The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-09-24


for no evil end. You were mistaken
then. do not wish her life, although
you know have no reason to love her.
You are a woman, Marie; you can
understand my motive. You will helI
me to find her?"
Yes, madame, am woman, trav
cling ON one trodden path, with one
end, one object in Wow, like youi-
self Suppose, madame, our paths
meet, and only one of us can pass?"
An evil, malignant light glittered ID
the French woman's eyes, and Bar.
bara shrank from it, a premonition OF
future i'll creeping over her.
q viii step aside for you," she an
swered, with forced lightness.
Where am / to look for Miss Mede
dith?' questioned the maid.
II do not know. Only find out If
she has returned to her friends, and
let me know. 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 us
glance of suffering.
Barbara" he said tenderly, you
have been i'll again viii you never
take warning until IT is too later"
She made an impatient gesture as
she answered him;
1T is nothing I wish you would
not always hold up dangling skee-
ton before me--a skull and cross
bones. 1t is dreadful"
Il have been so near the Valley Of
the Shadow" he replied, that | Go
not seem to fear 1t, though | was not
ready TO die A half inch closer and
Milton Lennoxs bullet would have
done its work Does he regret it,
wonder? Barbara, would you have
remembered it was for your sake?'
She shuddered.
Don't talk about 1t, Richard" then
she added, in low, thrilling tone:
What could | have done without
your help-you, who have been so
good, my 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; am
free already"
what! Travis Meredith is dead?"
mo; Travis Meredith is alive. But
am not Travis Meredith's wife, and
never have been--not for one single
hour!"
She uttered the words in triumph,
with a low. hooking laugh.
Richards face grew pale to gray.
ness.
81 said some cruel words once, you
remember. Perhaps you have not yet
forgotten them. You shall both for
give and forget them, for | am going
to prove how little they were meant.
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. / swear it!'
One vivid spot of scarlet famed on
her listeners cheek. His eyes dark
/ cuSu Win GAClltmSul.
| Tell me, Barbara, quickly, all you
! mean. cannot bear this SUSPENSE"
4 81 mean-think OF 1t, Richard,
! every world mean that in that far
| off time when I abandoned my child
] because l believed her worse than
fatherless, and when his treachery
/ drove me to madness and the deed
that then, even then, had but known,
I might have held high my head and
/ defied him. He thought the bond be-
tween US a mockery; he had planned
/ that 1t should be so. He had gold.
| Could II not buy him whatever he
would wish? So he reasoned; but the
mantle 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 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 free! Tell me, are you glad?"
Ere the pugslCldu duSWSFSQ, vi
sion rose before him. He saw two
women, in the silent night watches.
! standing face to face. He heard one
say, in voice which thrilled him now
as 1t 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, fool She had spoken truly
Ia fool, who had well nigh died for
her-a fool, whose pulses beat exuit-
antly at the wild, sweet hope held out
to him.
But there was price attached. He
knew it--knew 1t without need of
words. In what further depths of vii
liany must he plunge to work her,
will?"
why do you not speak, Richard?
Have lost my one last friend?
mot while life lasts, dearl do
not know II all men love as do. II
so, IT must be the crowning bliss and
torture of their lives. So II has
proven with me. In a few days hope
to be strong again. How can l serve