Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30

Sir Arthur must be told, suppose
he said tentatively, after an inter-
change Of sweet confessions and con-
fadences. S Sz E. .s
.'Oh, not yet, please" she pleaded.
''Not Tor few days. I feel so selfish,
enjoying all this happiness, when at
this moment poor Rick may be in trou.
BILE or in danger!" sI ,&E
''Counfound your Rick!" was Kane'a
inward objurgation, but outwardly he
was all sympathy and interest. /. ..a ~.
.5.:!''tWe must find him." he said, in
quietly confident tones. HE is my
brother now, you know" 4 rosy
blush flooded face and forehead al
these words, but timidly: seeking his
hand she exclaimed: = i - a. $$5.f.s;
IF you want TO make me sincerely
happy and leave no cloud between us.
you will find my brother! Then you
may speak to Sir Arthur as soon aa
you like!" nodding her head vivacious-
~. = II 3sIt. Z. - ..'>$. Il Is lE'%
r, ut is a bargain" Kane returned, and
with a farewell caress he took, his
leave, elated, happy, triumphant, a
better man in thought and intention
than he had ever been before.
Mounting his horse, he rode rapidly
through the park to Gatewood, and
found Marcia Churchill at home, by
whom he was graciousiy received as
a whilom acquaintance and now a
near neighbor.
After presenting his invitation to the
coming ball at The Cedars he preached
the second object of his call.
Miss Dysart was speaking about her
brother Richard this morning." he
said, land she wondered if I had ever
met him at the Cape. l could not re-
call him by name, but asked her for
photograph. She sent me here, saying
you possessed one taken since he went
abroad. May I see it?"
Surely" she said. II will get it
for you"
The abrupt naming Of Richards
name by comparative stranger un-
nerved this usually strong and self
contained nature, and her agitation
was perceived and noted by Rossiter
Kane, who drew his own sapient con-
clusions. ~
Marcia rose and went to side table,
saying the while, to cover her show of
feeling
1--WE were children together, Mr..
Kane, Kane. and we all love Richard very
She returned, bearing in her hand
a carte-de-visite, which she gave him,
saying simply:
Here is his latest picture 1t was
taken in Cape Town, as you see, nearly
two years ago." .:.
Kane took the bit of pasteboard, and
with ceremonious Pardon met" went
to the window the better to see.
1t was lucky for him that he did this,
and that his face was turned from Mar
cia's watchful eyes, quickened by love
and eager with hope deferred, for,
strong man and iron-willed as he was,
Kane staggered and would have fallen
but for timely grasp of the heavy
window-curtain.
He held in his hand the picture of
the face he remembered only too we'll
the features of which, distorted in
agony, were ever before him. branded
on his eyeballs in hues of fire night
and day, and which he had last seen
for few tragic moments in ruddy
glare by the Mooi river many months
before!
The sweat stood on his forehead in
great beads, and mist clouded his
vision. But the mans despotic will tri-
umphed, and pulling himself together
he faced inward again, his back to the
light, and said as quietly as he could:
mo; it is as I thought, Miss
Churchill, we never met"
The deliberate, cold-blooded lie
scorched his soul, for if his surmise
were correct, Richard Dysart was more
than life to the proud beauty who con-
fronted him.
"But I will have some inquiries
made" he went on, "and perhaps I
shall have good news for you soon''
To be Continued.