The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-01-29
5 A Daughter !
; Of the Beach \
NNILlNI1NNNIN NIlIIINNIIA

one CluuS 10 Ills arm dS shS "Sh1
up the steps. The man in the hall
stepped forward and asked:
"AIe you the sister,"
"Yes," she replied.
'Let me tell you, then, that the
face OF the man is unacceptable. IL
Is in such a condition that 1t is hid
den from sight. The body was not
found until II had lain couple OF
days. You will follow me-"
Julia listened to his words with a
horror she had not felt before. she
felt now like turning and fleeing. and
she made a movement backward, say
ing aloud:
"Oh, cannot go!"
Remember that II is a duty you
must perform" said the cold, monoto-
nous voice of the official. 1T is ne
cessary that you see him."
Julia recalled her vanishing self
possession, and Burt himself could
hardly restrain shudder as the door
was flung open, and they followed the
man into long. bare room, the only
object visible being several low, fat
benches at one end.
There is but one other body here
now said the man. "The body OF an
unknown woman who was drowned,
and who has not been identified"
Yes, there were two figures
stretched cut, motionless, with that
dreadful unmovableness that seems
TO belong only to dead bodies.
The visitors passed by one-the wo-
man, whose marble, upturned face
showed none of the troubles OF itA
life.
At the next bench they paused, and
Julia, who had thought she could not
look at him. found her gaze irresisti-
bly, drawn toward the still figure.
There was cloth over the face. but
the neck and hands-the whole form,
In its ordinary clothes, was visible.
Neither of the two who had come to
see this body felt any doubt as to who
had been its tenant in life.
Though not any of the features were
visible, yet everything else pro-
claimed its identity. The tall and
slender figure, the soft brown hair, the
white hands that had been so well
and aristocraticaily shaped, the form
of the finger nails, the cameo ring,
with its exquisite head of Zenobia,
which Caryl had managed to keep
through all his poverty, the clothes
all were the same.
The officer successfully called Ju-
las attention to every detail, and he
seemed convinced himself as he list
ened.
do you know II there were any
marks upon the body?" he asked.
mo; never knew of any. But
still there might be, ard I not know"
"Your mother is living?" was the
next question.
eyes"
81 must request you TO telegraph to
her, directly, then. There is probably
no reasonable doubt that this is your
brothers. body, but she will settle the
question absolutely. think. And you
know It is a question OF the utmost
Importance as regards the case"
The dry, emotionless tone In which
the man spoke, as IL she were an au-
tomaton who had come to view the
body. seemed to threaten to set the
IN! wild.
She was already fearfully excited,
ard every word he said increased that
feeling, which could be read in the
hectic spots upon her cheeks and the
fierce brightness OF her eyes.
let us COL" she whispered, clutch
ing at Burt's arm, and when he had
put her into the carriage and sat
down beside her, she cried:
IL hate that man! He is everything
dreadful! He has made even that
horrible time more horrible!"
Dick was somewhat shaken himself
he would not have been moved in
that way IL he had been In the midst
81 4 melee where half dozen men
we're killed around him.
But he quickly recovered himself.
His nerves were we'll sheathed, and
ne found II not at all unpleasant work
20 soothe his companion into calm
ness.
He hastily drew the curtain OF the
carriage. for he did not fancy being
teen, as the lights of the streets
dashed into the windows. He knew
! 90 many people in the city, and he
/ lid not care to be questioned concern.
ng his companion.
Those bodies are to him only
blocks OF something TO be identified,
/; nd we were machines that might act
in that capacity" he said. Its GUS
ON; / beg, Miss Caryl, that you will
ry to be strong; that you will bear
4 p."
He was sitting on the seat with her,
ind he leaned very near her, having
] alf mind to put his arm around her,
lut not exactly daring to do so.
Julia's quick penetration told her
that he was much more attracted.
iaore moved by her beauty than he
I ed ever been before, and she was not
slow to take advantage of 1t.
If she could only fetter him to her
row! To confess the truth, Dick
Hurt had for her a fascination which
no other man had ever been able to
exert
His manly. but rather coarse. beau.
~ half-captivated her, who had not
I 20 refined tastes. She had no idea
OF marrying him. but even when her
brothers death removed the first In.
centive, she was more than ever
bound to win his love.
She sat silent for some time after
he had spoken. She had been really
much moved, but she was rapidly re.
covering and becoming alive TO the
Opportunities Of the occasion. She