The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-05-29
The Crins0n
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| claret jug set out. He carefully duStei
big arm chair and began TO smoke
having first carefully extiuguished IN
lamps and seen that The window lead
ing to the garden was wide open. Hen
son was watching for something. Ii
his feline nature. he had the full gift o
feline patience. To serve his own end
he would have sat there all nigh
watching, IL necessary. He heard al
occasional whimper, a howl from on,
of the dogs, he heard Eni rs voice sing
ing In the drawing room. The rest o
the house was quite funeral enough 70
him.
In the midst of the drawing room
Margaret Henson sat still as a statne
The distant, weary expression never
left her eyes for a moment. AS the sta
bic clock, the only one going on the
premises, struck ten. Enid crossed over
from the piano 20 her aunt. There
was an eager look on her face. her eyes
were cleaning like frosty stars.
Aunt" she whispered; dear, have
a messagev
Message OF woe and desolation"
| Margaret Henson cried "Tribulation
and sorrow on this wretched house.
For seven long years the hand of the
Lord has lain heavily upon ns!"
She spoke like one who was far away
from her surroundings. And yet no one
| could look in her eyes and say that she
was mad 1t was a proud. passionate
spirit, crushed down by some bitter
humiliation. Ends eyes flashed.
THAT scoundrel has been robbing
you again." she said.
Two thousand pounds" came the
mechanical reply. Ito endow a bed in
some hospital And there Is no escape.
no hope. unless we drag the shameful
secret from him. Bit by bit and drop
by drop, and then / shall die, and you
and Christina will be penniless.
II dare say Chris and myself will sur
vive that" Enid said, cheerfully.
But we have a plan, dear aunt; we
have thought It out carefully. Regi-
Maid Henson has hidden the secret
somewhere. and we are going to find 1t.
The secret is hidden not far of. because
our cousin has occasion to require II
frequently. 1t Is like the purloined let
ter in Edgar Poe's wonderful story"
Margaret Henson nodded and mum
hled. II seemed almost impossible to
make her understand She babbled of
on the future. Enid turned away, al
most cespairingly. AT the same time
the stable clock struck the half-hour
after ten. williamc slipped in with a
tray of glasses, Eoiselessly On the
tray lay a small pile OF tradesmen's
books. The top one was of dull red,
with no lettering upon 1t.
THE housekeeper's respectful COM
rlfrnarfa
through them tomorrow? williams
said. Tomorrow is the last day OF
the month"
Enid picked up the top book with
strange eagerness. There were pages
of figures and csbalistic entries that no
ordinary person could make anything
Of Pages here and there were signed
and decorated with pink receipt stamps.
Enid glanced down the last column, and
her face grew little paler.
aunt" she whispered, II have got TO
go out. At once: do you understand,
There Is a message here: and / am
afraid that something dreadful has
happened. Can you sing?"
"Ah. yes; song of lamentation--a
dirge for the dead"
mo, no; seven years ago you had a
lONely NOlCts Il TtNOlltCI what "a pleas
ure IL was to me "a child; and they
used to say that my voice was very like
yours. only not so sweet or so power
full. Aunt, must go out; and that
man must know nothing about 1t. He
is by the window in the small library
now, Notwithstanding. Help me,
for the love of Heaven help mel"
The girl spoke with fervency an
passion that seemed to awaken re-
sponsive chord in Margaret Henson's
breast. A bright CLEAN crept into her
eyes.
You are dear grill" she said,
dreamily: yes, a dear girl. And /
loved singing; II was n great grief to
me that they would not let me go upon
the stage. But / haven't sung since
since that"
She pointed TO the huddled heap Of
china and glass and dried, dusty flow
ers on In corner. Enid shuddered
slightly. as she followed the direction
of the extended forefinger.
"But you must try" she whispered.
at is for the good of the family. for the
recovery OF the secret. Reginald Hen
son is sly and cruel and clever. But
we have one on our side now who IS
far more clever, And unless i can get
away tonight without that man know
ing, the chance may be lost forever.
Comet"
Margaret commenced to sing, In a
soft. minor, At first the chords were
thin and dry, but gradually they in
creased in sweetness and power. The
hopeless, distant look died from the
singers eyes. there was flush on her
cheeks that rendered her years young
er.
Another one" she said, when that
song was finished. land yet another
How wicked have been to neglect this
balm, that God sent me. all these years.
II you only knew what the sound of my
own voice means TO me! Another one,
Enid"
Yes, yes" Enid whispered. You
are to sing until I return. You are TO
leave Henson 10 imagine that I am
singing. He will never guess. Now,
thenl"
Enid crept into the hall closing the
door softly behind her. She made her
way noiselessly from the house and
across the lawn. AS Henson slipped
through the open widow into the gar
den, Enid darted behind a bush. Evil
IDENTIFY Henson suspected nothing so far
as she was concerned. for she could see
| the red glow OF the cigar between his
| lips. The faint sweetness OF distant
music filled the air. go long as the song