The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-04-23

1
and she delayed going down. Still
every moment but added to her dread
of seeing Dick, and every moment she
knew was so much time gained by
Vance Rothesay in fight. She would
wait as long as she could.
In half an hour her father came to
the foot of the stairs, called her, and
then left the house.
There was nothing for her to do
now but go down.
AS she entered the room, Burt rose
and came forward eagerly. He was
sure Of his answer, but he could not
| expect she would be very joyous in
giving it.
you know what came for" he said
directly. 81 know you will make me
happy by saying the word I wish to
| hear"
He spoke confidently, without mean
| ing to do so, and his manner repealed
! her more than ever. She hated the
handsome black eyes which glowed
town upon her. Umeasonably and
woman like she hated him still more
! than ever now that she had been the
cause of her knowing Vance Rothe-
! says perfdy.
The silence continued so long that
Burt began to grow uneasy.
Kate had sat down in a chair, and,
| with head bent, was wondering why
| she could not summon her usual
| strength and moral courage.
you do not speak," he said at last.
'Is 1t, then, so hard TO say that word
which will bring me so much happi-
ness? You could not doubt my love?'
mo. But | can never return it, as
/ have told you. Be generous and per-
secute me no longer"
A warning flush rose to Burt's face.
He was not going to have this girl fool
with him any longer. He was re-
solved upon that.
IL must ask for the answer you
promised me last night, even though
/ you look upon my insistence as per-
secution!" he said.
MY answer is no." was the reply.
"Kate!"
There was hardly repressed anger
| in his voice and the flush on his face
/ deepened and rose to his forehead. He
could not believe he had heard Alright.
"The only answer can give is no"
she repeated again, in an unnatlrally
quiet voice.
She shrank from the storm that was
rising, but she could not change her
| reply.
"You forget all that such an answer
will entail" he said, feeling that furi-
Gus, baffled sensation a man feels
when Unexpectedly encounterng some
thing which apparently is weak, but
| which he cannot bend to his own will.
"You are not likely to allow me to
forget anything of the misery of this
| time" was the bitter response.
81 sect" he cried. 81 see was a
fool TO let you see how pleasant a
companion Rothesay had in his retire
ment. | was a short.sighted fool not
to know that at heart you were like
other women and would take your re-
venge on him for deceiying you so.
You wish him betrayed because he
loves some one besides you, You
hate him, but you will not love me.
And | am faithful love yol truly.
Very well; Rothesay shall be pris-
oner before night will do that for
you; though | did think you Kate
Purcell, were above the reverges of
other women. Shall sue for some
reward for thus furnishing you, false
lover? Perhaps you will grant me
kindness for that, if for nothing else!"
His rapid words stung Kate as no
other words could have done. She
had never thought he could put such
an Interpretation upon her refusal,
and the fierce indignation that famed
up within her made her say words she
had not intended to say, but that she
cared not now IL she uttered, thinking
they could do the fugitive no harm.
"You think that of me and still say
you love me?" she exclaimed, in Low,
vibrating voice, while her eyes, fierce
and beautiful, met his fully and
seemed to scorch him, so intense was
their light. "Let me, then, give you
a different idea of one woman. Let
me tell you that take no revenge on
the man | love! Believe that, false
though he may be to me, he has yet
more nobleness in him than you can
dream OF as existing anywhere! / be-
tray him! | bring Vance Rothesay to
harm! Listen while tell you that he
is. hours ago, on his way from that
plaee-that he will escape and that |
warned him of his danger freed him
from the snare you set for him! And
had l not been able to do so, do you
think could have promised TO be your
wife? No, God will preserve me from
/ that!"
She stood straight before Dick Burt
as those words of flame poured from
her lips; her figure seemed filled with
majesty of wrath and contempt that
even such words and tones as hers
could not fully express.
Even Dick, bulldog though he was,
was cowsi for a moment, but only for
moment; the next he sprang forward
and caught her arm in savage grasp,
so tight as to be painful, while his
face was contorted and livid with rage.
so that is what you did! So you
were the one who rode Martins horse