Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-03-28
unheralded, Randolph Chester entered

\ Her race cFluSOuSlf it'll fN
threw back her head with a
;mpulsiye gesture he knew so Well
80 mad he seen her express her trans
itory anger as a little child. When SOME
one had opposed her will.
But would she be as easily appeased
now as then? ? He believed not; put
he was not dismayed. Did he not hold
| firmly in his hands the weapons for her
subjugation?"
pardon my Intrusion. Beatrice he
/ said gently. for such / am. unhappily,
sure you will deem il. But II Is quite
! necessary that i should see and talk
with YOU, and / feared TO send my
name lest you should deny me"
You are quite right" she answered
| Jelly. There is nothing you can have
10 say TO me which I must be forced 10
! hear-nothing which / will hear. was
about writing TO Mr.. Arnold TO come TO
! me Tomorrow. You can make him the
| messenger between us"
NO. Beatrice. No man can be my
| messenger in what ! have TO say 10
you. You only must hear. From your
Mps alone can I receive my answer.
My child. will you not let the tie or
! DlOOQ DckN cen Us ACdSH SOu " FNN
| more kindly upon me? Will you not
believe that l am not your enemy, but
your friend your cousin? Gladly
would I urge a closer claim. / love
you, Beatrice-love you with all the
| passion and ardor Of my soul / would
be your friend, lover. protector, hus>
band. all in one. o. Beatrice. do not
look so white, so stern. so hard Lei
me teach you TO love me. to give me
some little fragment of hope for my
heart TO feed upon"
Al the subtlety Of his fascination was
in his manner and his words as he
made his plea. His eyes blazed with
passion. his voice quivered with feel
ing: but he was gentle, as though
pleading with a little child. But no
softening crept into the pale. beautiful
face Of the girl. who listered and shiv-
cred.
you force me to answer you?" she
said, at last, between her firmly-set
teeth. while her hands ~instinctively
clenched. rs it, indeed, necessary that
/ should let you know, in words, the
utter hopelessness OF such a plea TO me
"a plea which. coming from you. is an
Insult les, II Is well III CAilEA coA
heard, no other mind conceived. this
last browning humiliation to which
you have subjected me. You ask ms
TO marry you-you, who swore away
my love n life; you, who perjured
yourself in your false witness against
him: you, who conceived and fastened
on the world a lie. 81 base, so cruel,
that its black reflection should shut out
all future sunlight from your life!
Well. o have spoken and / have
heard. VIII my answer suffice? II not,
let me make II more clear. Let there
be no mistake between US. II choice
were given me between going TO your
embrace or accepting the death m
brace of the glittering, sinuous reptile
folds of the venomous cobra, ! would
choose the latter as less poisonous
than yours"
She spoke with painting breath, her
words low-voiced but clear. distinct,
though suppressed by the feeling that
bore her beyond her own control.
Chester's face grew red.
One day she should wipe out in her
hearts blood every syllable which had
burned itself upon his revengeful mem
Vi -ou oGl
But, conscious OF his power, he could
afford to wait.
And so, by almost superhuman effort,
he nerved himself to control. and when
at last he spoke, his voice gave no evil
dence Of the fearful external conflict.
He seemed rather a man stricken by
some great sorrow than mediating a
great revenge.
At II cost he must make this wom-
an his wife-ah. he would teach her
then,
Beatrice" he said, "I little knew
the child who used 10 sit upon my knee,
and talk Z me her childish prattle,
could ever deal me such a blow. What
better proof can I give you OF my love
than in granting you ar instant a
don? One day you will see and recog-
nize your own bitter injustice. But.
Beatrice, there are reasons why / must,
for YOU wv sake, force my suit. I'M
welcome as it Is TO, you. Ny child
your fathers will cannot be found. and,
in it's absence. there may be some diff
culties in your assuming control of the
property"
These are matters for Mr.. Arnold.
not yOCTSeI. Sne Interrupted. Sir, L
viii listen no further 20 your plaus-
ible Leave my presence and
my house, or / viii ring for my SER
wants TO eject you!"
The scorn in her tone rather than her
words broke down the last barrier OF
his control.
He sprang, white and trembling,
from his chair to his feet.
MAY I ask whose house this is, Miss
Markham, that you should issue orders
to your servants to have me thrust
from it's doors?"
There can scarcely be doubt. sir, as
TO Grey Oaks mistress,"
Grey Oaks has no mistress" he re-
piled. taking one step nearer. fast
ening his glittering eyes full upon her.
as he watched to note how. blow by
blow, each stroke would tell. Grey
Oaks own a master. II Is you. Miss
Markham. who are indebted to my
courtesy for your shelter here"
Are you mad?" she said. "I your
guest9 My household not my own to