Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-05-29
By Fred M. White
CHAPTER X. econtInued.,

Henson suggested. Pardon our anx-
ious curiosity"
Again Enid ragged, but Margaret Hen
son might have been Of stone, for all
the notice she took. The far-away o
was still in her eyes as she felt her way
to the table like one in q dream. Then
she dropped suddenly INTO a chair ana
began grace in a high, clear voice.
And the Lord make US
truly thankful. And may He, when IL
seemeth good to Him, remove the curse
from this house, and in due season free
the Innocent and punish the guilty. For
the burden is sore upon us, and there
are times when IL seems hard to bear
The big man played with his kniIe
and fork smilingly. An acute obserV-
err might have imagined that the pas
sionate plant was directed at him. III
SO, IL passed harmlessly over his broad
shoulders. In his immaculate evening
dress. he looked strangely out of place
there. Enid had escaped the prevailing
dilapidation, but Ter gown, of gray
homespun, was as severe as the garb of
q charity girl.
Madam is SO poetical,'' Henson muir
INJURED. And charmingly sanguine."
FAIAidIll5e AlChoOA 9SA1g
ally. my visitor will nave some
champagne"
She seemed to have dropped once
again into the commonplace, painfully
exact as a hostess Of breeding must be
to an unwelcome guest. And yet she
v seemed to rec him: those dark
eyes were looking, ever looking, into the
Ozark future. The meal proceeded in
silence. save for an oily sarcasm from
Henson. In the d>nse stiffness h oc-
casional howl of a dog could be heard.
A slight flush OF annoyance crossed
Henson's broad face.
''Some day / shall poison all those
hounds" he said.
Enid looked up at him swiftly.
IF all the hounds around Longdean
were poisoned or shot 1t would be a
good place to live in she said.
Henson smiled, c~aressingly. like Pc
truchio might have Zone in his milder
moments.
shy lear Enid. you misjudge me-"
he said. 'But I shall get justice some
day"
Enid replied that she f~ervently hoped
so and thus the strange meal proceed
ed. with smiles end gentle words from
HENSON. and a wild outburst OF bitter
na.s crown the girl. So far as h was
concerned. the servants might nave
baen mere automatons. The dust rose
In clouds as the latter moved silently
II was hot In there, and, gradually, the
brown powder grimed like a film over
H~enson's oily skin. At the head OF the
fable Margaret Henson sat like q wo-
man IN a dream. Ever, ever, her dark
eyes seemed to b. looking eagerly
around. Thirsty men seeking precious
water In a desert might have looked
like her. Ever and anon ner p
moved. but no sound came from them.
Occasionally she spoke TO one or the
ether of her guests, but she Ioi-
lowed her words with her eyes. Sucn a
sad. pathetic, oitiable figure, sucn q
gray sorrow, In her rags and snowy
hair.
The meal came TO an end al iengtn,
and Mrs. Henson rose suodenly. lnere
was a grotesque suggestion q the ma
ronette In her movement she poweu,
as IL to some imaginary parsonage. ana
moved with dignity towards the ooor.
Reginald Henson stood aside open
ed ii for her. h passed into the oim
hall as II In absolute unconsciousness OF
his presence. Enid flashed a look OF de-
nance at him as she disappeared into
the gloom and floating dust. !.
fIenson's face changed instantly, as IL
4 mask had fallen from his smug Tea
lures. He became alert and vigorous
He was no longer patron OF the arts d
wide-minded philanthropist. the man
who devotes himself TO the good OF hu-
manity. The blue eyes grew cold n
cruel. there was a hungry smile ABOUT
the loose mouth.
.Take a bottle of claret ard the ci-
rars into the library. William, he said.
aAnd open the window. the $ shines
me-"
The dienifed butler bowed respect
fully. He resembled he typical Dad
butler Of fiction in nc respect, put ms
thoughts were by no means pleasant as
he FASTENED to obey. Enid was loiter-
ing in the hall as Williams passed with
the tray.
asmall study and window open,
miss" he whispered. There's some
game on-oh, yes, there is seine biesse1
game on again tonight. And him so
ANXIOUS TO know how Miss Caristiana
is saws she ought to call him In pro-
fessionaly. Personally, I'd rather call
IN an undertaken who was desperately
hard up for a job"
"AIl right, Williams" Enid replied.
aMy sister is wo-se tonight, I'M un-
less she gets better / shall insist upon
her seeing a doctor. And I am Obliged
for the hint about Mr.. Henson. The IT.
tie study commands the staircase lead
ing to my sisters bed room"
"And the open window commands the
garden" williams said. drily.
Eyes, yes. Now. go. You are q reai
friend, Williams. and I will never for
get your goodness. Run along--I can
actually feel that man coming"
AS q matter of fact. Henson was APP
preaching noiselessly. Despite his great
bulk, he had the clean, dainty step OF a
cat; his big. rolling ears were those of
q hare. Henson Yves always listening.
He would have listened behind a kitch-
en- door TO a pair of chattering scullery
maids. He liked to find other people
out, though as yet he had not been
found out himself. He stood before the
world as a social missioner; he made