The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-12-23
'They swear by its abiiitv.'


They swear ny it's ahitisy,''
IT always mas praised mother III
girl continued. and RON see her sue
cess
That Is not because Of any meri
my novel may have. dear the author
ess replied. a panied expression on he
fa9e. ii it Were. the first book | ha,
written or the greatest rubbisl
thai was ever renned, it woul'
have the same sale. The pub
he reads it out OF curiosity and il
tse hope of discovering etwee tn
lines some revelation OF i eharacte
accused of crime.
Vaierius turned abruptly away to.
ward that corner of the room wher,
ehc shadow was deepest. lest the emo,
tion ne was unable TO restrain migh
Ne perceptihle. While Veronica blamed
herself for the bent which the con
yersat,on had taken.
George Bostock. who was not less
moved by her words than they. strove
10 extract from her mind some of The
pain II felt.
You take too sweeping a view of the
was written you had already obtained
a wide circle of readers who became
jour friends. This book has special
merits of its own and you nay we'll
feei proud of having written it"
SO you should, mother" added Yer
onica bravely.
Perhaps Olive Dumbar:on an
sWered IN her calm voice, with its un-
dertone OF pathos. But now nothing
seems 10 touch me or TO awake me
to a sense Of living. l feel isolated:
one apart from the world: one To whom
nothing could ever restore what is
lost"
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
COW, snsufferable pain t~orturing him,
ais eyes fixed on the gloom beyond.
where the light had wholly faded.
4 was wrong to say so much" Olive
DumbaIton remarked presently. but
the words escaped me-. You know
there are times when we must cry out
or Gle. And when I think of what
am accused"
Her face was white her ewes full
OF agony that appealed TO those who
watched her, while her hands tremlied
from excitement, and she could not
misery that possessed her.
oh, mother. mother, dearest" Yer
onica walled between the sobs she
sought to suppress.
saierlns came slowly forward from
ahe shadows. and by his countenance'
e &c Jdti6Cu tilG SlIOHG EFFORTS =bV
which he strove to overcome the feel
::pss which swayed him.
-Dflve, you mustn't give away to dis
pn.-.' he said appealingly.
NO. no; L was wrong, l know 7 was
.rrcrg." she answered, the nervous
sr7ichings around her white lips show
ms she had not yet %regained her conf
Dosure. But l think that in six
weeks more the trial will begin and
mat nothing has yet been discovered
90 throw any light on-ny heart sinks.
my heart sinks" she said piteously.
Tnlerius remarked.
"ur nothing" she rejoined.
reel that In a little while your in
nocencs will be made plain before the
word" her cousin said.
HIS words. slowly n deliberately
x and accumulated by the solem-
NIFTY OF his manner, impressed her.
How do you know?" she asked in
an eager, agitated voice.
Seiore answering her. Valerius lifted
Ass clear blue eyes to those of George
sossock, Who, having advanced
loiseiessiy from the window during the
conversation, now stood within a short
distance of them. For a second the
TWO men regarded each other with q
Keen. axed and luminous glance during
which each strove to read the secrets
% the others heart. Then valerius,
Shose lips parted as IL to declare that
which he believed, and whose hand was
raised as IL to d%enounce, suddenly fell
sack a step from out the ruddy GLOW
81 the fireight. Looking toward him
Saey could see the whiteness of his face
anrongh the gathering gloom. and could
near MS breath coming quick and heavy
through the painful silence that an.
sued.
George Bostock was scarcely less dis
's0foed, though his control was greater.
With his eyes still seeking those which
had gazed into his own. he persisted in
ION had asked:
How do you know"
Know" answered Valerius. with a
and tremulous voice. II am
nora OF What say have seen Mack
worth, but l cannot say more"
That is enough to give me relief"
Olive Dumbarton exclaimed.
you need have no fear-no fear of
shat." Valerius said. with emphasis, as
Do came forward once more.
She to whom he spoke lay back in her
chair. from which she had half risen.
aer eyes closed. her lips moving.
Mother. dear, have 1 not ALWAYS s,id
ssr. isar SAD the 5
you have. Veronica; but uncertainty
1t lard to bear"
But after what yalerius said. there
heeo De no more uncertainty" the girl
pleaded. looking to him for confirma-
shon of her words.
We bowed his head gravely, but with
out speaking, while looking at his
sousin. The expression in his eyes diff
sered from that h had ever seen i'm
shem before, 50 full it was of deter
50 replete With anxiety, and
heart felt moved with gratitude
because of his sympathy.
Presently George Bostock, on whom
some sudden sense of depression seemed
10 have fallen, ook his leave.
You will come and see me soon
She said. shaking hands with
MIN.
Very soon" he replied.
Then shaking hands with Veronica,
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
of uneasiness, which an I'M
broken silence only served to accen-
nate.
Veronica, who was poised on an arm
81 her mothers chair, was the first TO
speak.
Have you noticed how gray mothers
hair has groWn?' she said.