Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-24
CHAPTER NNili.-tContinucdJ

VT has stained my nAuUS Win the NthIl
Sloou of the man ! once loved So dearly
Her brain burned: her head seemed to
be on fire. The might wind was cool and
soothing to her. She bowed her head
against the window fran, and thought
81 him The leaves Of the roses, tho
sprays OF the passion hOwer which en-
sirclcd the window touched her face and
aer hair She was thinking OF him,
ahinking Of their first meeting at the
brook side, and the handsome. eager face
(which had looked al ncr there, OF the
sunny mornings and the dcwy evenings
when she had wandered with him
ahrough shady woods and green lanes; OF
her sO-called marriage day. with It's de-
Mrium of love; OF the happy months she
Rad spent with him. and then Of the ira
Kedy at Beechgrovc, whore he had told
her she was not his wife.
Oh, dark, handsome face. lying up
gaised with the damp Of death upon IL,
never more would its comelineSS and
Beauty lead anyone to love. The moon
Eight seemed to speak to her of the times
she had rested her head on his breast
oh, false and cruel love that had slain
Aer.
She heard the great clock AT the stables
Eing out one "One" She knew how
the moonbeams fell, and she could, in i'm
pgination, hear the faint hoarse cry for
help.
"Two." and he still lay dying in the
kWeod; the moon was at its brightest and
rode with Queenly grace in the sky The
ferns would be shining with dew. and the
brass wet with it. The wind had fallen
nd aiohaI .hl thrnt,Uh hn
Dsaves.
Three o'clock. He had lain there an
other hour--an hour which she had spent
in steadfast watching and he had spent
in crying for help and trying to crawl
kveD one inch on the ground. -Four o'clock
struck. And the strokes fell one by one,
AXE strokes OF doom on the quivering air.
Five o'clock. Oh, heaven! how long
abe night was! how the weary hours
dragged! 1t seemed to her that she had
been there for weeks. The moonlight
bad changed with the golden light of the
morn. She knew just how the birds were
singing in the trees around him, peeping
from between the branches with bright
kyes. The wild flowers would shrinl,
with horror from the object that lay
nhere, and he, hearing the songs of tn,
birds, would perhaps remember the time
when he had been good and stainless.
Six. All nature seemed awake Sh,
could hear the lowing of the cattle in
3hs meadows, and the chorus of the birds
bn the trees. The air was fresh and
sweet. The flowers all awakened TO an
other day of sweet autumn bliss. And
ae-would he close his eyes with weari
ness and pain, or would they wear thai
aired, worn expression that was like tn,
shadow Of pain?
Seven o'clock struck, and she shiveret
as with mortal cold; her eyes burned
and she longed for rest. She thought Of
the noble, beautiful German lady whC
watched the whole night through Will,
Abe man she loved was broken on tn,
wheel.
She was taking her just revenge, sh,
said to herself; and yet she could no
pave rested her head for one moment VI
khe white pillows: she could not have
slept while he lay dying so near.
Eight o'clock, and the busy household
Began to stir. Was he living or dead
Soon as she could she would 60 to him
All, there was the voice of Lady Est
mere, asking to be admitted.
Carefully opening her door. the duches
Book Lady Estmere's hand and led he
Back to her own room.
II will come with you," she said. "Yo,
Sook very Ill. You should not have risen
What Is the natter?'
When they were in Lady Estmere'
yoom she threw her arms round the state
" figure Of the duchess, and laid he
head Oh her neck.
BE kind to me-" she hid, wistfully
~ am very i'll and very unhappy. 81
Hubert has not returned yet; and ! al
Ruite at a loss what to do"
No. nor would he ever return, for hi
btruggle must have ebbed away with hi
life blood. She might surely say som
words of comfort to this weeping woma
whose beautiful head would never NOR
BEST on her husbands breast.
1.-THE duke sent the keepers last nigh
60 Durnton, and they have been at wor
Ill night, but they could find no traC
Of him"
Irene, touched to the very heart b
che sad face and pathetic voice, Der
6own and kissed her.
"lf / knew What 10 say. my dear,
would say it; but do not. You must &
90 my husband"
"You are sorry for me7' said Lad
Estmere.
"Yes," said the duchess, with sudde
fush and sudden trembling, yes, al
sorry for you"
She FASTENED back to her own room an
was soon dressed in the most exQuisit
taste. As, she stood before the MIR,
watching Marcia arrange the rich lace
and beautiful folds Of her morning dres
She said to herself over and over agair
He Is dying now; and one word fro,
nae might save him; one word. only OF
word, and they would fly to him; the
would raise him and pour wine betwec
his lips; they would carry him home on
hitter; they would surround him with 10,
and care; they would send for the mo
elever doctors; they would spare no pail
20 restore him. His wife would devo
herself to him; she would nurse him |
night and by day, and he would he
grateful to her she would love hi
.dOubly. All, no, this one word | W
never speak. He tried to kill my ia
name, my innocent soul-let him die"
At the breakfast table all the fac
were much Rraver and great anxiety w