The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-08-13
Barbara Bretton's
.eeAmbition~~
CHAPTER xvll-continued.


triumphant smile swept over the beau.
tiful features to be again replaced by
that look of tired sadness. as his eyes
once more lifted themselves to hers.
But what am | to do?" he asked.
'"Women's hearts are not always mar
ketable articles. Suppose | fail In this
most herculean task?"
There is no such word as fail. l
tell you this girl is a child, to whom
life Is an unsolved problem-who does
not even understand herself. She
canot love this man TO whom she Is
betrotked; but he-he loves her. l
saw 1t when, on that memorable morn.
ing. saw him spring to her side, as
II to protect her from me; read IT in
his eyes, his voice, his gesture. Let
him guard well his pretty bird, but
we will steal II, spite of his watchful
care--then give II back 20 him when 1t
shall have lost all value In his eyes.
Win her, Richard, at any cost; and II
IL so be that you cannot win her by
honeyed words, we will find other
means to answer our purpose"
"And then, Barbara. you swear to
grant me my reward?"
IL swear IT.
"That promise will lend passion to
my words and a truth to my utterance,
even when spoken to another. Had
you but set me TO war with men, TO
hurl back In their teeth the insults
these men have dared TO deal you, how
eager | should be for the fray! But
warfare with women is~a far more diff.
fcult task, only to be undertaken for
your dear sake and the reward have
80 madly coveted all these years"
"There!" glanclng at the tiny, Jew
eled watch which hung from her side,
'you must now leave me, Remember
always, Richard, this girl is but the
instrument of my vengeance. | care
not that real wrong should come to
her further than that the fruit for
which his hand already is extended
should wither beneath his touch--that
more shame should come to the Mere
dith name through one who bears It
lineally, than had 1t been intrusted,
with due honor, into my keeping. Re-
member, also. that Travis Meredith
was but an instrument In Milton Len
nox's hands-that it was he, and he
alone. who brought this shame upon
me; and let this thought send any
passing shade of pity from your
heart"
cit does, my own--it does! Let me
but strike at his heart--aye tear II
out and trample 1t beneath my heel
and, though that moment were my
last, should not have lived in vain!'
Then. with light kiss upon the fair
white brow, he left her.
She listened to his steps as he
crossed the hail. until the door opened
and closed behind him, then she
wrung her hands together in a very
passion of despair, while a look OF
misery swept across her beautffu,
face.
"How easily he, too is duped! How
readily he undertakes this task for the
reward he viii never gain! Yet he
loves me, and his reward is worthless
20 me. | listen as a child 10 a lessor
already conned and grown wearisome
Strange, strange, that these men lay
their all at my feet, and Il cannot ever
stoop to pick 1t UP. Yet the one a
whose feet | would crouch for single
crumb throws me instead his scorn
But he. too, loved me once. Aye, anC
by the memory OF that love, and m!
suffering, so shall he suffer! Milton
Milton!" she walled, II may bury thu
steel in your heart, but you have KEEP
mine an open wound all these years.
Then, starting from her seat, sh,
paced up and down the room, en-
crossed In thought AS she had said
the goal was within her vision, A
whatever cost she must attain it, will
her true motive yelled from every ey,
even from the man she made the In
strument of her retribution. Let hin
believe Il was ambition which move,
her. Let him believe her heart wa
his--the rest for which she sighed
rest with him! At fitting time sh
would show him the folly OF his pre-
gumptous hopes. But the queen woult
have come to her own again.
Touching the silver bell upon IN,
table. she ordered Marie summoned Il
her presence.
Tomorrow" she said. when tn
Frenchwoman appeared before her
you enter upon your new service
Once a week you will report to me
You have just left the service of tn
Countess Rene, whose sudden depart
ure for England prevented her person
ally vouching for your character bu
whose most excellent written TESTING
malls leave nothing to be desired Yo,
win use your utmost skill in properl
fulfilling the duties Of your Office, ant
OF course, Marie, as you have not 4
reality left my service, l will continu
your wages az heretofore, You ma
now go"
The maid courtesied In recognitio
OF her mistress generosity, but, a
she reached the door, the clear, mus
cal tones recalled her. A minor &:
point had been forgotten,
ut would be as well, perhaps. Mari,
II week hence you brought me
page Of your yc0hg mistress writin;
may find II useful"
For moment the two women's eve
met. then the maid hauad ooof, a.