The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-03-10

k1nd?"
DR.. Leighton twisted the last words
into a question, and his patient, Lieut.
enant General Sir James Vincent, *.
c. B., answered r~etlectively:
NO, l don't think so. Unless-well,
! certainly was a good deal worried
some weeks ago.. l found out that my
valet, an Italian fellow who had been
with me for years, was robbing me. 1t
was a hateful business, and I dare say
1t affected me more thar l knew.
But. I've nothing to worry me at
present. In fact, l doubt if there's a
more contented man in London. Thank
YOU, very much, doctor. Good day"
Now that the interview with the
doctor was so well over, Sir James
reflected, 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 Muricl 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 May
with December, for Muriel was only
rs n he was So. Society had laughed
AL \ oiSSNC ."lCI llcli CilSdSClIlClll
was announced, and had prophesied
that the match would end in the usual
fiasco. He had known it as well as If
the words had been spoken to him
direct, for certain sentiments may be
read in eyes and manner, and do not
require clothing in speech.
Muriels sympathy would be delight
full after the ordeal of the morning.
Re opened the loo with his latchkey
n passed upstairs to her boudoir;
but, to his disappointment, it was emp-
ty. He rang the bell, and was told
that her ladyship had gon 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 o the room, noting fond
ly how the daintiness of it reflected
his Wife'S presence. The window was
thrown wide to admit the June breeze
ard sunshine. Muriel loved sunlight
she always said she would rather live
with a faded carpet han lose the sun.
On every side We're roses, and the air
was fragrant with their breath. Sir
James paused, and buried his face in
the bowl placed upon the writing ta-
BILE. Raising it again, his eyes fell
on the last sentences Of a letter in
Muriel's handwriting, lying there half
finished:
Life has grown terrible, Eric. I
never thought I should feel like this.
All day l have to act a part, lest he
should suspect, and that would be
worse than anything. If 1 could only
see you 1 think it would help me bear
tt!''
Eric! OF course, it must be the
young fellow who had rejoined his regi-
ment in India 500 after their mar
riage. He remembered Muriel saying
one day that she had known Eric
Browne ever since they were children.
Sir James moved to the window. Still
with hat strange loo in his eyes, and
watched the stream Of traffic, the laden
buses, the fleet hansoms, the children
running ahead of their nurses in thei1
eagernesS to reach the Park.
What q remarkably vivid dream his
was, and what a singularly disagree
able one! All at once 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 N roses nodding in her hat.
Jim, dear, Tn so sorry l was out
when o came in. Baxter says yor
asked for me" She slipped her hanl
through his arm, and looked up in his
face with those wonderful yes which
had first captured his heart. "Nhy
you look-tired. Aren't you feeling
well, dear?" The note of anxiety in hel
voice was torture. 81 have to act E
part all day, lest he should suspect
Oh, why had not Leighton given hin
his death warrant that morning? A
least, 1t would have made the situation
less intolerable. Yet he heard himsel1
answering quietly. I'm all right
thanks; l only wondered where yol
were"
Suddenly another question dartet
into her brain. Taking her courage il
both hands, she forced herself to breal
the silence.
Have you-have you had bad news
Jim?"
Sir James turned round with a quee
sort of smile.
bad news? No, I don't think SO
It's always a good thing to learn tn
truth. isn't .it?"
you don't look as If o had four;
it a good thing said Lady Vincent
d~oubtfully.
Don't I? Then my looks belle me
There is the gong--shall we go down?
q u
Before getting into bed Lady Vim
cent drew the curtain aside, and i'm
mediately the moonlight flooded tn
room. She looked UP piteously at tn
passionless sky, removed SO far abov
human sorrow and pain. She eoul
not cry, she could not ever think co
herently; she only knew that he orl
was suddenly cruel and wholly out Q
course. Presently she let the curtain
fall and again crept into bed, and la
there staring wide-eyed into the dark
ness.
One ray Of Moonlight cut the darkness
like a thin strip Of steel, but on eithe
side she could distinguish nothing bE
intangible shadows. Stay! Had n {
the shadows stirred? Her jewelry wa
kept IN an Inner cupboard in the wal
but the shadow was either in ignoranc
Of this fact or had no concern with jew
els. It was moving stealthily, steadil,
toward the side of the bed where he
husband lay; her strained ears coul
just detect the almost noiseless pres
sure OF feet. 1t crossed the narro'
strip CT light, and-was that the blad
OF knife which cleaned Ike silver !
the moons rays?
Lady Vincent leaped up and spran
across her husbands sleeping form.
Great heayens.@ What's the matter
Sir James, roasedathus unceremofious
" from his SAUNDERS. switched on tx
electric light, to see his wife eiingin
withsbot1l EaTadssto the wrist o q ma
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