Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-04-04
CHAPTER VII.

f. ..EH.#
For a moment, as a whip-cord whis-
ties its way through the air in it's
swift. relentless, downward flight,
welded by some merciless hand, so
did the cruel words, more pitiless than
the knotted thong, fall upon the
quivering nerves of Beatrice Mark.
hams hearing.
But for a momen only True, ia
that second. time had been given to
blanch the lovely cheek, and let the
great eyes dilate with anguish: then
she rallied from the blows cruel force,
and throwing back her little head with
an old gesture of naughty grace, her
proud lips curled in scorn.
And You would stoop efan to such q
lie as this" she said. and in her tone
was a contempt which fairly seemed
to burn the air. You, who knew my
father, would dare impute to him his
monstrous wrong? He has talked TO
me OF my mother by the hour, She
was a saint, n he the w~orshiper at
her shrine! She was pure as snow,
white as the lily, in her freedom from
all faint of wrong: and you-you would
dig down into her grave TO throw
there you hideous slime, Oh. leave
me, lest, looking at you, i should hate
myself that in my veins low with
yours one drop of kindred blood!"
She shivered as she spoke, and inn
pet1ously pressed her hands to her
xface. as though to shut out some hor-
rid vision.
But h moment for Randolph Ches-
ter's lack of self-control had passed.
Henceforth ne was himself.
In his own hands he held the reins of
victory. Let ner impotence expend it
self In what shape it would; it was but
its death struggle; and, knowing this,
he could watch il with a cruel smile.
and let her words fall on ears deaf to
all hut their fut,r-e vengeance.
He had struck a little sooner thanhe
had meant to strike. She had betrayed
him INTO this; but now he could be
quiet-now he could wait.
Beatrice he said. gently, you must
remember that words such as i have
uttered are not lightly spoken, and that
proof must ~substantiate them. That
proof, my child, / am ready TO offer
you. Mon must O let our fancy run
riot, and read in this story no dishonor
VI Tic BdItHlS MHO we're 81 utdi W
you, further than they loved not wisely
but too well. When they first met.
your mother was already married.
Your father would gladly would have
made her, indeed, his honored wife. as
she ever was in all but legal form.
Gladly, my child. would 1 have entrust-
ed to other lips the telling of this pain
full secret. but that the knowledge is
~vI,r ct,ar rel NJ ~ otI.r ard r xvnt11
tf possible, keep it from the world!"
He spoke so calmly, SO convincingly.
win all malice banished alike from look
and tone. that she who listened grew
cold with an icy fear.
Instinctively she clasped her hands
above her heart, which beat in such
slow. difficult throbs.
You say hat you can give me
proof of this?" she gasped. "Oh, my
God, what am / saying? 7 speak as
though the horrid thing were possible.
For the moment you frightened me.
Now I am brave again. My mother
not my father wife, Do you forget
his name. on her tombstone, and that,
together they sleep in one ~grave?"
II forget nothing, Beatrice. Would
TO heaven that I might! My child. list
en-. Let me tell you the story. Never
have 1 set myself so bitter a task; but
In nc other way can I convince you
that I am not speaking from some
motive of revenge. Revenge. lear
child All! how little / am capable of
such a feeling toward yourself. But
may I go on? VIII you listen?"
II am listening" she replied.
7 But her lips were parched and dry,
and with the utmost difficulty she man
.~Al - n .ts~,.l. - FL. -.
She made no interruption, as, begin
ming the tale. ne repeated 1t. as he had
already repeated IL to Mr.. Arnold.
How many Of us have fingered in
goodnight over an exquisite bud, too
beautiful to pluck, only to find. i'm the
morning, the frost had been less mer-
ciful and, taking Ii in it's cold embrace,
had robbed 1t alike of bloom and beau
ty?
Not often may we watch % each
petal droops under its blighting breath,
how color fades and perfume dies.
But as Beatrice listened, with
strained hearing, to the measured
words. n could nave seen the flower
fade. and droop, and die!
A few moments before n she had
defied him, In her young pride and
naughty disbelief. Now the rock on
which she stood was torn from be-
meath her, and. tossed on the mad.
t2mpest-lashed waves. his hand alone
was outstretched coward her In safety.
No! Better sink beneath the waters
than grasp it!
Once, as he spoke of her mother, and
The moment that her voice had failed
her, tears had sprung to the beautiful
eyes. but they did not fall: and. as he
went on to h end, they seemed TO
freeze there.
Beatrice he added, when, at last,
he paused for her TO speak, only to
find the silence u~nbroken, and words as
likely to fall from the petrifed lips of
a marble statue which confronted
them at the other side OF the room
Beatrice, will you not believe / would
have spared % If / could. Win you
not believe l yet would spare you il
you will let me! Take the property. ]
will never assert my claim. All shall
be yours. One thing alone / ask, with
out which the worlds wealth would
1eave me poor. / want yourself, Beat