The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-07

ure. My property Is large. 1t COM
prises the house and estates in Sur
reg; shares In various London COM
panies, besides fair showing to my
account at the Bank of England.
These will bequeathe to your daugh-
ter If she, on acquaintance,proy un-
like her father"
II won't read any more!" Laurie
cried, Indignantly, finging down the
letter, her eyes purple-black with ex-
element, her cheeks like scarlet pop
pies. 81 WON'T It's sham eful-
shameful! How dare hep
my darling" her father said. de-
pTeeiatinsiy, and laid one wasted hand
on her head-"my darling, this is only
preface. Sooner or later the knowl-
edge would come from you from lips
as cruel as the heart which here
speaks-sooner or later. the blow
would fall. Better now, while l am
here to soothe the pain, and tell you
the truth. Go on; you must read a few
lines more. They will suffice"
~ don't know what you mean" the
gill cried, piteously. what blow
what knowledge?"
"Read," he murmured, with weary
brevity.
Again and for the last time she
took the hateful letter in her fingers.
II am anxious to learn" she read
on, the cold disgust in her voice max
1 ing it sound strange and ungentle-
81 am anxious to learn the result of
| your training; to see with my own
! eyes how far association with a felon,
convict, has colored and tainted the
soul of his child"
Now she could not have held the
/ letter moment longer if she would.
1t slipped from her nerveless hand
and fell upon the carpet; and for
little while there was silence-tense,
GREATNESS, fearful silence.
The sunshine streamed in through
the simple muslin curtains, CHEEKY
and kindly as the smile of friend.
1t fell upon the carefully arranged
table, with its snowy linen its pretty
white and gold china, its bunch of
scarlet geraniums; it fell upon the
mans thin, quivering face--upon the
girls white cheeks and trembling lips
and dark, dilated eyes.
"Papa!" she painted, and her voice
was a whisper-a hoarse, straining
whisper-"what is it? What does he
mean? Who is a felon? Who is
convict? Who"
Her quick breathing choked her.
Her father looked down on the love-
ly, excited face with eyes full of
great trouble and great truth.
a." he answered her, your father"
Your?
She had sprung to her feet, had
fallen back step, and was gazing at
him with a face of helpless, white
| dismay.
For just one moment she stood So
no longer. Then she had flung her
arms round his neck and was raining
fond, remorseful kisses on brow and
| cheek
NO no, nop in quick, sharp denial.
"What-what was / thinking Of?
What-what was I afraid Of? II
don't understand, at ALL But it is all
| right, my dear-my dear-of COURSE
of course it is alright"
And the painting voice broke down
In fierce. hysterical sobs.
] DON'T" Laurence Lisle said, gen.
tly, and he drew her to his side and
| smoothed back the shining hair as
tenderly as her mother might have
done-"Don't! Listen to me, Laurie
listen to me. my pet!"
The hoarse sobs ceased. She put
two soft arms about his neck, and hid
her wet face upon his breast as she
knelt beside him.
'It is a long story, little one. I
will make it brief:
when | was quite young fellow
just passed twenty-ive--I occupied a
responsible position in large whole
sale Partisan house. l enjoyed the
fullest confidence of the firm. AS far
| as honest endeavor in their interests
was concerned. deserved it.
"At the time Of which / speak my
health was becoming impaired by
overwork and my employers offered
me brief holiday. To show my graf
itude and leave things in order, | ex-
erted myself more than ever the week
preceding my expected departures
much so, in fact, that on Tuesday,
was to leave on Wednesday, grew
quite dizzy and reeled from my desk.
A fellow worker, an English boy not
older than eighteen, the only friend l
had really made companion and
confidant of in Paris, came to my aid.
"'You are ILL., he whispered. Go
home and let me finish your work.
"'You cannot said. I must make
out the payroll. Here are the freight
bills and workingmen's lists. And in
this box are several thousand francs
for payment
"Iet me do it, he pleaded. I've
seen you do it scores of times. Let
. me make out the pay roll-there is no
one here to be the wiser but our two
selves-and you go home and have a
good rest, or you will have no strength
to undertake your journey tomorrow.
II yielded. A few hours later
heard him coming into his room,
which communicated with mine.
"sWell?' I called out inquiringly.
"TIe muttered a few confident. affirm
alive words. 1t was quite dark when