The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-04


ing more than the finding of a mans
glove, apparently new, this having been
discovered on the pathway at TIE OPP
posite side and almost fronting OHve
Dumbarton's house. Mackworth re-
garded it with little interest, consider
/ Ing that If not belonging to the de-
! ceased, 1T was probably dropped by
some Individual in no way connected
with the crime.
The glove was however. placed with
} the articles found upon David Dunn
barton. and before the world OF Lon
} don was yet astir. Inspector Mack
worth was on his way to make IN
quiries concerning the deceased at the
address, copied from the envelope
found upon his person.
CHAPTER w.
After being with some difficulty re-
stored to consciousness, Mrs. Dunn
barton had, with the aid of an opiate.
fallen into profound sleep. from
which she did not wake until midday.
Opening her eyes, she stared Vacantly
before her as If striving to collect her
thoughts In some way understanding
that heavy misfortune had fallen on
her. while being yet unable to realize
its character or fathom Its extent. An
unbroken silence hung over the house.
ominous In its stiffness, and weighted
| with gloom, while the sun shone
searchingly. mockingly. as light that
penetrates the darkened chamber OF
death.
Moving her head she saw Veronica
seated beside her, pale from fright.
haggard with g7ief and her eyes meet
ing those OF the girls. the shape and
| color Of the latter in a flash brought to
| the startled woman's mind the eyes.
wild, fixed and CLASSY. into which she
had looked the previous night; when
| the recollection of that tragic scene In
| which she had played so terrible part.
rose wildly before her with all it's
| CHASTITY horror in the present. with all
| Its threatening terrors in the future.
| On meeting her glance, Veronica,
with wild and broken cry, had flung
herself on her knees and buried her
| head In the pillow. Olive Dumbarton
understood, and fresh and poinant
grief darted through her heart Then
bracing herself. she. in weak and
trembling voice. said:
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
/ The only answer she received was
| smothered sob, which shook the girls
! frame.
Veronica" her mother said, yet more
| gently and with infinite pathos in her
| tones, II am innocent"
| seconds breathless silence en-
| sued. then the girl, who never yet had
cause TO doubt her mothers word, lift
| ed her head, an expression of wonder
uent, infinite relief, and ecstatic joy
| upon her upturned face, her lips parted,
! her whole existence seemingly sus
| pended as she heard and realized that
( her mother was free from guilt. her
| soul unstained by bloodshed, that the
| woeful penalty of this crime could not
| fall upon her. that their hearts would
not be estranged or broken by grief,
| or their lives divided. or their name
| become blackened and made hateful
| before the world.
A burden that seemed unbearab BILE
| was suddenly lifted from the girls life,
| the darkness which had brooded over
| her soul was dispelled. her whole be-
! Ing. relaxed from torture and fear,
now vibrated with gratitude and de-
| light.
1T was not I, my child: you under
stand. l am innocent" Mrs Dumbarton
murmured.
Mother" Veronica exclaimed. fling
Ing her arms in transport of JOY and
gratitude that was not without re-
| morse. around her mothers neck, while
she kissed her pityingly. tenderly, low
| ingly.
Henceforth, whatever impression ap-
| pearances might produce upon others,
whatever conclusions they might draw
| from evidence, would have no influence
mothers word against all the world
| And oh, dearest, can you forgive
me?" she said with bitter self-re-
proach. How could I have thought it
was you who
You saw. What else could you
| Even as Mrs. Dumbarton spoke she
drew deep breath. all color quilted
| her cheeks. and her eyes closed The
excitement had been too much for her
strength; consciousness again deserted
| her. Veronica bathed her mothers
| n1ps with al 10 a.
a sitting position and chafed her hands
until presently she opened her eyes and
family smiled upon her daughter.
Now. mother dear. don't talk, and IL
| you can help 1t don't even think while
| go and order them to prepare some
breakfast
You believe me. Veronica? %
Mother" the girl said. infinite trust
and tenderest love expressed IN that
| one word.
| THANK God" Olive Dumbarfon MR.
INJURED.
Veronica kissed her again and again
before quitting the room. as IL In this
manner she would convey the faith and
1 affection which words failed her to ex-
! press.
To refrain from thinking was an ut
ter impossbility to that stricken
woman. though thought was absolute
pain. AS she lay there in the silence
and gloom. heartsick and despairing.
! the story of her life rose in black OUT
| lines against the lurid tragedy which
had crowned and intensified all her sor-
| rows.
An only child. worshipped by her
mother-her sole surviving parent-and
caressed by her friends, she had en-
| tered society when she should have
| been in the school room. And in this
world with which she HAD lorged to
mix, all things were bright in her young
sight. she not seeing 1t as stage where
man and woman meet Masked where
ltragedy wears smiles and sadness sings
4 loud, lest Its grief be disclosed; where
4 the voice OF truth sounds strange:
| where glare and excitement hide follv
and pretense. where human lives are
4 bought and sold for pay and place, and
souls caught in the whirl of passions.
/ descend to swift damnation.
Followed and admired. praised and
4 courted, as she was, society was to her
/ a land of enchantment and before her
4 second season ended che had whollv
given her heart to young lieutenant
Of Lanoers, but five years older than
! herself, handsome, daring, skilled polo
player, faultless in his dress, winninp,
4 In his speech, popular among women
hailed as good fellow among men.
Continued Next Weekly
No Toadyism Hero.
i Clyde Fitch, after long STAY In
Switzerland. has returned to his coun-
try house at North Coscob. Conn. He