The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-11-25

She was aware that her solicitor
George Coris, was a man of ability and
resource; that her counsel, Sir Charles
falling and Justice TwiNley, stood al
the head and front of their profession:
that Mackworth the detective was a
man who, in the course of years of eN-
perience, had trained his natural gifts
to a rare point of perfection, and. she
strove to inspire herself with hope at
the thought hat they were working
for her with might and will. Nor was
she wanting friends. No day passed
that George Bostoclk 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 Brindisi
that, having just heard the terrible
news, he was on his way back to Eng
lnad.
1t was late one evening-while Olive
Dumbarton and her daughter We're in
the drawing room, the former seated in
a high backed cas- chair gazing alb
sently into the fire, her thoughts full
of the future-that dreaded unknown
future which might hold untold terrors
" AiS Sihi Aho w - oaN
being unable to confine her mind to
her subject, her eyes raising themselves
continually, anXiouSly, pitifully toward
her mothers pale face when Valerius
Galhratth was announced. Both started
at the sound Of his name, m looking
up, kept their eyes fixed on him with
something of surprise in t~heir'expres-
sion; Tor 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 We're
for the first time visible in his face;
that sedulous care of his personal APP
pearance, which formerly gave the i'm
preston of elegance, was now conspicu-
Gus by Its absence, and he ooked every
year of his age.
"Olive," he exclaimed, grasping her
extended hand in both his own, and if
the woman he addressed had not al
ready recognized in his altered aspect
the deep concern he felt for her, she
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 ever
shown her since the days when they
We're young together, n life that
seemed %unclouded then lay bright be-
fore them.
II knew you would come back, and I
am glad you have" she said.
"Of course, 1 returned the moment
1 heard of--of this terrible affair."" he
replied, ~hesitating, perhaps out of deli
cacy to her feelings to use the stronger
! uyNri v,hjoh 1aSoriho1 DoI,jI D,,r,1,o--
toms end.
II sent a telegram to Paris the day
after it happened"
Il had left by then. 1t was in Brin-
dist I first read Of his death. You can
imagine the shock 1 received. 1 have
as Don as I could, and only reached
town a couple of hours ago."
II suppose you have heard all!'
All that the newspapers could tell
me-"
about the c%oroner's court and the
verdict?" she said in a troubled voice.
Yes, yes" he answered, struggling
with 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, Valerius," she said in a
hesitating voice, did you at first, even
for a moment, think I was guilty?"
You guilty?" he cried out. Never,
never. l knew o were innocent" Z
ut makes me almost happy to hear
you say so; to know that my friends
don't believe me guilty. You are aware,
Of course, a circumstances are all
against me?"
Isl 1 gather. But let me hear ALL"
There is little to tell that you have
not already read" h began by saying,
n she went over the details of the
case which were over present in her
mind, dwelling on the narrow compass
which surrounded the ease and seemed
to fasten the guilt upon her.
Then there's no absolute clew?"
mot that 1 know OF, at least" Olive
Dumbarton replied.
Except the knife" suggested Nero-
MICA.
"The knife 2" Valerius repeated, turn
ing toward the girl.
II had forgotten that Olive re-
marked. "Mackworth, the detective
hopes it may be help him to discover
the owner"
But there is nothing else to &c
upon?" he asked.
Nothing at present." Olive answered
and something In the SOUND of her soice
trayed the depths of that despair to
which at moments she was driven.
He who was sensitive to every Attic
ton in her tones. to every change In
her expression, heard and saw, and
now understood clearer than before the
keeness of the pain she secretly SUI
fcred beneath the bravery of her man
ner. His heart was wrung, and over
come by a sudden wave of feeling. he
buried his head in his arms, which were
folded on the table before him. They
who watched him with dim eyes anc
troubled minds saw this strong mans
shoulders rise n fall as he struggled
with himself for mastery of his emo.
tions, n Veronica. unable to bear tn,
sight, left the room abruptly, that sh,
might cry more freely when alone.
Olive Dumbarton, deeply touched b,
what she saw with much difficulty re.
Trained from breaking down completely
She had known her cousin loved her
though she had not returned his love
but had not previously suspected tn,
fulness Of its strength which he now
though by no word of his revealed t.