Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-03-20

light enough presentiy-probably more
than you a II you knew how des-
perately I hate you. even now. when
I've o you'd be quite surprised, i
assure YOU Any message 10 the youns
lady,"
mo message that You can take," re-
piled Gilbert flercely. IF you think
that you can ever win her love or draw
her to you, You are greatly mistaken
Tel her. IL YOU dare. what you are-tell
her that. with my last breath. / called
You coward n murderer, and that In
I begged for life al all at your hands.
IL would be I'm the hope OF saving her
from q fate worse than death itself.
Go-teIl her THAR"
Mr.. L~eathwood laughed, shrugged his
shoulders. and went out OF the
carefully closing the door behind him
Gilbert heard his steps descending;
feard the opening OF another door
below; then heard the final thud Of the
door which led into the other house.
After that q great n awful silence
He thought Of a thousand different
ways Of escape-thought above ali OF
shouting. in the faint hope hat some
one outside might hear and come TO
his rescue. Blu he knew. when rs
came to think about IL with what calm
ness was possible. II at in the first place
the house lay % far back from the
streets for any sound to carry: and in
the second, tina. the heavily shattered
windows would e1ectually deaden the
cries. And then. as happens TO a maj.
when his end Is close upon him, he
thought Of all the past-of all his I'm
happy childhood. spent in that very
r. - II ~ Hn~
ror OF the thought that he must perish
there droIe him TO a species Of frenzy
He struggled fiercely and beat himself
against the heavy old bedstead 10
which he was fastened until exhaus-
ton ans upon him and he swooned
away.
Wher he came 20 himself IL seemed
as though he had awakened in another
world. Some strange feeling OF resig-
nation had come upon him: he could
hear the faint. sharp crackle of the
burning room below him. but any fear
the sound might have Weakened in him
was gone. He had q feeling almost
that this was a fitting ending to all mis-
struggles and failures: IL he thought
about any pan IS which might come
with death II was only with a dim won
de~ as TO how swift IL might be and
how soon before he lost consciousness.
Like a dream, too for. certainly, II
was nothing earthly. came the sound or
a voice softly calling his name. That
the voice should be that OF the girl he
loved and lost seemed quite approrri-
ate. too. az that moment. II came upon
him as a sort OF dream-fancy. TO an
swer the voice. He vas very near
death. he told himself, and this might
be a voice from the other world
But he woke rom whatever dream
clouded his mind with \ start when the
doc was flung npen and Olive Mallory
stood or the threshold For he knew
that this painting. eager girl. with her
beautiful face turned towards him.
came out OF NJ lard OF dreams. but out
of the actual, vivid. waking woric, 70
which he thought he had hidden fare
well. Yet not quite out OF the waking
world. either, as he had yet 70 learn.
She came forward slowly into the
room. with her hands stretched out be-
fore her and her eyes smiling az him.
and In her eyes was that strange light
he had never seen there before. Des-
perate though the need was, he knew
that he dare startle her-dared not
do anything which should wake her
suddenly to the world OF danger IN
which they both were. and drive her
from him. For. though his brain was
reeling, and his bound arms ached. and
he trembled In every limb. he con-
strained himself TO speak calmly and 20
smile at her I'm return Tie crackle of
the fire beneath went on. and he could
feel a ~2erceptible fncrea e In the heat
OF the room. God grant that he might
bring her 20 see her d-arger-mfght
persuade her TO set him free.
he turned quickly and closed the door.
Gilbert" she whispered, 81 have found
you at last I sometimes think that II
frighten myself needlessly-that I fear
they are taking you from me. when You
are. really. close at hand why-how
sim Won are. Why DO you look at me
like THAR Why don't you come TO me
and take me 81 your arms. as You have
done so oftent
The heat was growing greater. In
che corner Of the room a little. faint
vapor OF smoke had begun TO curl up
through a worn place I'm the carpet
and 10 float towards him. With q
deadly sweat beginning TO stand u on
his forehead. he vet contrived TO speak
calmly 20 the girl-managed even e
SAAllC al hCis MHA
81 stand stfi, Olive. because / want
you TO come TO me; I want to feel your
arms around my neck: I want TO hear
you SAY that you love me. and win 90
as bid you. Gomez
h wen swiftly TO him and put her
arms about his neck. looked up into his
ace with those poor pathetic. mad
eyes OF hers. See. I come tc you: b1t
/ win not go away. as You have ASKED
me to do before. We are in our World
OF Dreams ~again-neyer 10 leave IL. All
the world in which we once were has
passed away from Us: we DO not need
TO trouble aoout II n We are
together. dear Gilbert. In alone. we
viii not leave this place again"
The little wreath OF smoke changed
horribly TO a tongue Of flame: the heat
OF the floor beneath his feat was be-
somtng ~unbearable. He knew that be
must IA ar effort to induce her 10
release him. 20 that he might after ]
wards. even by force. carry her out OF
the burning house He could not UNI
derxtana how IL was that she had sS-