The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-07-09

! Miss Breton. as she is still known to
the world, is my honored wife. You
have enforced the sharing of our Sc
cret, but all honor compels that 1t
should be no less sternly respected.
And now, sir, since the mask Of friend
ship has fallen from both our faces,
have the honor to bid you good even
ing"
mot yet, Travis! There Is a harder
duty yet in store for me. What
know you must know, and you shall
then decide whether | malign her. 1t
is too late to repair the evil, though
God knows | would gladly lay down
ten years of my life to undo my share
in this nights work. With what can
dor has this woman treated you? Have
you heard the story Of her life? Do
you know that she has not only been a
wife and a mother. but the murdress
of her child?'
you lie!"
Like a tiger at bay Lenuox sprang
forward. but his uplifted arm dropped
neryeless, while on his livid lips trem-
bled a drop of scarlet as he went on:
''You know me too well TO deem me
a coward for not resenting those
words which, under any other provo
cation would at least be challenged to
eternal silence. Would to God that
they were true-that it was lie! Do
YOU think | would speak thus, at such
a time. without other proof than idle
hearsay? Do you think 1t a pleasant
task which have appointed myself,
or have you known me all these years
as a slanderer and maligner Of wom-
ans fair fame? You once laughingly
accused me of dreading the fire as
burned child, and | acknowledged the
truth of your assertion. The fame OF
Barbara BTetton's beauty did not leave
me unscorched. There were weeks
when all my waking moments were
filed with her image-she haunted my
I Creams-when To be with her was 10
taste of heaven and its joys. ] loved
her not with the pure love have ever
felt for Avice. which has stood a bar
rier between me and sin these many
7 years, but with a mad fascination
1 which swept away even the memory
( of the child whom heretofore | lad
held enshrined in my yTiS heart She
/ intoxicated and enthralled me- until /
| learned the awful blackness Of a heart
! of which her beauty was the mask.
| You do not yet believe me; your lip
! curls in scorn. II is, perhaps, revenge
! seek for my own blghted affection.
No, Trails. 1 had reason to believe my
love was returned; but read this and
perhaps then you viii turn shudder-
/ ingly away from the whited sepulchre
\ which has entombed YOU"
Il was Partisan journal, dated back
many years, and heading one Of its
columns, in faring letters, was Bar.
bara Bretton's name.
When Travis raised his head from
its perusal, a gray shadow, as OF death,
had crossed its bright, boyish beauty.
as he staggered TO his feet and fell on
mis- friends shoulder,
"Merciful God!" he groaned "Mil.
ton, how long have you known this
thing?"
81 had long suspected It, from ru.
mors which were adoat ana WHICH
reached NY ears, but which as rumors
| dared not repeat even to you. | was
warned on the eve Of offering her ny
name. To dare insult her by any prop.
osition less honoring never once
i crossed my mind, held her but lit
tie lower than the angels, and | had
reason tc believe that my love met
with its return; but the friend who
1890 20 80 OvopaS my avas 20 i5fa
aower-strewn abyss upon whose brink
| | stood Only to-day this paper
reached me, by whom sent know not,
but giving confirmation as clear as
Holy Writ to the story. Married for
gold, deserted, forsaken; In turn de-
sorting and forsalling her child. The
notoriety OF her career since then, her
Il success upon the stage, to which she
turned for support the many men
whose young lives she has doomed
Oh, Travis, that your name should
have been added TO the fatal'list!"
1T cannot be; it is some foul night.
mare from which shall awake 4
Milton, my father and sister must new
err know of this. Take her this paper;
tell her know all, and only on con.
dition that she never make public her
claim to my honored name will we
keep her secret. My life is blasted,
yet this hour, this moment, should she
enter here, / could not resist her. Yet
now | see II all-the tool, the dupe,
which have been. Miserable fool.
unhappy wretch! fell her she viii
find each year a certain sum at ny
bankers for her support, but that
will never look upon her fair, false
face again. How shall look into my
fathers eyes, or receive his dying
blessing, should he live to grant IT,
knowing I have brought dishonor on
his heretofore unblemished manner"
aud Travis ended in burst of bitter
sobs
Come, youngster, time is speed
ing!" interrupted Lennox, half hour
later, as, after long and earnest con-
verse, they began their hasty prepare.
lions for Meredith's departure. For
get her II you can, my boy, and re-
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