Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-03-19
in some phase or other, was always
tho Snkioct Of them

in some phase or other, was always
the subject of them.
Now that Caryl was dead, her almost
insane hate had changed to the love
she had known for him. She mourned
for him as for faithful husband. And
yet there were moments when she
knew and felt his villainous behavior
to herself.
At such moments she rejoiced that
she had killed him-was glad that he
could never make love to another
woman.
In short, the girls mind was shaken
by her long sufferings and by that last
dreadful deed. But not so shaken but
that rest would recover it.; not so shak-
en- as to be insane.
You do not eat, Vance," she said.
looking up at her brother. who was
leaning his arm on the rough shelf,
not looking at her, but with his gaze
Notwithstanding, indeed. of the
girl whose kisses were yet warm on his
lips-thinlling that he might never be
able to claim her.
and said:
"You do we'll to remind me that |
ought to eat as we'll as you" and he
took a piece of bread and compelled
himself to swallow it.
Rachel watched him in silence: then,
after few moments. she exclaimed:
How selfishly forgetful remorse ana
l~l 1Nf% @SN
your marriage to Miss I.auriat.'
Spare your remorse concerning
that" said Vance, with cynical tone
in his voice.
What do you mean:" with eager
interest.
II mean that l am very little to Miss
Lauriat. Read that; it will tell you all
| know"
And he gave her slip of newspaper
as he spoke. 1t was the item regard
ing Miss Lauriats runaway marriage.
Rachel forgot everything else in her
fear that her brother would suffer as
she had suffered She looked at him
searchingly.
You loved herr" she faltered finally.
II fancied that did at one time.
but I have recovered bravely," he re
piled
DO you tell me the truth? Or do
you try to laugh at your suffering?'
.I tell you the truth" he answered
when | say that am grateful to her
for breaking her troth to me. l should
not have done it, but | should have
known that | was marrying with very
little love. We were engaged too
early. | had outgrown all the fancy |
ever had for her, and l suppose she
had done the same, and took this way
of cutting the knot. My thanks to
her"
There was no mistaking the truth OF
his words, and his sister uttered fer
vent Thank Cod" as he ceased speak
ing
When he spoke again he had evi
IDENTIFY nut all thought of Miss Laurat
from his mind
LIT is time you went to sleep. or trieo
to do so," he said. 1T is past mid
night. l am very thoughtless to allow
you to be up in this way. To insure
you sleep. let me give you potion
He dropped some laudanum into a
glass of wine and babe her drink it..
Then he watched her as she lay there,
noting how Worn she looked, and feel
ing fear that life and health would
never again come to her.
A vague plan Of taking his sister te
foreign country. some wild thought
that Kate Purcell might consent to &C
with him. was passing through his
mind as he sat watching Rachel while
the sedatlve gradually took the wide,
anxious look from her eyes, then
closed them in sleep.
When she was sound asleep he ros.
and extinguished the light, and went
out of the hut Unable to sleep him
self, he could not remain quietly in the
stifed atmosphere of that little room.
ITO be continued.)
MERELY A QUESTION OF MONEY