Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-02-04
CHAPTER xxxvl.
a Secret.

A Secret.
The glowing Goals in the CRATE
crashed together; d lurid fame up
lesped: they darkened down.
Cynthia crouched little closer
against my lady, with a faint shudder.
How horribly am DEPRESSING! tho
latter went on. "Well, l will not pro-
long an account of the immediate
weeks which followed 1t was the old,
cid story-to youth forever new!
''He came to see me; he fell in love
with me. 7 did not lack suitors. There
was not vnnne noh,eman in Venice
could not have married had so chos-.
en-; but gave my heart, in impulsive,
passionate trust to him.
ut was a very sudden, reckless act
for mel was SO intensely proud. l
lad heard strangers speak of me as
Tie proud lady of Venice. Now only
valued my position, wealth, honor, for
bis sake. We were to be married in
November.
"As the time drew near. Give used
which he would arouse himself pale
onG moody proved.
We'll, we We're married and we
went to Rome to spend the winter.
took with me my faithful duenna. One
night, about a fortnight after our mar
riaee, we We're to go to certain grand
ball. | dressed, and came down stairs
quite early. l wore my bridal robe Of
snowy velvet all caught with clusters
OF white roses, and lit with diamonds
an empress might havesenvied.
II heard the front door open and
slam again. remember smiling at
the sound, for | thought of the tender
admiration which would dawn in his
eyes when he would first behold me.
He came hurriedly in and up to
where was standing by a huge, black
marble mantel. His bright blonde face
was perplexed and anxious. He caught
my hands so f1ercely in his own that
tho stones wore cut my fingers.
81 have been fighting battle! he
safd, ana he looked indeed as though
he had-sa horrible battle, and have
come out, defeated! Do you love ME
well enough to believe me when say
was, am, more weak than wicked?
Dc you love me we'll enough to trust
ne-in silence?'
"Of course answered him, as would
any young fool as blindly in love. as 1,
and more Economically pleased than
dismayed at the suggestion Of mys-
terry
Two years passed and we, weary of
wandering. came home to England.
Here, one year later, my son was born
another Give Darlington. You heard
the incident of which old Guialetta to.
day reminded me. Just then was,
firmly believe, the happiest woman in
England. | was handsome admired,
esteemed. ! had a magnificent home,
al adoring husband, a beautiful child.
One evening we were sitting alone
In The library, my husband and I. The
windows were open to the floor. The
moonlight Hooded the room. We had
just sent Baby Give to bed and were
recalling. with blithe laughter and bits
of nonsense our first meeting below
tbs RialtO when a servant brought in a.
CHESTER Of waxlights and the evening
mail. My husband opened the bag and
/ locked over his shoulder as he drew
OUT the contents. There was one let
ter addressed to him in q queer,
cTampea hand, and bearing the post
mark Paris There was nothing for
ne, so 1 sat down and watched him
open his mail.
AS he took up the particular mis-
sive had noticed. he started sudden
ly He tore 1t open and was on his
feet In a moment, with a haIf-repressed
cry. The sheet in his hand futtered
to the floor.
What is it?' cried. From whom
is it?s Y
Nothing no one on business"
he faltered.
~ stopped and snatched up the let
ter.
q have a right to know!' said. I.
will know!'
And before he could prevent me I
had held it in the full candle light; and
haG swept the page from the first word
TO the last. But Of all I read, one SEN
tcnae, one only, was branded on my
brain !, She with whom you left your
cor is dead. Shall we send him to
your
Il did not scream or cry out. ] was
too stunned for that. have told you
came of a race proud and fierce.
could feel my face growing cold as the
warm blood receded, but could also
feel every nerve In my body turning
to steel. I think he was afraid of me
just then when l turned and faced
HIM.
s5s 6 Now / said, tell me!
Fl never for one moment doubted the,
truth Of the words had read, not once.
And he told me.
Five years before he met me, he
had seen ON the boards Of q second
rate Partisan thea.er a girl with whoa
he became foolishlY. recklessly, infat-
.uated. She was very pretty and very
graceful and very ignorant. He made
ner acquaintance, and IN a moment Of
blind, boyish admiration, asked her 70,
marry lim She was only too glad Of
stho nrynOrfJinifv IN pxcha n 90 hfar tr,il.i