The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-31
| The : ]
! Curse :, Darlington !
BY X. TEMPLE MOORE.
80 Q 3 q g
BY X. TEMPLE MOORE.

4 buDJtCltu VI tllO duuOg
But she notioned him aside with q
| quiet gesture.
| Cynthia" in a quavering appeal,
could there be--is there-any reason
| to suppose that she is-whom she
says? You remember when she was
i'll she rayed of Give. We thought she
did SO simply from his name being
mentioned by US in her hearing. rer.
| haps-perhaps-"
She glanced from the childish, trust
| fdl face before her to BTachen's repel-
liant visage. and back again, In pitiful
perplexity.
| Here is a gentleman whose word
admits Of no impeachment" cried
Bracker suddenly, as the door opened
to admit the small, rubicund figure Of
| Mr.. Bowers. Let him decided"
"My dear Miss Lennox-I beg par.
don! my dear Lady Darlington" cried
the little lawyer, genially busting for
ward. "why-why," retreating a few
steps and stammering confusedly at
sight of Laurie Lisle, "this-young per-
son is your guest, my LADY,"
He was bound not to commit him.
self.
Speak up, Bowers!" Bracken COM
manded, shortly. "My lady is .cogni.
zant OF the case. Who is she? Speak
! up!"
"As far as know, this-this young
person is the same who presented her
self at my Office In September, pre-
| tendin- 70 claim an Inheritance not
| legally hers. 1t Is unpleasant word
| to be obliged to use to lady, but In
| my opinion, she is an adventures, an
| impostcri"
A sharp cry Of pain rang from her
| pale lips. She flung up her hands and
! caught them above her head In fran
tic, impIoring appeal.
"Oh, don't believe it!--don't believe
II! | am not that--not that! Give
me time and will prove It! Do not
be quick to condemnl will find some
one-people who knew me when was
child. They are all scattered, but
will search till find them! Cuthbert
Bracken robbed me of my birthright--
he would rob rae of my honor! don't
want Allen Atherton's money-he may
keep his stolen wealth! But do want
a woman's noblest crown--her good
name, unstained. unsullied, untarn-
ished by the touch of liar and
| theft"
She was facing him, fearlessly erect.
hcr nead flung back, her eyes flashing
and blazing magnihcently with the fire
| of their passionate wrath.
Would they believe her-would they
believe her? If soft
A terrible torrent OF rage over.
| whelmed him.
$50! you dare speak so OF mel" he
said, hoarsely-"I, who can turn you
out-who will turn you out. by heav-
| en!"
"Stop!"
The words were still trembling on
his lips when Cyril Darlington strobe
| across the floor and confronted him,
restraining. with a mighty EFFORT, his
indignant anger.
you turn her out--you?" In accents
of stentorian soorn. "Since when were
you given authority here? AS my
aunt's representative, am master of
Blackcastle, and l swear, II you speak
again as you spoke just now, you shall
answer to me, and dearly, too. Oh.
you coward. yon contemplate coward.
| to SO insult a woman!"
He was a coward, for he shrank
back like whipped cur, in silence.
| A wild, warm thrill shot through
! Cynthia's heart at sight OF that chiv-
| alric defense. She had'become chilled,
1 body and soul. It reused her to active
and generous life. She went over to
whore the girl was standing, and put
one arm around the slender, rigid fig
ure.
While she is guest of Biackcastle
she should at least be assured cour-
tesy," she said, gravely; and then a
little lower. to her companion:
! Gomez
Il will so away" Laurie Lisle said,
simply, turning to my LADY, will go
away tomorrow. was a stranger and
| you took me In"
Cynthia stopped to gather her roses.
| And then they went away together,
across the wide. polished floor.
But Just as they reached the door,
Laurie Lisle turned and her gaze met
full the redly-glaring eyes Of Cuthbert
Bracken. And they never forgot her
face as 1t looked then--so hopeless. SO
| infinitely sad, so frozen and hard, with
the desperation born OF despair!
I'VE have debt to SETTLE" she said,
slowly-"yoa and I! One day, we will
square the account! Perhaps that day
Is nearer than you dream!"
(To Be Contlnued.)