The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-05-28
CHAPTER xxlx-contlnued.

She did not know how 1t was, but
IN that time, IN spite of all seeming
reasons TO the contrary, sense of her
lovers truth and honesty came to her
like a surety-a positive conviction
that infused life and hope into her
fainting heart. He loved her, he was
true to her. An angel of comfort
might have whispered those words TO
her, so faithfully did she believe them.
The consciousness was like mine OF
strength to her. For the moment she
forgot who was by her side and her
own danger.
yes" went on Burt, breaking In
upon that dream of love and safety
Eyes, / have arranged it all this time
so that there can be no slip. You
can't escape. In a couple of hours we
shall be at the house OF the minister
whom have engaged, and in ten min
utes after that the knot will be tied
and you won't find me half bad hus-
band II you only manage right"
Again he urged on his horse and the
two rode on in silence.
Finally Burt was persuaded that
Kate was submitting to what she could
not help, though still, when he glanced
at her face, the look on 1t troubled
him.
In less time than he had saic he
drew rein In front of a square, old
fashioned house standing close to the
road. but remote from any dwelling.
In room in one corner of the house
dim light was burning. 1t was now
about two o'clock, and apparently Burt
was expected.
"This is the minister's" he said.
Jumping from the seat and immediate
ly taking Kate down and holding on to
her hand tightly for fear she might
slip from him.
Its q regular clergyman, no fear
Of that" said Burt as he led her to the
house. He'll do the thing lawfully,
though he isn't preaching this year."
Burt spoke the truth. He was not
going to have any bogus knot" tied,
as he said.
Before the two reached the door it
was opened by middle-aged man in
a large. flowing dressing gown and
holding small lamp in his hand.
II began to think you might have
given up the notion for tonight, Mr..
Burt" the man said, in suaye voice,
as he led the way into the room where
he had been sitting, and which was
probably his Study" as there was
large bookcase In the room. and on the
table near which the man had appar-
emily been sitting was lying an open
book.
81 hope the lady is not too fatigued
20 stand up long enough for the cere-
mony," said the minister, looking with
undisguised admiration at Kate, who
sank into chair directly and whose
glance at the man had made her very
doubtful IL she could appeal with any
success to him.
Still she believed she had that to
say which would move even such a
man as that.
Burt drew some papers from his
pocket In search of his license. In
doing so he saw the letter he had that
day taken from the postofice in Col
ton--a letter addressed to Hates faith
er, and which Burt had said he would
deliver TO Kate.
He had opened and read It. and then
its contents had made him decide he
would not give It to Kate until she
was his wife, and he carefully sealed
It again.
II he had needed any spur to his
purpose this letter would have given
It, for II was from an attorney In a
Western state announcing to Charles
Purcell that by the death OF
a distant relative who had died
without nearer heirs, he had inherited
a property amounting to about hun
dred thousand dollars.
Poor Purcelll Had he but lived to
have seen his cherished dream full
filed, though in so different a manner
from what he had thought
Yes, Burt was doing very good
thing for himself, but it vas true that
money had never tempted him in re-
gard to Kate Purcell. He had never
known the chance she had of wealth,
as Ralph Caryl had known.
II will give the lady glass Of wa
ter" said the minister, going out of
the room and returning with a full
glass in his hand, which Kate only put
her lips to for fear Of being drugged.