Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-07-03

she sat listening thus. straining her
ears to catch the slightest SOUND Suu-
denly there came q loud clamor at the
front door, an imperative knocking tha'
caused Ends heart to come into her
mouth, who could II be? What strang-
or had passed the dogs In that way
she heard grabbed, sour, but cour-
aseous old williams go to the door.
She heard the clang of bolts and the
rattle Of chains, and then a weird cry
from williams. A voice responded that
brought Enid, trembling and livid, INTO
the hall. A young man with a dark eN-
ceedingly handsome face somewnat
effeminate mouth, stood there, WIN
eyes for nothing but the shining, hover
decked casket On the trestles. he
seemed beside himself with grief ana
rage. He might have been a falsely-
Imprisoned convict face to face with the
real culprit.
why didn't you let me know ne
cried. "why didn't you let me know
His voice rang TO the roof. Enid flew
TO his side and placed her hand upon his
lips.
Your mother Is asleep, Frank n
said. '.She has had no sleep for three
nights. A long rest may be the means
of preserving her sanity. Why did you
come here?"
The young man laughed silently. 1t
was CHASTITY mirth to see, n It
brought the tears into Ends eyes. She
had forgotten the danger of the young
mans presence. -.
at heard that Chris was ILL.," he said.
''They told me that she was dying. And
I could not keep away. And now l nave
come too late! oh, Chris, Chris!"
He fell on his knees by the side Of the
coffin. his frame shaken by fearless
sobs. Enid bit her lips to keep back
the words that rose to them. She would
have given much to have spoken the
truth. But. at any hazard, h must
remain silent. She waited until the par
oxysm of grief had passed away, then
she touched the Intruder gently on the
shoulder. ....u.
There is great danger for you In this
house." she said.
What do i care for danger when
Chris lies yonder?"
But, dear Frank, there are others 10
consider besides yourself. There is your
mother, for instance. Oh, you ought not
to have come here tonight. If your
father KNEW
my father? He would be the last
person in the world to know. And what
cares he about anything, so long as ne
has his prints and his paintings? he
has no feelings. no heart, no SOU, l
may say"
Prank, you must go at once. Do You
know that Reginald Hanson is here?
He has ears like a hare; 1t will be MOTH
ing less than a miracle unless he hears
your voice. And then"
The young man was touched at last.
The look Of grief died out OF his eyes
and a certain terror filled them.
Il think that I should have come In
any case" he whispered. II don't want
to bring any further trouble upon you,
Enid, but I wanted to see the last of
her. 7 came here, and some of the
dogs remembered me. If not / might
have had no occasion to trouble you.
And I won't stay, seeing that Henson Is
here. Let me have something to re-
member her by; let me look into her
for a moment. II you only knew
how / loved her! And you look as II
you had no grief at ALL" ..
Enid started, guiltily. She had quite
forgotten her role for the time. Indeed,
there was something Enthusiastically like
relief on her face as she heard the por-
ter's bell ring from the lodge to the
house. williams shuffied away, NUT
tering that he would be more useful in
the house than put of it just now, but a
glance from Enid subdued him. Pres
emily there came the sound of wheels
on the grave outsidel
'"They have come for the-the coffin"
Enid murmured. Frank, 1t would be
best for you to 60. Go up stairs, IL you
like; you know the way. Only. don't
stay here"
The young man vent of, dreamily. A
heavy grief dulled and blinded his
senses; he walked along like n who
wanders in his sleep. Christiana's door
was open and a lamp was there. There
were dainty knick-knacks on the dress
ing table, a vase or two of faded fiow-
ers-everything that denotes the pres
ence of refined and gracious woman
hood.
Frank Littimer stood there, looking
around him for some little time. On
the table by the bedside stood a photo
graph OI a BiTI III a SILVER ITdfnt. LII
timer pounced upon IL hungrily. II was
a good p~icture-the best OF Christiana's
that he had ever seen. He slipped out
into the corridor and gently closed the
door behind him. Then he passed along
with his whole gaze fixed on the por-
trait. The girl seemed to be smiling out
of the frame at him. He had loved
Christiana since she was a child; he felt
that he had never loved her so much as
al this moment. Well, he had some
thing to remember her by-he had not
come In vain.
1t seemed impossible yet to realize
that Christiana vas dead, and he
would look into her sunny. tender
face again. No; he would wake up
presently and find II had all been a
dream. And how different to the last
time he was here. He had been snug
gled into the house, and he had occupied
the room with the oak door. He"
The room with the oak door opened,
and a big nan with a white bandage
around his throat stood there with tot
tering limbs and an ugly smile on his
loose mouth. Littimer started back,
"Reginaldi" he exclaimed, "I didn't
expect TO see you here. or"
"or you would never have dared TO
Gomez" Henson said. hoarsely. ct heard
your voice and I was bound to give you
a welcome. even at considerah ia mar