The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-24
CHAPTER XVI.
"She Is an lmposter."


He pauzed as If little dasGled by
the sudden glare-a man of medium
size, rather flashily attired, with a
face which was, to say the least of 1t,
unprepossesslng; a face sharp, super
ciliou5, sfhooth-shayen, with small
black eyes glinting from under bee
Ting brows, and a mouth which
looked, when In repose, simply a mar
row, liyid line.
He started at the sight OF the
strange group before him-my lady
sitting trembling with evident agita-
tion. her thin hands clutching. con-
vulsiyely the arms of her chair; Miss
Lennox erect, startled, dismayed-and
who, merciful heavens, who was that
that black-clad, rigid, girlish figure?
Was it--could it be-Laurence
Lisle? That coronet OF sunny hair;
those little milk-w bite hands!
All, she was not woman to be for
gotten lightly--Laurence Lisle!
Neither Lady Darlington nor Gym.
thia needed his entrance. Their gaze
was fixed on her.
But she-she saw him. Despite her
rehearsed resolve of defiance, low,
quick cry broke from her lips.
"You!" she whispered.
Her great, luminous eyes were black
and dilated with excitement.
For one moment he was speeches.
stunned! Were these people her
friends? They must be, since she was
with them-these wealthy, influential
aristocrats And yet what did that
strange scene upon which he had so
suddenly entered mean? All, II they
believed in her and her story, what re-
manned for him? Poverty, disgrace,
social oblivion!
They should not believed Upon the
wreck Of her young life and upon that
alone could he, uprear his temple OF
prosperity.
He was an irreprpachable actor. A
second later his face was devoid OF all
expression save that of indignant as
constituent.
"Yes," he said, I'll"
re strobe one step forward and now
they all turned and looked at him.
He spoke TO my lady, indicating by
gesture the girl before him.
"Do you know who she is?" he
asked
Her pale lirs parted, but from be-
tween them came no sound.
II have just told YOU" outrang
clear. sweet voice. my name Is Lau.
renee Lisle!"
1T Is not!"
He wheeled around. For one instant
they stood so, face to face. accuser
and accused. And In the lightning
glance which passed between them,
plainly as words could have uttered,
was spoken, ito the DEATH"
81 am Laurence Isle" she repeated.
slowly, and now her voice had reso-
lutte ring good to hear--"and you--you
are Cuthbert Bracken! That says all.
Listen. to me, my hdyl Listen to me,
Miss Lennox!
II was on board the Dolphin, on my
way TO America, where sojourned my
grandfather, Allan Atherton. The
ship took FIRE. After two days Of In
tense suffering In boat on the open
sea. We were rescued by a passing ves-
sel-my companion, Mrs Grey, few
sailors, Cuthbert Bracken and my
self.
We were carried back to England.
I found my way to London. and there
sought out my grandfather's English
attorney. He denied my Identity. he
ridiculed my claims. Why, was soon
proven! In order to inherit the for
tune left legally to me by Allen Ath-
erton. the man who stands before you
--Cuthbert Bracken--had asserted the
death Of Laurence Lisle on board the
burning vessel!
ut was the old story repeated. OF the
quick-wittsd knave and the gullible law
ysr-ths old story Of might triumph