The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-05-29
By Fred M. Nhite
CHAPTER X. ,contlnued)

Henson suggested. PaI con our anX
ious curiosity"
Again Enid aged. but Margaret Hen
son might have been of stone, for al
the notice she took. The far-away lool
was still in her eyes as she felt her wa,
to the table like one in dream. Thel
she dropped suddenly into a chair AM
began grace In a high. clear voice.
And the Lord make u
truly thankful And may He, when I
seemeth good to Him. remove the curs'
from this house. and in due season fire.
the Innocent and punish the guilty. Fo
the burden is sore upon rs, and there
are times when 1t seems hard to bear.
The big man played with his knit'
and fork smilingly. An acute observ'
err might have imagined that the pas
sionate plant was directed at him. II
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
dilapidatlon, but her gown, OF gray
homespun, was as severe as the garb OF
q charity girl
Madam is so poetical," Henson MUIR
INJURED. "And charmingly sanguine."
williams" Mrs. Henson said, stole
ally. my visitor will have some
champagne"
She seemed to have dropped once
ngain into the commonplace, painfully
. exact as a hostess OF breeding must be
20 an unwelcome guest. And yet she
never seemed to rec him; those dark
eyes were looking, ever looking. into the
Clark future. The meal proceeded In
silence. save for an oily sarcasm from
Henson. In the ,nse stiffness the oc-
casional howl OF dog could be heard.
A slight flush of annoyance crossed
Henson's broei face.
Some day 1 shall poison all those
hounds" he said.
Enid looked up at him swiftly.
IF an the hounds around Longdean
were poisoned or shot IL would be- a
good place to live in" she said.
Henson smiled. caressingly. like Pc
truchio might have done in his milder
moments.
my dear Enid, you misjudge me-"
ne said But I shall get justice come
day"
Enid replied that she fervently hoped
10. and thus the strange meal proceeu-
ed. with smiles end gentle words from
Henson. and a wild outburst OF bitter
ness from the girl. So far as she was
concerned. the servants might nave
been mere automatons. The dust rose
in clouds as the latter moved sllentIy'
n was hot in there, and, gradually, the
brown powder grimed like film over
Hensons oily skin. At the head or the
table Margaret Henson sat like Wo-
man In n dream. Ever, ever, her dark
ewes seemed TO be looking eagerly
around. Thirsty men seeking precious
water in a desert might have looked
like her. Ever end anon her lips
moved hut no sound came from them.
Occasionally she spoke to one or the
ether OF her guests, but she never FOL
lowed her words with her eyes. SUCH
sad. pathetic, 7itiable figure, such
orav sorrow, in her rags and snowy
hair.
The meal came 20 an end at length
and Mrs. Henson rose suddenly. There
was n grotesque suggestion CT the ma
ronette I'm her movement. she bowed,
as II to some imaginary parsonage ana
moved with dignity towards the door,
Reginald Henson stood aside and open
ed n for her. She passed into the aim
bau as II in absolute inconsistencies or
his presence. Enid flashed a look OF de-
dance at him as she disappeared INTO
the gloom and floating dust.
Henson's face changed instantly, an III
m mask had fallen from his SNUG fea-
lures. He became alert and vigorous.
He was no longer patron of the arts.
vide-minded philanthropist, the man
who devotes himself 10 the good OF hn-
manity. The blue eyes grew cold ana
cruel. there was a hungry smile about
the loose mouth.
..ral.a hottie of claret and the ci-
vars into the library, william" he said.
And open the window, the dust stlhes
me-"
The dienified butler bowed respect
fuIlv He resembled the typical bad
tutIer Of fiction In no respect, but ms
thoughts were by TO means pleasant as
he FASTENED to obey. Enid was lolteI-
inc In the hall as Williams passed with
the tray.
small study and window open,
miss" he whispered. There's some
same on--oh. YES, there is some blessed
game on again tonight. And him SO
anxious to know how Miss Caris'iana
IS. Saws she ought to call him In pro-
feSSi0naliy. PRESUMABLY = -.
in an undertaken who was desperately
hard up for job"
"Au right, williams" Enid replied.
.'My sister is wo-se tonight, and I'M
less she gets bstter I shah insist upon
her seeing doctor. And am Obliged
for the hint about Mr.. Henson. The Mt
tie study commands the staircase lead
irg to my sisters bed ROOM"
And the open window commands the
garden" williams said, drily.
Eyes, yes. Now, go You are a real
friend, Williams, and will never for
get your goodness. Run along-I can
actually feel that man coming"
AS matter OF fact. Henson was APP
preaching noiselessly. Despite his great
bulk, he had the clean, dainty step OF
cat: his big. rolling ears were those OF
a hare. Henson YVES always listening.
He would have listened behind kitch.
en- door to 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
speeches at religious gatherings and af-
fected the women to tears. He was
known to devote a considerable for
tune to doing good: ne had been asked
10 stand for parliament, where his real
ambition lay. Giiead Gates had alluded
t. Reginald Henson az his right-hand
man.