The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-03-11

Df. Leighton twisted the last words
lnto a question, and his patient, Lieut.
ehant General Sir James Vincent, X
Z. -, answered ref1ectively:
NO, l don't think so. Unless-well
l certainly was a good deal worried
some weeks ago. l found out that my
valet, an Italian fellow who had beer
win me Tor years, was robbing me. 1t
was a hateful business, and l dare saw
II affected me more thar l knew.
BUT, I've nothing to worry me at
present. In fact, l doubt If there's q
more contented man in London. Thank
you, very much, doctor. Good day.
doctor was so we'll over, Sir James
rejected, he would tell Muriel all about
directly he reached home. He had not
limited to her of his intention to con-
suit a specialist, for she was ALWAYS
inclined to be nervous about his health,
and he dreaded frightening her.
Every day Sir James Vincent
thanked heaven afresh for his wife's
love. He had never dreamed, until he
met Mur.el Adair, what happiness the
world might contain, and who was he
plain John Vincent-to deserve such
untold good fortune? Their marriage
had been a veritable mating of Nav
with December, for Muriel was only
rs n he was So. Society had laughed
IN Its sleeve when their engagement
was announced, and had %prophested
that he match would end in the usual
llasco. lie. had known 1t as well as If
the words had been spoken to him
dlrect, Tor certain sentiments may be
read in eyes and manner, and do not
require clothing in speech.
Murlels sympathy would be delight
Jul after the ordeal of the morning.
He opened the door with his latchkey
and passed upstairs to her boudoir;
put, to his disappointment, it was emp
~. He rang the bell, and was told
that her ladyship had gone out about
an hour ago. Sir James glanced at the
small ormolu clock. A quarter to one
then she would be home directly. He
moved around the room, noting fond
~ how the dafntiness OF it reflected
his W1fes presence. The window was
thrown wide to admit the June breeze
ard sunshine. Muriel loved sunlight
shS always said she would rather live
With q faded carpet than lose the sun.
On every side were roses, and the air
was fragrant With their breath. Sir
James paused, and buried his face in
the bowl placed upon the writing ia
Die. Raising 1t again, his eyes fell
on the last sentences of a letter in
Murie!s handwriting, lying there half
f1nished:
Life has grown terrible, Eric. l
never thought I should feel like this.
All day l have to act a part, lest he
should suspect, and that would be
see you l think it would help me bear
It'll"
Eric! OF course, it must be the
young fellow who had rcjoined his regi-
ment in India soon after their mar
riage. He remembered MurIel saying
one day that she had known Eric
Browne Yer since they were children.
Sir James moved to the window, still
with that strange look in his eyes, and
watched the stream OF traffic, the laden
busses, the feet hansoms, the children
running ahead of their nurses in their
eagerness to reach the Park.
What a remarkably vivid dream his
was, and what a ~singularly disagree
able mel! All at nce he was conscious
Of the rustic Of silken skirts, the fall
Of light footsteps flying up the stairs.
and Lady Vincent ran into the room,
glowing roses in the belt Of her white
dress and roses nodding IN her hat.
Jim, dear. I'm SO sorry l was out
when o came in. Baxter says you
asked for me-" She slipped her hand
through his arm, and looked up In his
face with those wonderful eyes which
had first captured his heart. why,
o look-tired. Aren't you feeling
well, dear?" The note of anxiety in her
voice was torture. Il have to act a
part all day, lest he should suspect
Oh. why had not leighton given him
his death warrant that morning? At
least. it would have made the situation
less intolerable. Yet he heard himself
thanks; I only wondered where you
We're"
Suddenly another question darted
into her brain. Taking her courage in
both hands, she forced herself to break
the silence.
Have you-have you had bad news,
JiIn?'
Sir James turned round with a queer
sort of smile.
Bad news? NO, I don't think so.
It's always a good thing to learn the
truth. isn't .t?'
you don't look as If you had found
it a good thing" said Lady. Vincent,
Don't L? Then my looks belle me.
There is the g~ong-shall we go down."
Before getting into bed Lady Vim
cent drew the curtain aside, and i'm
mediately the moonlight flooded the
room. She looked up %piteously at the
paSoio1IlCFsso ohS iSliiCNSa 81 aOoNS
human sorrow and pain. She could
not cry, she could not even think CO.
herently; she only knew that the world
was suddenly cruel and wholly out of
course. Presently she let the curtains
fall and again creDt into bed, and lay
there staring wide-eyed Into the dark
ness.
One ray Of Moonlight cut the darkness
like a thin strip OF steel, but on either
side she could distinguish nothing but
intangible shadows. Stay! Had one Of
the shadows stirred? Her jewelry was
kept in an inner cupboard in the wall,
but the shadow was either in ignorance
Of this fact or had no concern with jew
els. It was moving stealthily, steadily,
toward the side of the bed where her
husband lay; her strained ears could
Just detect the almost noiseless pres
sure of feet. 1t crossed the narrow
strip of light, and-was that the blade
of a knife which CLEANED like silver in
the moons rays?
Lady Vincent leaped up and sprang
across her husbands sleeping form.
Great heavens! What's the matter?"
Sir James, reused thus uncerenonious-
ly from his slumbers, switched on the
electric light, to see his wife clinging
with both hands to the wrist of a man
whose fiugers clutched a knife, Sir
James was out Of bed I'm one bound.
Keep off, Muriei! keep off" he
and. catching the man by the