Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-08-27

seemed creeping over her. The beau
tiful face was CHASTITY In its pallor.
Have | not suffered enough" she
said, very gently, that you. who pro-
TESS pity for me. should make me suf-
fer more. II you have will not say
justice on even generosity--but one
pulse such as throbs In the bodies OF
men, say you did but try me, and take
me, while I may still hoard some of my
strength, to the refuge / came to
seek"
Through all his hardness, the quiz
ering tones found their way. But it
was too late to turn back on the road
he had marked out for himself, or,
rather. that another had mapped out
for him.
calm yourself." he said, sternly.
And listen. Ayice: DO you know what
the world already thinks-your world
and miner"
II do not understand you," she said,
b~ewildered, putting her hand to her
aching head. and wondering IL mad
ness, indeed, had overtaken her.
1T says" he continued, brutally,
that you and | have run away togeth-
er. Your honor. your reputation are
Al my mercy"
Then III you have mercy, spare
mel" she cried, throwing herself on
her knees at his feet. Send for Trav-
is. He will forgive the share yoif have
taken in this work, IL you will but re-
store me to his arms. III you would
not kill me. undo this most cruel, bit
ter wrong against an innocent grill"
1T is too late" he said, lifting her to
her feet. why need you care, Avice?
You surely had no love for Milton Len
nox?'
mo love for him? No; none that I
need sully by mention within your
hearing-none that your debased ma
ture could understand. Now--now I
see 1t ALT" she cried, wringing her
hands. "All that you told me was
false, falsei false. and 7, foolish,
wretched girl that I am, believed you'll
You laid the trap, and my unwary feet
stumbled in; but, oh, there is a God
Of mercy ii a God OF vengeance!
May the one have pity upon me, and
the other avenge my wrongs! Leave
me, sir. and at least permit me the sol
itude OF my own wretchedness."
II will return in half an hour, Avice,
and trust to find you calmer."
She loked about her. when alone,
with wild, ~despairing eyes.
Perhaps-perhaps there might be
some chance of escape, but how far
could her trembling limbs carry her,
even ii her jailers relaxed their vigi-
lance?
She pressed her hot, burning fore
head against the window pane. Thees
waved their branches outside; early
spring flowers bloomed in the paths:
birds sang in the boughs.
Was this the same world she had al
ways known? In all her life she had
never had a care. So she had told
Florence St. John. An. Florence, too,
would believe this cruel story-Flor-
ence, who once, she thought, had tast-
ed the fun cup OF misery. She had
wondered how Florence had lived
through suffering, and now, beside her
own, how small 1t seemed. Love,
friends, protection, were Miss st.
Johns yet OF these. In fell swoop,
all had been taken from her and in
their stead came insult. and stilI more
cruel wrong. How could she bear 1t?
She must make one more appeal to
this man-must, I'm some way, pene-
trate his arnor.
AS II In answer to her thought, the
door opened and he entered.
II am calm now" she said. II have
thought, perhaps, DR.. Hayes. you might
nave some motive fer your conduct
q price! lam, as you know, a rich girl.
] lay my fortune at your feet, to dis
pose OF as you will, a ransom for my
freedom"
A smile glittered on the mans dark
face.
"A motive and a price? Yes, Miss
Meredith, + have both. We will be
frank with each other; 1t is hest so. I
have uttered some few words of love
to you. They were false. All the love
7 have Is another woman's. They but
served my purpose and the utter full
illment of my role. You shall. In fu-
ture, be freed from them. AS | said
before, you shall be your own mistress
III will even intrude myself upon you
as little as possible; but my motive
cannot as vet be unveiled. NY price
Is n which all your fortune, thrice
and thrice again swelled, cannot reach.
II Is q price for which I have toiled
three long years and more. Judge,
then. II q girls idle prayer win per-
suade me to unclasp my hand and let
1t escape me, just when my fingers are
closing upon 1t. You or I must pay
the forfeit, Ayice, and the lot has fall
en- to you"
Yes" she answered, "the lot OF
DEATH" and she fell forward sense
less at his feet
CHAPTER XIV.