Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-07-02
But here he caught sight Of Mere.


dith's face and horror arrested the
words upon his lips. 1t was deadly
pale--white even to ghastliness--as
though years had passed since he had
looked upon its bright careless sur
face. Something more than the
thought of perhaps dying father had
brought that look there.
One minute only 1t flashed upon
him, then, dropping into chair, the
young man hid 1t in both arms, out
stretched on the table.
why, Travis, old fellow, what has
cut you up so? Do not give up like
this, God grant you may yet and
your father alive"
Travis raised his head, with move.
ment half impatient.
ut was so sudden, Milton" he an
swered. 1t has unnamed me. Thank
you"-stretching out his hand-"for
trying TO see the last of me! A beast
ly hour to sail, is 1t not?"
"Beestly, indeed But come-you
have no time to lose. In what way
can be of service to your"
only by staying with me while I
pack a few necessaries in my port
manteau, and then, If you will, giving
me goodbye shake on the steamers
deck"
"Rest assured, my dear fellow, you
shall not see the last of me until you
go steaming down the harbor, and then
only for little while. Travis, some
OF these days I am going to hunt up
my little sweetheart. II she is half as
lovely a woman as she was a child, I
shall find many to compete with me
for the prize. Tell her she must not
forget my claim"
Plenty Of time for that" answered
her brother. "Avice is but child yet,
scarcely fifteen Tiff my father dies,
she must add her voice"
A scarlet flush rose to Travis tenn
pies.
"If my father lives" he answered,
'T shall still return at once. In any
case, / shall not be long abroad"
"Trayis," Lennox said gravely,
take my advice and don't come back
yet awhile. You will forgive an old
friend for speaking freely, will you
not? But there is something I meant
to tell you which perhaps now is bet.
ter left unsaid, and which your stay.
for a time at least, abroad, will let
rest forever in its grave. want you
to take back, too, the check you sent
me tonight. Not that either you or
would miss the amount, but | want. If
possible, to wash my hands OF my
share in that transaction"
81 do not understand you" replied
Travis, haughtily. 'We made a bet.
| lost, you won. / only regret we so
lightly used the name of woman
have learned to both honor and re-
spect.'
"And one who is not worthy OF
either"
Dare to say that again to me, and
though you were my brother | would
force the words down your throat"
interrupted Meredith, springing 20 his
feet. his face lurid with passion, his
hand clenched.
But equally pale was the man whom
he addressed. Milton Lennox was no
coward, and few men would have ut
tered such words tc his face without
the penalty Of blow; but by violent
effort he controlled himself.
He had gone so far; in self-justifca-
ton he must 90 further. He had APP
piled the knife to the wound, IL mercy
he must not spare his patient.
Travis he said, and his voice was
low and gentle as woman's, II am
many years your senior. We have
both OF us known that perhaps in the
distant future we might, indeed. be
brothers, were both Avice and I free
on her eighteenth birthday, when we
were TO be called upon to ratify or re-
nounce our childish pledge. You nave
known me boy and man. No ordinary
friendship has existed between us.
was led. few nights ago, to expose
you to such temptation as I might
have seen you would be powerless to
withstand. For my part in this for
give your words and will explain why
uttered that which called them
forth"