The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-09-24

night that"
Hush! no more. wish to find her
| for no evil end. You were mistaken
then. / do not wish her life, although
you know / have no reason to love her.
You are woman, Marie; you can
understand my motive. You will help
me to find herr"
Eyes, madame, ] am woman, trav-
cling on one trodden path, with ono
end, one object in view, like your
self Suppose, madame, our paths
meet, and orly one of us can pass?"
An evil, malignant light glittered In
the French woman's eyes, and Bar.
bara shrank from it, premonition OF
future Ill creeping over her.
81 will step aside for YOU" she an
swered, with forced lightness.
Where am | to look for Miss Mede
| dith?" questioned the maid.
81 do not know. Only find out If
| she has returned to her friends, and
let me know. can then better shape
my plans.
Left alone, Barbara rose, and with
weary steps went into the adjoining
chamber.
Richard Hayes had awakened, and
his eyes lighted as they rested on her
face, though he quickly detected Its
glance of suffering.
Barbara" he said tenderly, "you
have been i'll again. VIII you never
take warning until it is too late?"
She made an impatient gesture as
she answered him:
at is nothing | wish you would
not always hold up a dangling skele-
ton before mc-a skull and cross
bones. 1t is dreadful"
81 have been SO near the Valley Of
the Shadow" he replied, that | do
not seem to fear it, though | was not
ready to die A half inch closer and
Milton Lennoxs bullet would have
done its work. Does he regret it,
wonder? Barbara, would you have
remembered it was for your sake?'
She shuddered.
Don't talk about it, Richard" then
she added, in a low, thrilling tone:
what could I have done without
your help-you, who have been so
good, my faithful friend? Richard, l
have something to tell you, something
which is to give you back your health
and strength We need not seek the
aid of the law to make me free; | am
free already"
WHAT Travis Meredith is dead?"
mo; Travis Meredith is alive. But
am not Travis Meredith's wife. and
never have been-not for one single
hour!"
She uttered the words in triumph,
with low. mocl1ing laugh.
Richards face grew pale to gray
ness.
81 said some cruel words once, you
remember. Perhaps you have not yet
forgotten them. You shall both for.
| give and forget them, for | am gong
to prove how little they were meant.
am almost through my journey,
Richard, the goal is almost reached.
You have but to hold out your hand
to bring me safely to its end, and
then-and then / will give that hand
to you. / swear it,"
One vivid spot of scarlet famed on
her listeners cheek. His eyes dark
ened with excitement.
TELL me, Barbara, quickly, all you
mean. | cannot bear this suspense"
81 mean-think Of it, Richard,
every world mean that in that far
off time when | abandoned my child
because l believed her worse than
fatherless, and when his treachery
drove me to madness and the deed
that then, even then, had but known,
l might have held high my head and
defied him. He thought the bond be
tween us mockery; he had planned
that 1t should be so. He had gold
Could 1t not buy him whatever he
would wish? So he reasoned; but the
mantle hireling-to whom he IN
trusted the commission and the exc
cution of the foul deed betrayed nim
He paid no simulated clergyman, but
one ordained by the church, to do the
deed, and became his wife, not onS
in the sight Of heaven, but In the
sight Of man. He is dead now, and
his tool, who has kept silent all these
years, has at last spoken. Richard,
am free! Tell me, are you glad?"
Ere the physician answered, vi
sion rose before him. He saw two
women, in the silent night watches
standing face to face. He heard on,
say, in a voice which thrilled him now
as it had thrilled him then, these
!. words:
"All other men--all other women
are as but tools in my hand to achiev,
my one great end. Even the poor foo
; who lies there sleeping, and murmuci
my name in his Sleep"
Aye, a fool! She had spoken trul!
, Ia fool, who had well nigh died To-
. her-a fool whose pulses beat exult
antly at the wild, sweet hope held GU
; to him.
But there was a price attached. HI
knew it--knew 1t without need O
words. In what further depths of vii
liany must he plunge to work he
: Wilt"
why do you not speak, Richard
, Have lost my one last friend?
| Not while life lasts, dear! d.
not know IL all men love as I do.
, so. 1t must be the browning bliss an,
4 torture OF their lives. So 1t ha'
! proven with me. In a few days hop,
| 4 L.