LIKE every ether girl that was
ever barn into the world
Il loved him with all my heart and
SOUL" she said, steadily. Il love him
now. My life has been hard one, and
I was as much a woman then as shall
ever be. Four years has made no diff
ference in that"
t'We shall see-we shall see, he sald
tightly. "Well, you parted from this
lover--wcre forced to part with him.
Gilbert Rickerby went his way into the
hoy 1nrn hof
and as other men will do again. 1t had
all been very amusing, I suppose-those
secret meetings, stolen kisses and
whispered protestations of love. But
you take it all too seriously, my dear"
1T is everything-it is my life to
me- she said, earnestly. "Mr. Leath-
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? 1 want to see him
at once?"
Nugent Leathwood paced about the
floor for a few moments, with his hands
clasped behind him. Stopping sudden
ly, 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.
~TI don't understand" she said. "You
are trying to brighten me-
Indeed, I am not" he replied. ct
am telling you the simple truth. Gill
bert Rickerby is dead!"
She cried out suddenly, and covered
her face with her hands. He moved
nearer to her. and spoke almost in her
ear. e -a.-
You think I have cheated you-lied
to you. I have done nothing of the
kind. l brought you here to meet Gill
= bert Rickerby; and, on the very night
he was to have arrived, he was killed
in the street. An accdent-merely an
accident that might happen to any
man."
'Why did you not tell newly did
you not write to me?" she cried, with
out uncovering her face. why did
you bring me here with my heart full
of joy. at the prospect of meeting the
man / !ove-the man have waited for
80 Datiently""
His tone changed in n moment,
standing close beside her he smoke in