The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-14


Love, / would not know II | could
Let me prove how wholly trust YOU.
so we were married; and one year
after, you were born. For a time |
thought that gaming my daughter
had lost my wife, so i'll was Margaret.
But at last, by slow degrees, she be-
gan TO improve.
Zone night, hurrying homeward,
hopeful and joyful. met in the surg
ing crowd my old Partisan roommate,
face to face. had barely time to note
the strange triumph in his eyes, the
exultant smile on his lips, when he
had dashed by me and was lost in the
busy street
81 went home, chilled with a strange
forboding. My wife was awaiting me.
Standing erect in the little room, her
eyes ablaze, her cheeks ahame with
excitement, she held an open letter
above her head.
'She held IL out to me as ! entered,
with a look in her eyes which will
haunt me dead. She did not speak a
word | took It. | read it. II was
the story of the three lost years of my
life. II was a minute and most hor-
rible account of the theft, the trial, the
galleys. 1t was signed, boldly and
legibly, with the old, familiar name.
Besides, | knew the writing. 1t was
that of the friend of my youth.
when | had finished reading it
looked up at Margaret. Whether it
was the prolonged strain of suspense,
or something she read in my face,
know not. but the feverish light fajed
from her eyes, the bright flush from her
cheek, and she reeled and fell like a
log at my feet"
"Well," Laurie gasped-well?"
There Is no more to tell. The ex-
element brought Oh fever-fever,
DEATH"
The clock or the mantel tolled. sill
very, ten.
at killed her. papa?"
AYE, it killed herl"
The night wind stole in, soothing
the sick man with his touch--cool,
caressing, infinitely refreshing, till he
fell into light sleep.
The night was passed. A chill wind
swept by the window. A cold gray
ness crept into the air. The light of
morning was deepening in the East
when Laurence Lisle woke from his
restless slumber.
He started up in bed with strange,
fierce restless energy. And you knew
his trouble had been with him in his
dreams-so quickly, SO impulsively
he spoke
"A life ruined he cried-"blasted
and ruined! A fair life-a goodly life
blasted and ruined! And ali be-
cause of one boy-ah, no, no! one
man. He is man now. All because
of him. He sent me to the galleys!
He murdered my wife, my darling!
He murders the future of my child.
Revenge! Revenge!"
His daughter flung herself on her
knees beside the bed.
NO" she pleaded. Vengeance is
Gods. MOI"
But life was strong in him; the
flame was flaring luridly before 1t went
out forever.
Swear" he cried, passionately, his
voice ringing and resolute and hor-
ridly distinct in the solemn dawn.
swear! swear II ever he should cross
your path to deal to him, as far as is
in your power, the merclless rigor Of
the old Mosaic law-'an eye for an
eye, tooth for TOOTH Swear!"
He is delirious his mind is wan
dering," the girl murmured, piteously.
looking up at the doctor, who had Just
entered.
He shook his head gravely.
No, he answered, "he is quite con-
scious."
"Swear!" repeated a hollow voice.
| with passionate yehemence
Slowly Laurie rose to her feet. She
was shuddering sharply like one
chilled to the heart. She had not TAX.
en- time to change her dress. She still
wore the soft white lawn. with its gay,
| rose-colored ribbons, she had donned
| the previous morning.
"Oh, cannot" she murmured, faint.
/ IL. 1T is too DREADFUL cannot!"
A dark flush, born of irritation,
| suTged over her fathers face.
The physician started forward In
! alarm.
"You are Fastening the end by this
contradiction he cried impatiently.
you may never meet the person OF
whom he speaks. Promise-gratify
him! tits his last request!"
His last request! And how he had
loved her! How he lad worshiped and
| adored her every word and look and
| action since she was wee, motherless
child. And this was his last request
and she-yes, she would grant It.
What was this man to her that she
should spare him? this man who had
wrought her such bitter. such irrepar.
able wrong?
The imploring lips were growine
rigid: the wistful. hungry eyes glazed
| In death.
LAUREL he entreated.
Was 1t a sense of foreboding Of the
infinite evil to be that made the girl
pause In that blind, bewildered way
and put up one hand to her throat, as
II the coming words were choking her
Il swear!" she painted.
| a swift, strong Joy flashed over the
2. -. ~