The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-07
CHAPTER u.
"You Are the Child Of a Convict"

| feet
Were they an omen of her old life,
| shattered forever?
A strong chill passed through her,
making her shudder sharply.
She turned and went slowly up be-
tween the giant hollyhocks, a rounded,
graceful, girlish figure.
She passed through the short, wide
hall and into the breakfast room--a
small, cosy, unpretentious apartment,
flooded with mellow sunshine. There
was a great bunch of verbenas and
scarlet geraniums on the little table;
pretty glow OF color above the
snowy cloth.
In a low, cushioned chair by the
open, green powered window, gentle
man was leaning--a gentleman indls'
putably.
He wore a dark dressing gown cord
ed with crimson silk. A bright smok-
ing fez rested jauntily on his fair,
loose hair.
But his face-you looked twice at
that. 1t was so handsome, so white,
so haggard The blue, brilliant eyes
were large and hollow. The well-cut
lips held purplish tinge.
He looked up as the door opened
and his daughter came into the room.
There was quite package OF letters
in his lap. One letter he held in his
thin fingers.
did you sleep well, papa? Are you
better this morning? What-what is
it?"
She had crossed the room to his
side and was bending down for her
usual kiss, when she noticed the
strange look in his face.
A queer, exultant, burning look, that
spoke of inward fire.
"The mail? | did not think 1t had
come yet" lightly taking the out
stretched letter and beginning to
read.
1T is from him, papa, papa!"
"Aye, from him!" with rapid, con-
vincing energy. 1T has come at last,
after so many years"
She slipped down beside him on the
crimson carpet, a little, breathless
heap Of snowy muslin and FURNISHED
hair.
"Papa!" she echoed blahkly. spa
pal"
"Read it," imperatively.
She picked up the fallen paper.
She read 1t aloud, slowly, word by
word, Der color coming and going, her
great eyes shining.
Bending a little forward, his hands
clutching the elbows of his chair, his
whole face eager and triumphant, her
father listened
Laurence Lisle." curtly and with
out other preface, began the letter,
eighteen years ago you did me a bit
ter wrong-you stole my daughter.
You induced a confiding girl to leave
her home-a home of ease and luxury
Ito live with you life of misery and
privation. Truly an honorable way OF
proving your boosted love!
LET that pass. On the bed she had
made she lay. If the thOrns pierced
her, it was she who had chosen them
l have only lately heard she is dead
never CLOSED over an unpleasant
truth in my most gracious days;
won't do it now. ! have heard also
that you are dying. So am |.
ITO proceed: My child left a child
In defiance to me, presume, she gave
her your name-LauTence Isle. All
she was my daughter, every inch OF
her-proud and obstinate as Lucifer-
was Margaret! Well, after she set
off on her down-hill journey with her
scamp of lover, | married again--a
widow with a grown-up son.
Think of it! She is dead. He is
prowling round like a vulture, waiting
for my money He can hardly wait
till am cold. He is a greater scoun.
drel than you were! He shall not
reign in the old home. He shall not
Bah, here's the case in a nutshell.
have still some family pride left
though, God knows, Margaret did her
best to humble it when she married
you. Leave my fortune to utter
strangers / will not! This reduces
the case to simple matter of two
evils. | choose the lesser | am go
ing to make your daughter my heir.
ess, because | hate my stepson--my
heir presumptive-not because love
her. But this, mark you, conditionally
l write from America--from Colorado
whittier l have come for my health.
Much as long to die in the old home
dare not again encounter an ocean
voyage. They may take me back later.
Then | shall feel no quaIms."
How horrible. Such grim, CHASTITY
humor!"
Even as she spoke, she caught sight
Of her fathers face. She drew her
breath, gaspingly, so drawn it was, 90
white, with such feverish eyes.
"Papa!"
go on, dear" In gentle Impotence.
Don't mind me-go on!"
Reluctantly her eyes dropped to the
written page before her.
4 "This, then, is my stipulation: Your
daughter must come to me. One OF
my vessels will leave Liverpool In
about g month from the time you re.
ceive this. She must come on that.
1t Is a sailing vessel--what of It? She
can bring chaperone-half dozen