Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-05-16
CHAPTER XXI.

My child, / have already told you
Beatrice is not responsible for her W
acts. We who love her so we'll cannot
guard her too closely. Do you trust me
so little, Cora, that you think / would
intercept any message she would cara
to send, did 1 not know how hurtful it
would prove to her? Take back the let
ter, then! Go our way with 1t! Only
remember that you must accept the re-
sponsibility of your own act!"
He half-turned away, an expression Of
pain upon his handsome face.
The child wavered, but his subtle in
fuence was upon her. She gently thrust
aside his extended arm.
Do as you will with it," she said.
He caught her little hands again, and
gently pressed them.
walk back with me to the lodge" he
said, gently. Il wish to leave some or
ders there. Then we will go on TO the
village together for our promised shop
ping"
They turned back. The lodge gates
stood open; the lodge door was closed.
He knocked imperatively.
After some delay a shuffling step was
heard within, a bolt was withdrawn and
the door flung open.
Instinctively Cora shrank back.
A man, evidently scarcely recovered
from a nights debauch, stood on the
threshold.
Indeed, in his hand he held a jug, the
hot fumes of whose contents mingling
with the fresh air testified that it was
not yet ended. But in his masters pres
ence he seemed in no wise embarrassed
or confused.
You drunken fool!" cried Chester,
angrily. ''Wait for me outside. Miss
Cora. If you will walk up and dow
before the gates / will rejoin you in a
very few moments"
so this is o you attend to your
duties?" he added to Tyrrell, as Cora
FASTENED. gladly, to obey him.
The man muttered a few words be-
meath his breath, but they were neither
excuse nor explanation.
Chester's eyes lighted on the steaming
jug and, walking rapidly toward it, he
held over it the letter which had just
fallen into his hands.
From under his red. bleared eyelids
Tyrrell watched him. .
The steam soon did it's work. The en-
velope, moistened. but otherwise unin-
jured, was readily unsealed. Beatrice's
eager cry to Talbot was spread before
his gaze.
An instant sufficed for him to gain its
meaning. A cruel, triumphant light
shot into his eyes.
This letter must not fail to reach its
destination. 1t would bring Talbot here
and in disguise. Ha, ha! Once warned,
what disguise would conceal the truth
from him?
The trap was set, and by Beatrice's
own fair hands. He had but to wait
| and watch-wait and watch! No dan
| ger of him sleeping on his post. The fly
already in his web had brought another
victim. Well, the Spider would have in
readiness the withes, from which, this
time, there should be no release.
Let me find you in this condition
again, and I'll turn you out of doors,
neck and heels!" he flung to Tyrrel, as
a parting ~admonition, as, with the pre-
cious missive resealed. he advanced,
smilingly, towards Cora.
"Tm not thinking that you will" NUT
| tered the man after him, for l might
be turning you out, neck and heels OF
yer fine house on the hill, I'm thinking!
| And, after ALL" closing the door and
taking q copious draught from the still
steaming jug, sits doing me better sar-
vice, this same jug, this minute, than
the dirty, name task you set 1t your
self! All, it's no good y're up to, and
nobody knows it better than Tyrrell
O'Byrne,"
But no trace of the dirty, name task"
was visible in the radiant smile on
Randolph Chester's handsome features,
as, meeting Cora, he drew her hand
within his arm.
In his presence, the scruples which
tortured her took instant flight.
What will / say to Beatrice" h
asked.
"Humor her, my child. Tell her that
you have mailed the l~etter!"
you think 1t would not be wrong to
so deceive her?'
Would / so advise you were 1t
wrong?" he tenderly asked.
And once more, poor, little fluttering
! bird, fascinated and beguiled, she felt
a very ecstacy of happiness at the low
whispered question.
Nevertheless, all unknown to her,
when from the village they turned their
faces homeward her mission had been
accomplished, and the letter calling
Bertram Talbot to Grey Oaks was on
it's way toward it's destination.
Reatrice's former rooms a been as
signed Miss Lorrimer, and in them,
some few mornings later, h sat in
deep thought.
Thing were not working TO her sat
isfaction. She was learnilg to hate Be-
atrtce Markham with a bitter hatred; to
hate the beauty which beguiled her low
| er's glance; to hate the sweet, low
voice which yet held such a note of
sadness: to hate the very misfortunes
which served to lend her, by their very
atmosphere, a greater charm.
Bitterly, too, h regretted having
given her consent to this visit. Ches-
ter's course In boldly acknowledging his
cousin, had taken her, like Beatrice, by
surprise, and had but endowed her to
Allen with fresh interest.
What should she do? How should she
act? In what way make her appear in
his eyes unworthy? Only thus might
she regain control of his heart. Re-
gain! All, he had never loved her, and
now>-soon he would look upon his mar
rage to her with aversion.
Che fatf tt-kpau if--and har M ocinp