The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-22
ceryrish,lso by
I. Fitzgerald faalloy
swear by It's ability,

my novel nay have, dear" the author
ess replied, a panied expression on her
face. If it were, the first book Y had
written or the greatest rubbish
that was ever penned, 1t would
have the same sale. The pub
lie reads it out Of curiosity and in
the hope of discovering between the
lines some revelation OF & character
accused Of crime.
Vaierius turned abruptly away to-
ware that corner of the room where
the shadow was deepest, lest the emo
ton he was unable to restrain might
be p~erceDtibie, While Veronica blamed
herself for the bent which the con-
versation had taken.
George Bostock. who was not less
moved by her words than they, strove
TO extract from her mind some Of the
pain 1t felt. -
"You take too sweeping a view of the
matter" he said. Before this novel
was written o had already obtained
a wide circle of readers who became
your friends. This book has special
merits Of Its own, and you ma we'll
feel proud of having written it."
$50 you should. mother" added Yer
onica bravely.
Perhaps Olive Dumbay.on an
swered in her calm voice, with its I'M
dertone Of pathos. but now nothing
seems to touch me or to awake me
" eSiiSe "a llSlllS.H l. leGl lSOIdl6u,
one apart from the world; one to whom
nothing could ever restore what is
iost."
Mother, dearest" Veronica broke
out, tears starting to her eyes, and
coming forward she threw her arms
around her mothers neck and kissed
her lovingly.
George Bostock walked TO the win
dow, insulferable pain torturing him,
MS eyes fixed on the gloom beyond,
where the light had wholly faded.
i was wrong to say SO much" Olive
Dunbarton remarked presently, but
the words escaped me. You know
there are times when we must cry out
or die. And when I think of what
am accused"
Her face was white her eyes full
OF agony that appealed to those who
watched her, while her hands trembled
from excitement, and she could not
finish her sentence because or the fear
and misery that possessed her.
On, mother, mother, dearest" Yer
on1ca walled between the sobs she
sought to suppress.
Valerius came slowly forward from
the shadows, and by his countenance
might be judged the strong efforts by
which he strove to overcome the feel
:ngs which swayed him.
'Olive, you mustn't give away to dis
pn!-.' he said appealingly.
No no; l. was wrong, I know I was
wrcrg." she answered., the nervous
fwitchings around her white lips show
Ing she had not yet regained her COM
posure. But when 1 think that in six
weeks more the trial will begin and
that nothing has yet been discovered
20 throw any light on-my heart sinks,
my heart sinks" she said piteously.
Valerius remarked.
OR nothing" she reiOfned.
/ feel that in Il little while your in
nocence will be made plain before the
world her cousin said.
His words, slowly and deliberately
poken and accentuated by the solem-
nifty Of his manner, impressed her.
"How do you know" she asked in
an eager, agitated voice.
mountaineering her, Valerius lifted
MS clear blue eyes to those of George
Sostock, who, having advanced
'nofselessly from the window during the
conversation now stood within a short
distance Of them. For q second the
W men regarded each other with a
keen. liked and luminous glance during
which each strove to read the secrets
tor the others heart. Then Valerius,
whose lips parted as If to declare that
which he believed. and whose hand was
raised as If to d%enounce. suddenly fell
back a step from out the rudy glow
tof the freight. Looking toward him,
they could see the wilderness of his face
l.hrough the gathering gloom, and could
near mis- breath coming quick and heavy
through the painful silence that en-
4sued.
george Bostock was scarcely less dis
tufbed, though his control was greater.
With his eyes still seeking those which
mad 'gazed into his own, he persisted in
repeating the question Olive Dunbar
tonihad asked:
s1Ow do YOU know 90 Ha
answered Valerius, with a
faeSitating and ~trernulous voice, 81 am
sure OF what l say have seen Mack
worth, but I cannot say more"
sIhat is enough to give me relief"
Olive DumbartOn exclaimed.
you need nave no fear-no fear of
Shat," Valerius said, with emphasis, as
ne came Onward once more.
n to whom he spoke lay back in her
chair, from which she had half risen,
'her eyes closed, her lips moving.
Mother, dear, have I not always said
we have nothing to fear?" said the
girl.
You have, Veronica; ~ uncertainty
IL hard to bear
B u after what Valerius said, there
need be no more uncertainty" the girl
pleaded. looking to him for confrrna-
ton OF her words.
He W his head gravely. but with
out speaking, while looking at his
cousin. The expression in his eyes diff
Tered from that she had ever seen in
them before, SO full 1t was OF deter
mination, SO replete with anxiety, and
her heart felt moved with gratitude
because OF his sympathy.
Presently George Bostock. on whom
some sudden sense OF depression seemed
to have fallen, took his leave.
You will come and see me soon
again?" she said, shaking hands with
him.
Very soon." he replied.
Then shaking hands with Veronica,
and bowling to Valerius, who had moved
toward the end OF the room as If to
avoid him, George Bostock took his de-
parture.
His absence seemed to create an i'm
preston Of uneasiness. which an un-
broken silence only served to accen-
tuate.
Veronica, who was poised on an arm
OF her mothers chair, was the first to
speak.
"Have you noticed how gray mothers
hair he's greE=n she said
Il have" Valerius replied sadly.
1t Will soon be quite white" re-
crlarke the authoress.
Then 1t will be beautiful, deer. and
] shall like you all the better" the
girl remarked. but as yet it's only
siivery above the temples, where 1t was
turning gray before. Bring the lamp
nearer. ValeriI1a and VOL, win caat