The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-10

eS or no! lmpatlently
"Yes."
The girl, standing at the manteI, put
up both hands and covered her face.
And for awhile there was no sound
save the beating of the storm without,
the cracking of the FIRE within.
Then all at once she broke down in
a passion of sobs.
DON'T" she breathed, hoarsely. as
Lady Darlington would have approach
ed her. 81 suspected this-I feared IL
the insult and the shame Of it. oh,
IL WAS yon who were cruel, my lady
II was you---it was you!"
let me speak, Cynthia!" in half
Terrified pleading
let me speak 1rst!" the girl cried
and dropped her hands and stood erecs
before her, a lofty, black-c'al figure
you did this!" and now her words
parted forth, rapid and hoarse with
excitement You offered me to
man who did not want mel And be-
cause ! was flung back on your hands
like an unsuitable trinket-because he
would not sacrifice every principle
which makes a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES he
refused to dishonor most honorable
manhood--you did--what? You drove
him forth from his home, from his in
heritance, from his hirthright-his by
every law Of God and man. You did
thisi"
The ringing, scornful tones ceased.
My lady rose from her seat. her
stern, old face quite gray in its ashy
pallor. her gemmed hands shaking as
though palsied, against the shining
satin OF her dress.
"No," she said--and now her voice
was full of positive resolution-"that
was not the reason!"
"Bah!" with an air of fine disgust.
"He loved beneath him. 1t means the
same thing"
ut does not mean the same thing.
Listen to me, Cynthia! I did not dis
own him because he would not marry
the child loved so dearly; | did not
disown him because his love walked in
an humber path than that in which he
trod; but did disown him." and now
her words rose shrill and tremulous,
for the reason that she whom he
vowed to make his wife was a social
outcast--the daughter OF a thief, of
convict, OF branded galley-slave-"
stop there!"
Cynthia Lenox came one step for.
ward, mher face white as death, her
eyes glittering like black jewels.
whoever she was, whatever she
was, we must reverence her memory
for his sake!"
"Her memory? Then she"
Eyes. she is dead!"
"Oh, thank God-thank God!" In an
ecstasy of relief and vague hope. "Then
perhaps he-perhaps Clive-will come
back"
And as she paused. painting In her
blissful excitement, throughout Black.
castle tinkled, changed and jingled the
midnight hour.
mo" Cynthia cried, "he will not
come back! He will never come back
againl"
The old. stately figure beyond was
shaking from head to feet. Her eyes
were imploring. her hands outstretch-
ed: but her lips were speeches. as the
lips of the dumb.
HE will never come back-neyer
! again; for he is-dead!"
| "Deadi"
The word walled through the room
In a bitter cry--an agonized, shudder
| ing, awful cry Of despair.
Harki Before its echo had died
away, faint, wild sobbing fell upon
their ears.
They, startled-turned. Before them
standing on the threshold of an adjoin
ing room, was little trembling figure
clad In a snowy, flowing nlghtgown.
A cloud Of bronze-gold hair driftec
over her shoulders. She was leaning
heavily against the door for support.
"Oh, forgot!" Cynthia cried, In al
AGONY Of remorse-"the doctor SALT
she would be conscious by midnight
forgot"
But even as she spoke the girl in tn,
doorway came one step forward Int
the room.
Dead" she MISUNDERSTANDING
dead!" and at my lady's hurrying fee
she staggered and fell!