The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-12
The :.
Curse ., Darlington
By X. TEMPLE MOORE

By X. TEMPLE MOORE.

Inc conSreBduOn were leaving. Snt
rose and went out with them, ths
words Of the psalm still sounding II
her ears. Requiem aeternam, Res
eternal! All. they held it, her deal
ones! Her father dead, Give dead
and She Had they not told her she
was dead? But she did not know
Oh, God Of pity. would she never know
rest eternal?
The streets were covered with snow
when she emerged from the church.
1t was falling in great, velvety fakes.
And now that fierce, subtle fever In
her blood was flushing her cheeks,
and kindling her eyes, and making her
step weak'and unsteady.
She walked stumblingly on through
the busy, brilliant streets, where Tram
ways jinglei and carriages whirled,
and the people surged and jostled and
/ jested-"gone mad with the JOY Of the
/ snow coming down"
And all the time a resolution was
taking slow shape within her brain.
Z Il VIII go down to him--yes, / will
I go to him! He loved me so dearly!
And / will kneel down beside his
grave and bend and whisper to him.
will say, 1t is |, papa-your little
Laurie! | could not keep my vow,
dear-I would not If l could. For
| love him-that is all. | thought I
could crush my heart to scorn him.
But you know what a woman's love is,
1ppr 4 10 fhof vryithiK, ha Oh,
she has no control. 1t clings closer
In misery, is grander in dishonor, tri-
umphant in death itself. | am van
pushed! Yes, / will go to him; he
will be glad to have me; he can hear
my voice. | know!"
She was passing a pawnbroker's.
She went in AID hastily unclasped a
slender chain from her neck. To it
was attached ring her father had
given her when she was quite little
child--a tiny circlet, with a deep
purplish stone-a sapphire OF purest
luster.
you want to sell it?"
"Yes."
She heard him talking but she did
not hear the words he spoke. She took
the money he pushed toward her and
went out of the store. She remem-
bered the railway station she had
passed earlier in the day lay but a
little way from here.
She hurried eagerly on, down the
block, under a street lamp. Some one
stopped before her--a man. He caught
her by the shoulder as she strove to
rush by. and wheeled her around.
She lifted her eyes to the dark, sim
lister. tbin-lipped face above her. Then
she reeled backward and stood star
ing at him like thing turned to
stone.
For her glance had met full the
vindictive, glittering gaze Of Cuthbert
Bracken!
For moment both stood In the
clear light and neither spoke. The
pure snow fell around them.
''Let me go!" she whispered, hoarse-
ly, her face quivering with fear and
loathing.
His hand fell heavily on her shout
der and rooted her where she stood.
He was in full evening dress. His
fmrred overcoat falling away showed q
glimpse of snowy linen, dazzle OF
diamond studs.
SOL" and his face was livid with
vague, apprehensive fear-"you are
here-you are living!"
She shuddered, erect before him, ter
rified, but defiant. like some beautiful,
hunted creature at bay. Her face was
full OF burning brilliance; her cheeks
were scarlet; her eyes wild and blaz-
ing.
mo, no, moi" she cried, frantically,
81 am not living; am deadl"
The first delirium of fever was upon
her. He released his hold; he stag
gered back.
What had come to the girl?
What
All at once she broke into laugh
a weird. exultant, hollow laugh, mex
pressibly awful to hear.
Eyes. am dead! l am dead! am
dead!"
And then she turned and fed, and
the surglng crowd and the Dllndlng
snow shut her from his sight.
There was to be that night a recep-
ton given by his club to the great po-
litical leader of the day. He went
with smile on those lips that looked
made for sneers, and demon Joy In
that bisckened heart.
Not dead. but as good as dead" he
told himself, trjdmphantly--'she is
stark. staring madi"
o
Through the throbbing streets,
through the white night, through the
binding, whirling snow storm, she
fled along. till before her glowed DULY
the huge red lamp Of a railroad depot.
Past the iron gates, on to the waiting
room--a gaunt. vast barn Of place,
astir with rushing porters, twinkling
lanterns. bewildered travellers. all the
indescribable confusion that MARKS
station Mt night. And without whis-
ties shrieked and bells changed, and
engines clamored.
The glare OF gaslight dazzled her.
The sullen roar of action confused her.
CT f>yI ho~lr ogasvg& fna vo1y xapt