Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-09-24
CHAPTER xxxvi.
Marle's Declaration.

of time, for the life which had been
restored to them hung in the balance,
and but a featherweight would turn
the scale.
There were anxious watchers by
the bedside where the slight form lay,
and her piteous cries for help-her
thrilling appeals to those she thought
had forsaken her-told them the story
OF ner suffering. Then, too, an awful
doubt was with them-would reason
return with strength? The physicians
gravely shook their heads. While
there was life there was hope. They
would say no lore.
But there came a day when tho
dark eyes Enclosed and rested first
on one then on another of the dear
faces about her bed, with a something
in their glance which told them that
the veil had fallen, the mists had
cleared-the brain was unclouded.
But one was absent who had been
the most anxious among the watchers.
They dared not let her e him yet.
She seemed to miss him, for she
closed her eyes without a word, and
a tear stole down her cheek.
"Florence"-it was three days later
that Avice tremblingly uttered that
name-"how came | here?"
Hush, dear! You are not strong
enough yet for questions. Can you
remember nothing?"
mot yet, except-except that nor
rible time when, instead of the con-
vent, / found myself a prisoner. Oh,
Florence. / shall now know how to
feel for the poor creatures who live
IN cells. | wonder that I did not die.
Sometimes I wish / had"
Little by little, as Avice grew
stronger, memory returned. The time
of her madness was a blank. All else
grew clear to her, and little by little
the story was unfolded to Travis and
Florence, as they gently drew it from
her, even to the day she knelt, by
Barbara's command, by DR.. Hayes
bedside.
In all this time. they had not men
toned to her Milton Lennox's name;
but when they had undressed her, to
put her into bed, on the day of her re-
turn, they found The note pressed TO
her heart through which DR.. Hayes
had decoyed her from her home.
Into Lennox's eyes had crept a
baneful light when they handed it to
him, that he might read it, and he
felt that, should the writer cross his
path, heaven would this time speed
the bullet to It's mark, and that mark
would be the s~coundrel's false, treach-
erous heart.
"Avice," Travis said ore day, when
she was sitting up for the first time,
leaning lapguidly back in a great arm
chair. you have suffered terribly, /
know, but there is one who has suf-
fered even more. Can you not
'guess?"
A timid blush o~verspread the pale
face, which she had hidden between
her trembling hands.
Say no more, Travis. When I am
stronger, dear, am going into the
convent, to try TO find forgetiulness.
All, II papa had known all, he would
have left me to die on the steps of La
Madeleine. Poor little nameless waif.
What right had / to look for happiness
In this great world?"
THAT Is folly, my darling. You are
my little sister, fond and true. Do
you think I will ever yield the claim?
Never until | a place you in a no
bier keeping-the heart of a man more
true, more loyal, than truth or loyalty
itself! Ayice, have you ceased to love
Milton?"
Ceased to love him?" she echoed.
would that ! had! Oh, Travis, I have
loved him always. AS a little girl. be
was my hero. Did he not once gave
my worthless life? But 1t was he,
Travis II have never told you'll, who
cast me off. He would not give his
proud name to such as mel"
Would he NOT, my darling? That
Is false! Milton Lennox v wrote
the note that villain handed you. Ho
loves you, Avice, as few women are
loved by men. Tell me, may | send
him to your"
Avice made no answer as Travis
silently left the room; but down ner
cheeks tears coursed like rain, and,
as she wept, the weight, which all this
time had rested so heavily upon her
heart, was lifted, and she seemed to
see the bow or promise shining
through her tears.
A step crossed the room. Still she
sobbed OF some one stood beside
her; some one whose quick, hard
breathing she could plainly hear:
some n whose arms stole about her.;
some one whose voice whispered one
word only into her ear. But at the
sound her pulses leaped to life; youth
and hope and happiness returned, as,
with one glad, impulsive cry, sne nes-
tied against Milton Lennox's strong
and faithful heart.
my own--xny very owni. he whis-
pered. my own little Avicei Look