The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-12-13

II must say hat she has been crue'l!
treated. You are a peer of the realm
Lord Caraven. and have you behaved
- q gentleman to my child? 'Hav
you treated her with courtesy OF affec
tom" "a
'"Let me 60 TO her at once" sale
Lord Caraven. "Do not be hard OF
me. Mr.. RansomeLI have had a grea'
deal to suffer" And these few words
disarmed the lawyer.
They went together to Hildred''
room. Arley Ransome spoke first.
Mildred, I have something very
particular to say to you-open thu
door"
There was not a southland LORD
Caraven began to feel slightly alarmed
"Hildred." cried the father, Il have
. message from your husband"
Still there was no sound, and. unable
to control himself. the earl cried out:
"Hildred. for heavens sake, speak
to met Let me in-I want to see
you!"
The sound Of his voice seemed to
have an electric effect upon her. The
next moment she turned the key in
the lock and opened wide the door.
With . cry Of fear and surprise he
started back when he saw her. He
had 9 . her lately SO beautiful, so ra-
diant-now her long black hair hung
In disorder over her, shoulders: her
face was pale and stained with tears,
her eyes were dim. her lips white. He
hardly knew her.
Mildred" he cried. She looked at
him with dim, sad eyes.
"You!" she said. lis It you who
thought me guilty Of murder?'
Lord Carayen turned to Arley Ram
a0Me. ssssS
Leave me alone with her." he said.
n have much to say"
Mr.. Ransome went away. The earl
Srtsred the room and closed the door.
Hs vent 70 his vita. holding out both
AZ hands. ]. ~ i il
] HSvill ron forgive ms.~ Ne said. II
can never pardon myself
But she shrapk from him.
Ycu believe that I committed MUIR
DOR" she answered. 'No.II can not
touoh your Jhands." ss g1sss
'.Hildrsd. listen. It waS almost all
ydur own fault-you ssid you wore
guilty"
Net Of murder" she rejoined. Il
could not have supposed that you
would think me capable Of that. much
= you dislike me-"
r - not dislike you, Hildred," said
H. ear1, In = voice full OF emotion,
sanA I I'M indeed grieved It having
o9eh4sd you. Do not refuse 70 pardon
me.r
'Thsre can 30 no pardon, my lord, Tor
~ wxOng you have done me-" she re-
pIts1s
Ana then tho earl knew that. II ever
~ won his wife's pardon. II would BE
: work of patience and Of time.
Ho gnsed anxiously ct her. She look
- Dale and wan, with the stains Ct
hlttor weeping ON her face. He saw,
to0 that she shivered like n seized
With mertal cold.
'sHildred." no cried, do forgive me
-1uu ~ not know how grieved / am
- - you like this. want 70 tell you
No. tAs misunderstanding happened.
WIN you listen?"
1Ks6," she replied. mechanically; and
sh1 at silent and motionless while he
told her the story. shs looked 1t him
Yhea 4 was ended with dull, dim
-.
4 m vary sorry" shs said. "that
Dlantyro made tho mistake. almost
Wlnh ehat No had shot me through the
hort What have I to live for?"
eculd not spare you. Hildred-you
hayo besn the good angel Of my life!"
jhaaGrlod.
Axcu would b better without me.
YER Estates are free and unincumbered
noW-you have reused, yourself TO !
aGQse Of your duties-you know how 10
p9eoFm them. I'M OF no more use,
Fan sorry that xoAn Blantyre missed
M aim.
srTAis = not like you, Hildred. Where
q your bright energy. your hope. your
lhoorkul animationf"
~ claspsd her hands with q shud-
-.
- siclr,s she said; stick With !
euTlble Despair"
Ho W. st : loss what 70 ny to her
~ aoemeA immovable. Suddenly her
60 flushed. and Z bright Hight came
1nto tho eyes that had been % dim.
You cent mi from your house, Lord
Cnraven. and pronounced me guilty On
uaeE seems u me very slight evidences.
Inay C)aim to b &c least AZ credulous
~ your1el1, yet / declare that had any
- ACCUSED you Of murder ! should not
have believed II You Judged me gull.
" - ones--guilty Of trying to murder
- Who never IN my life tramplsd
Mm mon ! worm. Why should you
ayo thought thst / wished Lady Ham
iItcn deadr'
Heloeke6 slightly confused.
@Xou r1lnsmber that You told me
thAf yoa wers Jealous q hsr?", he re-
pIleA.
HJSGlo1s.. shs repeated, drsarily.
sssu11 i svsr love you, theni have
fmUDtte&-my brain d daSed. dull. I
nteremeuber nothing clearly. sx-
t1at - Judged me,suilty q muir