Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-11-25
cspyrish, 1901 b.
T. Fitzgerald MaIioy

raining ana justice IWlxleys Slood a.
the head and front OF their profession
that Mackworth the detective was 6
man who, in the course OF years OF e
perience. had trained hts natural gifts
TO a rare point OF perfection, and she
strove TO inspire herself with hope al
the thought that they were working
for her with might and will. Nor was
she wanting friends, No day passed
that George Bostock did not visit her
bringing words OF cheer and counsel
And many OF those who In the past
professed TO esteem her. now called
upon her, though to none OF them was
she visible; while her cousin Victorious
had telegraphed to her from Brlndisi
that, having just heard the terrible
news, he was on his way back 10 Eng
mad.
1t was late one evenlng-while Olive
Dumbarton and her daughter were In
the drawing room, the ormer seated in
a high backed Easy chair gazing abb
sently into the fire. her thoughts full
OF the future-that dreaded unknown
future which might hold untold terrors
for her. the girl striving TO read, but
being unable to confine her mind TO
her subject. her eyes raising themselves
continually, a~nxiously, pitifully toward
her mothers pale face when ValerfuS
Galbratth was announced. Both started
at the sound Of his name, n looking
up, kept their eyes fixed on him with
something OF surprise In their express
sion; for even In that first glance they
saw how changed was the man before
them from him who had parted from
them little more than a week before.
The freshness and buoyancy which
had been his chief characteristics had
given place to an expression of pain
and anxiety; his prominent blue eyes,
which had ever sparkled with pleasure,
were now clouded by grief; lines were
for the first time visible in his face;
that sedulous care of his personal NJ
pearance, which formerly gave the i'm
preston Of elegance, was now ~conspicu-
GUS by its absence, and he looked every
year of his age.
"Oltye,'' he exclaimed, grasping her
extended hand in both his own, and IL
the woman he addressed had not all
ready recognized In his altered aspect
the deep concern he felt for her, she
would have heard II in the tremulous
tones OF his voice, and understood.
Her heart was touched with grati-
tude because Of the grief he felt for
her, and she remembered with a sad
satisfaction the affection he had eyer
shown her since the days when they
were young together, and life that
seemed unclouded then lay bright be-
fore them.
II knew you would come back, and I
glad you have" she said.
"Of course, / returned the moment
/ heard of--of this terrible affair." he
h~esitating. perhaps out of deli
cacy to her feelings to use the stronger
which described David Dunbar
end.
Il sem a telegram to Paris the day
after Ii happened"
Il had left by then. 1t was in Brin-
dist / first read OF his death. You can
imagine the shock l received. / have
hardly slept since. Then 1 came back
as con as ] could, and only reached
town a couple Of hours ago"
II suppose you have heard all?"
"All that the newspapers could tell
About the coroner's court and the
verdict? ?" she said in a troubled voice.
Yes, yes" he answered, struggling
his emotion. ITS terrible TO think
that you should suffer this--you who
would not injure any living thing you
who have already endured so much"
TELL me. yalerius.'' she said in a
nesitating voice, did you at first, even
,or a moment, think | was guilty7'
You guilty?" he cried out. Never,
never. / knew you were innocent"
1T makes me almost happy to hear.
a SO; TO know that my friends
don't believe me guilty. You are aware.
IF course, that circumstances are all
me ?"
so / gather. But let me hear all"
There Is little 10 tell that you nave
already read" she began by saying,
md she went over the details of the
Ease which were ever present in her
mind, dwelling on the narrow compass
which surrounded the case and seemed
20 faSten the guilt lInon- han-
s"Then there's no absolute clew?"
mot that / know of, at least Olive
replied.
Except the knife" suggested yero-
Mica.
"The knife?' valerius repeated, turn
Ing toward the girl.
II had forgotten that" Olive re-
marked. "Mackworth, the detective
Il may be help him to discover
the owner"
"But there is nothing else 10 SO
upon?v he asked.
.Nothing at present. Olive answered
and something in the sound OF her voice
and in the expression OF her face be-
the depths OF that despair TO
at moments she was driven.
He who was sensitive to every afliic-
tA0Ak III iva 4 ~ &644l6G al
her expression, heard and saw. and
now understood clearer than before the
keeness of the pain she secretly sur
fered beneath the bravery OF her man
ner. His heart was wrung, and over
come by a sudden wav OF feeling, he
his head In his arms, which were
folded on the table before him, They
who watched him with dim eyes and
troubled minds saw this strong mans
shoulders rise and fall as he struggled
with himself for mastery of his emo
tions. and Veronica. unable TO bear the
sight. left the room abruptly, that she
might cry more freely when alone.
olive Dumbarton, deeply touched by
what she saw, with much difficulty re-
from breaking down completely.
She had known her cousin loved her,
though she had not returned his love,
but had not previously suspected the
fulness Of Its strength which he now.
though by no word oil his revealed to
her. Before she had regarded him as
merely q man OF the world. who per-
sistentIy sought pleasure and avoided
pain; one OF a kindly and gentle dispo-
sltion, pleasant and sympathetic, whose
feelings. lying ON the surface. had no
deep roots stretching down and taking
n Arm grin in the heart. Now. III one
OF these unexpected moments OF emo
tton. when the soul Is suddenly re-
vealed. she saw how wrong was her
aupposition. and she recognized how
little she had understood him.
"Yaierius." she said gently, placing
one hand on afE shoulder.
He quickly raised his face, whith
was quivering from excitement and