Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-06-18
Barbara Bretton's
e~Ambit,ion~~


eyes, the little, white teeth met upc1
the lip untl they drew drop CT blood
But. az that moment. the call boy an
Eounced Mss Bre.ton's cue. and.
STOPPING. she adjusted her train as she
swept from the room On 20 the stage
For a few moments the actress
seemed oblfviors OF the audience On
her part: then again her eyes dashed
in the direction II the box. and again
met the irnpaSsioned glance Of Travis
Meredith. who now was seated where
ne could devour her every uovem sat-
His cheeks were flushed az II with
wine. He had f0rgotse9 time. sc@ac.
place, IN the ungoyeTnable emotion
which had conquered him. No word
escaped his lips until the play was
ended; then he turned abruptly 10 his
friend
Take me to her-you have prom
fsed." he said.
Milton Lennox smiled, drew a slip
of paper from his pocket, and. writ
ing few words upon II, dispatched a
messenger with II behind the scenes.
Presently the messenger returned.
Miss Bretton's compliments, and
abe would be happy 70 have any
friends OF Mr. Lennox join her at sup
per"
"wiIl you go, Dick? II is unneces-
sary to ask Travis"
For moment the surgeon hesitated.
then accepted. and In another half
hour the carriage containing the three
young men stopped az Barbara Bret
TONS door.
For full ave minutes they awaited
her entrance In the pretty little parior
into which they had been ushered, but
Of the countless articles Of taste and
rarity scattered about the apartment
Travis took no heed. His eyes were
axed expectantly upon the do0r until
they rested once more upon her beauty
Ia beauty which, thus closely scrusi-
nized, seemed more wonderful than
when she stood upon the boards.
She had barely time 10 bid them
welcome, in her own gracious manner
Ia manner 10 which was added the
charm Of m0desty and refinement
ere supper was announced, and the
doors thrown open leading TO the din
ing room.
A small table. giittering with silver
ard glass. vas set for four. The host
ess. taking her place at the head, mo
TONED young Meredith TO her right
hand-the same hand which ever re-
pienished his glass ere its contents
were half drained.
But tonight IL was not the wine
which intoxicated him. A deeper
thought had gone to his brain. He ate
little or nothing. but he quenched his
thirst with the sparkling liquid. and
his passion with the light from her
eyes.
From across the table Doctor Hayes
glance foilawed every motion curious
ly; but Of this Travis needed nothing.
until, as the clock upon the manteI
chimed one, hls friends rose to their
feet He was the last 10 bid his host
ess adieu. For moment he was alone
with her.
Il may come again. he questioned
abruptly.
She darted seemingly surprised
look into his eager face
You wish II so much~ she replied
my life hangs on your answer"
She smiled.
1T is a young life to condemn so
easily. cannot be so cruel. Yes, Mr.
Meredith, you MAJ come"
For answer be raised her hand TO
his burning lips. pressed a kiss upon
IL, then, with a great wrench, tore him
self away.
49,. -, fan b.cHr a., az, n,g- chat
toying with her fan, dark perplexed
exposition crossing the beautiful face.
And has my power all gone?" she
questioned. HE left me tonight with
out so much as pressure OF the hand
he who but a short month ago lived
but In my smile. He win warn this
boy. too, OF that dark spot in my past,
which has arisen, like ghost from
it's grave to haunt me. I thought II
buried forever, and 10! when my hand
was outstretched to grasp at happi-
ness. its bony fingers shook Ii from
my grasp. But you do not yet know.
Milton Lennox, the woman whose love
you have dared throw back at her very
feet You have some interest in this
boy. You watched him closely to-
night. All. IL he can but feed my ann
biticn, through him wiz be avenged"
Then, with sudden thought. she
touched the silver bell at ba~ band.
In moment man rc.-,-sissly en-
tered and stood awaiting her COM
snands. Il was the valet who had
waited on them at supper.
Feline" began his mistress. athe
gentleman who sat at my right to-
night is stranger. BY tomorrow al
this time let me be fully appraised Of
all concerning him, anu see to 1t that
there Is no mistake! II, In the mean-
time, he calls, am not at home"
The valet bowed and withdrew.
Barbara rose, and, crossing the room,