Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-06-18
CHAPTER III.
lrpesacus Wooiru.

LEX $1,000 AEOTe the picture WE1cs2,
bEt feE short hours sgors, lad
wrought sEch mischief
Shall / warn him. vas the cues
ton which perpiexed him: -or shall
Ier his passion run It's course? He
would not be so mad as TO o@er this
woman his rane. and yet-and yet.
was not guilty OF Just such madness
until / learned the fatal truth regard
ing her. Truth? Rather should /
say suspicion II It were truth. /
might tell him: AS = suspicion, have
the right 10 bIacken her fair fame
and would he believe me en- what
proofs might offer? Yes. If neces-
sary. must tell hin-must save him,
al whatever cost"
Meantime. she whose lovely pic
tured face smiled down on him ss
though al unconscious OF the purpore
OF his words, sat in her boudoir, with
the bright MONDAY sun streaming in
though defying even its rays 70 detect
her thirty years
The robe OF violet colcred cashmere
the tiny cap. the exquisiteIy slippered
foot, made toilette worthy OF a low
er's admiration; but this morning Bar
bara Breton had denied herself to ali
visitors. A score Of cards already lay
al her elbow. uppermost OF which
(nr TIA -
choice flowers whose fragrance filed
the room) was that Of Travis Mere
dith.
"A good old name" she murmure1
"K--Ah, Felinel" looking up as the
servant entered the room, you are
early. Is your report already nader"
II found it no difficult matter, my
lady. The young man Is too well
known. he is not yet OF age, anu mas
bat Just returned from a years tour
abroad. after taking his degree here
az college. Re is the only son and
heir OF Henry Meredith. whose ftp
tune OF several millions viii be divid-
ed at death between this boy and his
sister, a child Of some fourteen years.
and already a beauty. A rumor exists
that there is a hope the intimacy be
tween the families OF Lennox and
Meredith may be cemented by her be-
trothaI 10 young Milton Lennox, some
haif-playfUl ceremonial having taken
place when she was in her cradle,
though he is many years her senior.
The mother has been long dead. AIr.
Meredith, sr,. Is in Paris. where the
daughter is being educated. Any fur
Their information. my LADY,
None; you may 90"
While the man had been present,
she had possessed her calmness, but
once the porsiere had closed behind
him, she started to her feet
And It Ii this child who Is to come
between us, while remain passive
and resign my all--she. the sister OF
this man whom must win, IsttIe
did dream OF the rich prize withi1
my grasp. Several millions. What
would be impossible for me, then?
Hear me. Gil We powers that be-" rails
ing aloft her arms. ERE the sun sinks
three times to his rest, I viii register
myself Travis Meredith's wife. Then,
Milton Lennox, / defy ycn."
A low murmur OF admiration ran
drought the crowded theater as Bar
bGra BRETON, few hours later entered
in her assumed role
Never had she looked more radiant.
One lightning glance she darted into
the box where tonight Young Mere
dith sat alone. Was 1t his fancy that
look betrayed the hope that she naight
find him there?
He sat as in dream AT the close
OF the third act page brought him
a note. Ii ran:
II am alone tonight. WIN you not
sup with me? Ny carriage win await
us"
Had II been summons from the
angels II could have afforded him no
greater bliss. He wrote back an i'm
FASHIONED and grateful assent, then
waited as patiently as he might for
the curtain TO fall.
All day he had been in a feyerish
dream. His refusal Of admittance at
Barbara's door had driven him to
frenzy. her face had haunted him:
and now for one, perhaps two hours,
he was to live in her smile.
What wonder that he betrayed
something of this as for an instant he
held her hand within his own? This
time they were alone In the softly
lighted room Even the valet had
withdrawn. Again she piled his glass
with sparkling Moselle. again her eyes
lured him.
lyon denied me this morning.
Cruel!" he said.
II dared not see you!" she answered
Dared not? Such words sound
strangely from your lips. can imag-
Inc nothing you would not do or dare"
"Ah, am not SO bold as you deem
me! had seen you but a few short
hours, and yet-must confess It'll