The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-07-13
CHApTER xX.@Continued.l

IST, dnu uON CiOccig ~ Cfl w Diha
the members OF the family together, and
how isolated her position was In conse-
quence. There was q letter from her
maiden aunts the next morning, a little
less loving than usual, a little reproach-
full, a great plea for her prisoner hus-
band on its closely written pages. He
says he is wasting 20 a shadow, and
weary-oh, so weary-of waiting, and
watching. and hoping. almost against
hope, for the letter from you that never
comes. Why do you not write to him,
Maggie? Surely you should write to
your husband-for he Is still your hus-
band, though he is In a prison CELL
And then had come many inquiries
and speculations that made her very
thoughtful and uneasy. She had almost
forgotten his existence, in her butterfly
life; but now that she was a little neg
lected, she began to think how very true
this was, and that it was rather hard
for George, poor fellow; and she would
write to him-not just now, but at a
more convenient season.
So she tripped downstairs, meeting
Mrs. Benson, the Scotch h~ousekeeper,
with her white, hard face, ard shadow
less eyes, and light eyebrows, and passed
on, thinking what a very disagreeable
looking woman she was.
And the h~ousekeeper looking after her,
too, with her thin lips compressed, and
a curious smile on her face, picks up a
letter Maggie has dropped in her hurry,
and, looking furtively around, puts IL in
her pocket.
The callers are very numerous to-day,
and many are the conjectures Of the
cause Of the quarrel. There is a great
sinking at Mrs. Cholmondely's heart, as
she sits listening to the story of one OF
Ernest's brother officers, who softens it
down marvelously, but only succeeds in
showing her the state of her sons heart.
II have made a terrible mistake" she
says to herself, as she sits in the twi-
light. She has no confidnnt, this proud
woman, and SO she with her
own heart, and thinks over what Is best
to be done. Should she send Maggie
away, the mischief would be increased,
Tor she knew well her sons temper would
prompt him to resent such a proceeding
bitterly, and to the rest she could not
lay bare the secret of her heart.
II is a very cheerless evening, for
Maud Is silent and sad, and Mrs. Chol-
mondely thoughtful and taciturn. SO
they retire early; and, presently, a tap
at Maggie's door.
"Come in.' says Maggie; and, in an
wer to her invitation, Mrs. Benson, with
n vacant look, sas, 'Oh, I beg pardon,
Miss Duncombe, but / have picked up q
letter on the stairs and l see it is adj
dressed to you"
Thank you, Mrs. Benson" returns
Maggie, with a pale face, and an In
steady voice; Il did not know l had
dropped it. Good night" And the
housekeeper leaves the room.
She sits down, and looks into the
bright fire, with the letter in her lap;
and says, with a little shiver. What
dreadful carelessness! Can she have
read it? But no, she would hardly do
chat. And yet, I know not why, l fear
that w~oman--and | am sure she dislikes
me-"
They are bound together in the life of
the future; hut neither Of them knows
this. And so, just now, they have a
strange aversion to each other; and Mrs.
Benson Is saying to herself, with actually
a smile on her face, $50 my pretty, dam
ty lady Is a ~convict's wife! | wonder
whether Mrs. Cholmondely knows it?"
And. after much thought, she decides
that she does; and resolves to. treasure
up her information till she can see a
market for it.
And then, her face lighted up with the
most terrible expression Of greed, and
~avarice, she kneels before her box, which
she has opened, and quietly chinks some
gold pieces together to make her some
music, and looks at a little book Of fig
ures--and at the end OF the season mar
ries a Mr.. Atkins.
Meanwhile, the Colonel and Archie
had seen the wounded man, to whom
their presence was as sunshine; and they
had cheered him up bravely, and had
carried messages OF good fellowship from
him to the Major.
1t is the night the Colonel and Archie
are to Leave for England, and the doctor
smilingly says that his patient will soon
follow them. He declares that he will
walk down to the boat with them, and
as soon as he is outside a grave shade
passes over his face.
"Well. doctor" says the Colonel, Gag
erly. what is the result, eh?"
AS anticipated" he replies. quietly;
everything vas done for him that could
be done. Even the great surgeon, jeal-
ous as he Is, admits that; but there is no
help for 1t. He will be lame for lifew
And the Maori asks Archie. to dis
trnst the doctors attention from the old
man, who Is turning away with a great
rising in his throat.
g"Oh. that is d better case: we wanted
no consultation over him. He win be all
right and ut his duty after a little Holt
day"
Archie" whispers the old man, as the
white clifs come oncs more into sight, |
WHO y TO break the news to his noth-