Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-05-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Purcelis.


Kate Purcell, left in that little house
by the sea-left to eat her heart with
anxiety and grief--with stern self-re-
proceedings that she should not think
of Vance Rothesay as he deserved
lived on, hearing all sorts of rumors
about him-his female companion, his
fight, his capture, the part Dick Burt
had played.
Among the people in that small fish
ing hamlet Rothesay was scoundrel
beyond all words to express. and Kate
was compelled to hear all their talk
and surmises when they came in, at
any hour of the day.
A thousand times she had thanked
heaven that no one knew or guessed
among the neighbors that she loved
4he man who had been Ill there.
And when one Of the tishermen's
wives, standing in the doorway gos-
siping, had said. Il guessed at the
time, Kate, as how 'twould be jes'like
you to fall in love with him, an Slip
Dict Burt; but it's mighty lucky you
didn't" then Kate had been able to
prevent even passing blush from
staining her white face,
She knew that, thanks to Burt's
management. all the neighbors thought
she was to marry him. and she did not
think it worth while to dispute her
visitors words then.
She endured all these things, and
many more. She read in the papers
how Rothesay had been taken to Bos-
ton to await his trial. and how no one
bad any doubts about his guilt.
But somehow 1t did not get into the
papers that the woman with him was
his sister, and Vance Rothesay was
made out to be the most deep-dyed
pleasure of bouncing upon for long
time.
And Hates father now showed signs
Of being more weakened than ever.
They were very poor. for he neglected
his work entirely, and Kate had al
ready sold all the articles she owned
of any value. to procure food for her
father and herself.
Formerly Charles Purcell had kept
his work Of digging for treasure a Sc
cre;. but now he cared not to conceal
his purpose, and any time he might
be seen digging as if for his life in the
Soil and sand that lay about the rocks
near the water.
lie feverishly turned up the ground
for yards and yards near the rock
whore he had begun to work.
He could not bear to leave foot
chat he did not dig upon, feeling sure
that II he only persevered he could
succeed.
Kate knew that some Of the men
talked of carrying him off to hospital
or asylum, but she begged them not to
do so as long as he did no harm to
any one.
But how can you support him and
yourself, too?" they asked, and she
had said, Il can try and in few
days she was busy every spare mo-
mont upon what they called "slop
work"
Coarse vests lay about the room, and
her nimble fingers hurried over them,
gaining poor enough pay when all was
done. But the money thus gained suf-
eced to support them.
You won't have to do that long,
Kate her father said one night, after
he had eaten his supper, and as he
saw Kate take up one and begin sew
ing. Before the week is out you will
De rich woman"
Thus he had talked for some time.
It was always before the week is
out"
Now Kate laid down her work and
went and stood beside him, saying:
Will nothing persuade you to stop
that fruitless work." she asked.
"Fruitless. That's as much as a
woman knows of anything" was the
almost angry response Cant you
put up with little prvation for few
days. l should like to know"
You know it's not that" she began,
when he interrupted her, exclaiming:
Il know Caryl never cared who suf-
fered if he only had money ene/lgh.
He cheated me ut of everything and
could get no case against him! He
knew how to do it,"
Purcell got up from his chair and
hurried back and forth in the room,
wringing his hands. his eyes growing
wild in their expression.
Kate was alarmed. She had never
seen him like this before, and she had
no idea what ne meant by using the
name of Caryl thus
When the young man came here 1
was going to treat him we'll enough.
and ne had the same winning ways his
father had but he hadn't so much of
the devil in him. But the sister-the
woman Caryl-she's a chip from the
old woman. She's got the same dev-
1lish CLEAN in her eyes sometimes that
her father had
when | found that bit of paper in
that chest that held the baby's skele-
ton. ] believed it was Caryl's writing.
though never showed | thought any
thing. That was a deed done before
I knew him, If twas his deed. You
never knew it, Kate. but twas the