Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-09-24

Yes, Marie-yes."
Il have not forgotten, madame, the
night that
Hush! no more. I wish to find her
for no evil end. You were mistaken
then. do not wish her life, although
you know I have no reason to love her.
You r a woman, Marie; you can
understand my motive. You will help
me to find herr"
yes, madame, | am a woman, trav-
cling on one trodden path, with ono
end, one object in view, like our
self. Suppose, madame, our paths
meet, and only one Of us can pass?"
An evil, malignant light glittered in
the French woman's eyes, and Bar
bara shrank from it, a premonition OF
future i'll creeping over her.
Il will step aside for you" she an
swered. with forced lightness.
Where am | to look for Miss Mede
dith?" questioned the maid.
Il do not know. Only find out If
she has returned to her friends. and
let me know. I can then better shape
my plans
Left alone, Barbara rose, and with
weary steps went into the adjoining
chamber.
Richard Hayes had awakened, and
his eyes lighted as they rested on her
face, though he quickly detected its
glance of suffering.
Barbara he said tenderly, you
have been i'll again. Will you never
take warning until it Is too later"
She made an impatient gesture as
she answered him:
1T is nothing. / wish you would
not always hold up a dangling skele-
ton before me-a skull and cross
bones. 1t is dreadful"
Il have been so near the Valley OF
the Shadow" he replied, that | do
not seem to fear it, though | was not
ready to die. A half inch closer and
Milton Lennox's bullet would have
done it's work. Does he regret it, !
wonder? Barbara, would you have
remembered it was for your sake?'
She s~huddered.
Don't talk about It, Richard" then
she added, in a low, thrilling tone:
What could / have done without
your help-you, who have been SO
good, M faithful friend? Richard, /
have something to tell you, something
which Is to give you back your health
and strength. We need not seek the
aid of the law to make me free; l am
free already"
What! Travis Meredith is dead?"
"No; Travis Meredith is alive. But
I am not Travis Meredith's wife. and
ney have been-not fer one single
hour!"
She uttered the words In triumph,
with a low. mocking laugh.
Richards face grew pale to gray
ness.
Il said some cruel words once, you
remember. Perhaps you have not yet
forgotten them. You shall both for
give and forget them, for + am gong
to prove how little they were meant.
I am almost through my journey,
Richard. the goal is almost reached.
You have but to hold out your hand
to bring me safely to it's end, and
then-and then | will give that hand
to you. I swear it,"
One vivid spot of scarlet famed on
her listeners cheek. His eyes dark
ened with excitement.
Tell me. Barbara, quickly, all you
mean I cannot bear this suspense"
Il mean-think Of 1t, Richard,
every world mean that in that far
off time when abandoned my child
because / believed her worse than
fatheriess, and when his treachery
drove me to madness and the deed
that then, yer then, had I but known,
7 might have held high my head and
deied him. He thought the bond be-
tween us a mockery; he had planned
that it should be so. He had gold.
Could it not buy him whatever he
would wish? So he reasoned; but the
man--the hireling-to whom he m
trusted the commission and the exc
cution OF the foul deed betrayed nim.
He paid no simulated clergyman, but
one ordained by the church. to do the
deed, and I became his wife, not only
In the sight OF heaven, but In the
sight of man. He is dead now, and
his tool, who has kept silent all these
years, has at last spoken. Richard, /
am freel Tell me, are you glad?"
Ere the physician answered, a vi
sion rose before him. He saw two
women. in the silent night watches,
standing face to face. He heard one
say, In a voice which thrilled him now
as it had thrilled him then, these
words:
"All other men-all other women
are as but tools in my hand to achieve
my one great end. Even the poor fool
who lies there sleeping, and murmurs
my name in his Sleep"
Aye, a fooli She had spoken truly
Ia fool. who had well nigh died for
her-a fool, whose pulses beat exult-
antly at the wild, sweet hope held out
to him.
g