Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-11-26
CHAPTER xv--continued.

by Tkursday?"
In an instant the girl had sprung TO
her feet, the full lines Of her figure re.
veaied to perfection as she stood
startled and erect.
MIR. Bowers? BY Thursday"
Eyes. What is there surprising In
that, Cynthia?"
"Gh. nothing, nothing-only he may
bring news of Give"
"Cynthia!"
And now IL was my lady's turn to
rise in angry agitation.
For a brief space they stood and
looked at each other In the dim. rosy
twilight OF the room.
Take care!" my lady said. in a low.
warning yoice-"take care, CynthiaI
You may speak that mans once too
often. He OF whom you speak"
rs your soni'
The singing words, keen as the
blade OF a stiletto. struck home: but
my lady never WINGED.
-You are wrongl--he was my son.
Now and from he~nceforth, living or
dead, he Is not-he can never be--son
OF minel"
And then a queer, piercing glance
leapes into her dark eyes.
What does Mr.. Bowers know con-
corning the person you mention. who
Is abroad at present; that is all the
rest of the world knows; that is all
ne need be made aware OF just now.
Even allowing that a family lawyer
occupies much the same position as a
family physician, It does not follow
that any season, however inappropri-
ate. should be selected for the discov-
ering OF concealed scars and probing
Of fostering wounds. Besides, what
possible interest can this particular
affair hold for your"
Miss Lennox had stood all this tine
with her hands clasped convnlsiyely
above her heart. She started and
dropped them at my lady's question.
"Oh. none whatever" she answered;
YEARLY sinking back In her seat. "In-
terest naturally centers Eeand c:s
5eci or person of cid and familiar asso-
citation"
simply interest. Cynthia-nothing
more?"
The girl lifted languid. brilliant eyes
IN quiet establishment.
"Of course not! What else could
there BET"
MY lady turned abruptly away and
sat down. The calm counter-Question
was simply unanswerable.
When she spoke again IL was In q
voice cold and constrained.
Remember, no word of this to any
one To-day We do not rush forth to
shout our grievances from the house,
tons. To-day we do not drag out pitt
full skeletons from the closets and
parade them for public inspection.
And one word more. From this mo-
mcnt forward-even in secret, even in
private. even In the dead Of night, as
we have spoken now--this subject. this
person, this name, must never be men
toned between US! forbid you! All.
% eyes blaze up at that wordl Well.
In this instance I have the right TO use
t. forbid You to ever again utter In
my presence the name of him who was
my soni That name once 80 dear, now
so hateful to me that l, his own moth
er. speak for the last time that name
Olive Carringtoni"
Through the duh consciousness OF
the girl on the bed beyond that n
word penetrated. She began whisper
ing 1t softly over and over to herself.
every ~utter1nce a caress.
And all at once her voice pealed out
through the room loud, clear. silvery
sweet:
eGlive. Give, Cliyei"
Her listeners flung up their bsads
and looked at each other In breathless
amazement.
"She he's fastened on tnat one
word" my lady said. her calm reserve
q little shaken. with the fantastic fancy
or & dssordered brain. Poor thingl"
Cynthia Lennox did not move or
speak She sat quite stiIl in her low
seat by the fire, her costly wrapper
falling In soft folds about her. her
black hair tumbiing over its snowy
folds IN jetty masses.
@Ciive.". went on that sweet. u
voice, now earnest, now sorrowfuI, now
painful in its very jubilance-"oh,
Give. | love you'll That says all-does
II not, dear? And ! ought to hate you
--oh, II / could only hate you'll What
are they playing? The Girl I Left Be
hind Me?' how glad 1t soundsi 1t is a
horrible air! Obi" with an awful.
ehuddering shrek or fright, 1T Is sink
ing, it Is burning. IT. oh. Give. Give,
scIiyei"
The weird, terrified voice sobbed to
silence. The fire ~upleaped, as If In
merry. r~ollicking mirth; the shaded
lamps burned low; the Swiss clock on
the raanteI licked. tickedi
And neither of those motionless fig-
ures moved nor spoke. But suddenly,
Cynthia Lennox rose and crossed 10
whore my lady sat, and sank down on
her knees beside her chair. with a