The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-11

her enter.
Hearing none, she turned the handle
and went In. How warm and cosy
and bright II looked, despite the dreary
day without, this dainty rest OF blue
and silver.
The long, shining curtains were still
undrawn. A subdued light still fell
from a rosy globe and left the room In
soft semi-shadow.
She went softly across to the bed
the pretty, snowy bed, with its bars OF
polished silver, its azure canopies. its
linen and lace and delicate embroider-
les.
She started as she drew the curtain
backward. Asleep? Aye. asleep as no
criminal ever slept since the world be-
gan!
such a child" Cynthia whispered.
And she did look happy child as
she slept so calmly.
One little, slender hand lay on the
rich coverlet, the other rested lightly
on her bosom, which rose and fell with
its soft, even breathing.
There was a cleaning tangle OF SUM-
ny hair curling about the white fore
head. The long black lashes lay upon
a cheek just family flushed with rose.
The exquisite iips were haif-parted,
half-smiling.
Even as Cynthia stood regarding her,
strange radiance seemed to fit
across the sweet, young face. She
moved as she spoke.
"Clive," she murmured, tenderly,
"she--is true to you-the girl-you
left--behind-"
And then, the dark lashes lifted them
selves languidly. the blue, beautiful
| eyes looked up like morning glories
in the summer time.
| AS Cynthia met their glance, she
smiled back the happiness she saw
| there.
Get up!" she laughed. "Oh, you
lazy Laurie!"
But the girl put up her hands and
covered her face with shiver Of pain.
She remembered!
For moment neither spoke. Then
she sat suddenly erect.
| 81 remember" she said, slowly. 81
am under surveillance for the crime OF
murder. How strangely 1t sounds
IL"
Hurry and dress!" Miss Lennox
commanded. And the girl looked UP in
quick amaze as she noted the depressed
excitement in the usually grave voice.
Il have something to tell you-some-
thing very important"
"Miss Lennox," Laurie said, some
minutes later, turning round from the
mirror before which she had been
| brushing out her masses of sun-bright
hair. you have twice called me by my
name. Do you believe me-that l am
she whom l say | ann"
| Cynthia did not shrink before the
gaze of those clear, questioning eyes.
Eyes," she answered, 81 dol"
THANK you'll" she said, quietly.
And Cynthia noticed that she ac-
cepted the admission with the gracious
but unelated pride with which queen
might have accepted the surrender OF
| rebel whose homage was her simple
due.
Something In that easy grace OF
bearing touched her generous spirit
with sense of intense pleasure.
She went swiftly up to the girl and
took the face. all framed In loose,
feathery hair, In her hands and kissed
ii.
"Yes," she said, heartily, 81 believe
you. You are such a wife as Give
Darlington would have chosen among
thousand. You would have honored
Blackcastle and honored him. Come!
you can finish your toilet later. Sit
right down here. ! must tell you'll"
Wondering little, she did as she
was hidden.
And Cynthia, standing before her,
pale and handsome, and Accordingly
eager. began to speak.
She talked well, rapidly, earnestly,
as she told the story Lady Darlington
had so lately told her.
Her dark eyes dilated as she pro-
ceeded; hot glow came into her
cheek. And when she reached the tale
the maniac had recounted In the libra.
ry of Blackcastle. her auditor sprang
TO her feet with a sharp cry.
The faint rose in her cheek had
deepened to crimson. Her eyes were
flashing like blue flame. The light of
great joy--wild, wonderful, sublime
was breaking upon her in sudden
splendor.
"Then 1t was not he!" she cried, and
flung out her hands In swift and pas
sionate ecstasy. II have not sinned
against my father in loving him! II
was not he! Oh, how could ! have
been so base as to doubt you, my own
love-my dear love? Forgive me. for
give met"
Whom did you doubt?" Cynthia
asked. Whom did you think had
wronged your father?"
She lifted her face, still all alight
with that glorious radiance.
"Whom" she painted. why, Clive!
swore to hate him; strove to hate
him-the man who had made my
father and me things to be Stunned!
thought 1t was he-God help me-!
But could not-ah, could not! New.
er for one moment did cease TO love
him-never for one moment. oh, thank
heaven, 1t was not he-my lover, my
, darling!"
"Sit down." Miss Lennox said, gen.
thy. "You are shaking like leaf,
. child. Sit down! Let me tell you the
rest"
anh M moi" che r,urr,urad droar.