The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-04-02


had intended, and she sat with her
hands clasped on her lap, the fingers
pressed tightly against each other
II was not thinking of my hold OIL
your father" Burt said. 81 own thai
/ do possess a power over him, but we
will talk as II that did not exist"
| A light sprang into Hates face. Had
she judged this man wrongly?
ooh, you are more generous than
thought" she exclaimed.
! He hesitated before he replied.
"Wait until you hear me before you
| judge of my generosity. Do you abso-
| lutely refuse to become my wife?"
Yes. You know that can answer
you In no other way"
Burt's face grew white as he
heard. n
do my unchanging love, my hopas
| in life, my whole future Happiness
count for nothing with your" he asked
! impetuously. Cannot my dcvOtIcn
move you? Can you not pity me? All!
you know nothing of the torments of
love you have made me endure"
His voice trembled with his excite
! ment. This time he caught one of her
hands and held 1t fast, pressed be-
tween his own.
"You make my refusal very painful
to me-" she said, unable to help feel
ing panied for him, but still speaking
coldly and Withdrawing her hand from
his clasp.
"Then l cannot move you from your
decision?" gazing at her with blazing
eyes.
mo. And let me entreat you not
to prolong this conversation. 1t is no
fault of your or of mine that I cannot
love you" g.
Burt rose from his seat, unable to
control himself longer. 49,
81 know whose fault it is, thought"
he cried 81 know it would have been
impossible but that you had finally
loved me we'll enough TO consent if~it
had not been for that cursed man
that Vance Rothesay!" =
The hate in the tone with which he
uttered that name made Kate shudder.
Dick Burt" she cried, also rising,
81 will not listen to you longer. Had
l never seen any other man In the
world 1t would have been impossible
for me to have loved you. Let me 80
now. There can be no further need for
me to stay"
She was walking out of the room,
when Burt placed himself before her,
his features betraying the rage that
was In his heart. ...
yes, there is great need for you 70
stay" he said, speaking in a calmer
voice than his features would have led
one to expect-"so much need that
must insist on your being seated"
He took hold of her arm and led her
back to her seat, and then went on,
standing before her.
Il suppose you will not deny now
that you love Vance Rothesay?"
IL deny that you have the least right
to question me-"
"At least i have the power to do
that, and various other things, as you
will soon find. / must say that did
Judge that you loved Rothesay from
seeing you on the beach with him one
night, about week ago.
There was nothing but fear for her
lover in Hates heart as she ex.
claimed:
mo matter what did. thank him
for this disabled arm; but that is the
very least have to thank him for. I
insist upon your telling me If you love
him! Let me hear the words from
your lips If it is So"
Hates eyes shone more sweetly than
Burt had ever seen them as she an
swered: F ~
Il am not ashamed Of my love. Since
you know so much-yes, love Vance
Rothesay" r
:, Burt stood motionless as he heard
her words, and his face became livid.
Il seemed to him that he had never
before so much desired her as now.
when he heard her avow this love for
Rothesay. He had felt sure Of it ever
since that night; still it was severe
blow to hear it thus.
Now, indeed he could form some
iuSd VI lAC way sue COulu ION6, IOT ner
face revealed even more than her
words
She bent her head to her hands, in.
stinctiyely feeling that her counte-
nance spoke of the deep emotion with
which she had acknowledged her love.
She could not bear that Burt should
look at her when she thought Of Roth
esay.
Does your father know this?" he
asked.
mo. 1t remained for you to compel
me to tell you" she said. Indignantly.
Burt, hardened and INSCRIPTIONS
Tough he was, hesitated to speak that
which he had come to speak. Still he
had great faith in the effectiveness of
the hold he knew he now had
Finally he said:
II ask you'll insist upon your lis.
tening attentively TO what say-you
know. of course, in what kind of po-
sition this Vance Rothesay stands now.
He is believed to have murdered Ralph
Caryl. Do you know how strong the
case is against him."
Il know there seems to be great rea-
son for those who do not know him to
suspect him." she replied, an underlined
feeling OF alarm growing up In her