The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-11-03
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
After being with some difficulty re-
stored to consciousness, Mrs. Dunn
barton had, with the aid of an opiate,
fallen into a profound sleep, from
which she did not wake until midday.
Opening her eyes, she stared vacantly
before her as if striving to collect her
thoughts in some way understanding
that a heavy misfortune had fallen on
her, while being yet unable to realize
its character or fathom it's extent. An
unbroken silence hung over the house,
ominous in its stiffness, and weighted
with gloom, while the sun shone
through the drawn blinds ioyously,
~searchingly, mockingly, as light that
penetrates the darkened chamber Of
death.
Moving her head she saw Veronica
seated beside her, pale from fright,
haggard with gsief and her eyes meet
ing those Of the girls, the shape n
color of the latter in a flash brought to
the startled Woman's mind the eyes.
wild, fixed and CLASSY, into which she
had looked the previous night; when
the recollection OF that tragic scene in
which she had played SO terrible a part,
rose wildly before her with all it's
ghast!y horror in the present, with all
its threatening terrors in the future.
On meeting her glance, Veronica,
with a wild and broken cry, had flung
herself on her knees and buried her
head in the pillow. Olive Dumbarton
understood. and q fresh and poinant
grief darted through her heart. Tnen
hracing herself, she, in a weak and
trembling voice, said:
Observation-Disclosures"
The only answer she received was a
slnothered sob, which shook the girls
frame.
Veronica" her mother said, yet more
gently and with Infinite pathos in her
tones, Il am innocent"
a seconds breathless silence en-
sued, then the girl. who never yet had
cause to doubt her mothers word. lift
ed her head, an expression of wonder
ment, infinite relief, and e~cstatic joy
upon her upturned face, her lips parted,
her whole existence seemingly sus-
pended as she heard and realized tina
her mother was free from guilt, her
soul unstained by bloodshed, that the
Woeful penalty Of this crime could not
fall upon her, that their hearts would
not be estranged or broker by grief,
or their lives divided, or their name
become ~blackened and made hateful
before the world.
A burden that seemed unhearable
was suddenly lifted from the girls life,
the darkness which had brooded over
her soul was dispelled, her whole be-
ing, relaxed from torture and fear,
now vibrated with gratitude and de-
light.
1T was not I, my child: you under
stand, l am innocent Mrs. Dumbarton
murmured.
Mother" Veronica exclaimed, fling
ing her arms In a transport of JOY and
gratitude that was not without re-
morse, around her mothers neck, while
she kissed her pityingly. tenderly. low
ingly.
Henceforth, whatever impression APP
pearances might produce upon Others,
whatever conclusions they might draw
from evidence, would have no influence
upon her; she would believe her
mothers word against all the world.
And oh, dearest, car you forgive
me?" she said with bitter self-re-
proach. How could I have thought it
was you who"
You saw. What else could you
think? But now"
Even as Mrs. Dumbarton spoke she
drew a deep breath. all color quilted
her cheeks, and her eyes closed. The
excitement had been too much for her
strength: consciousness again deserted
her. Veronica bathed her mothers
temples with sal volatile, lifted her to
a sitting position, and chafed her hands
until presently she opened her eyes and
family smiled upon her daughter.
Now. mother dear. don't talk, and IL
you can help it don't ever think, while
| go and order them to prepare some
breakfast"
You believe me, Veronica"
Mother" the girl said, infinite trust
n tendereSt love expressed In that
| one word.
Thank Cod" Olive Dumbarton muir
INJURED.
Veronica kissed her again and again
before quitting the ROOM, as If In this
manner she would convey the faith and
| q ffanftn1 uyhinh yy0r1c PD,11l 49, -
/ press.
To refrain from thinking was an ut
ter impossibility to that stricken
woman, though thought was absolute
pain. AS she lay there in the silence
and gloom, heartsick and despairing,
lines against the lurid tragedy which
had crowned and intensified all her sor-
rows.
An only child, worshipped " her
mother-her sole surviving parcnt-and
caressed by her friends, she had en-
tered society When she should have
been in the school room. And in ms
world with which she had forged to
mix, all things were bright in her young
sight, she not seeing it as a stage where
man and woman meet masked: where
tragedy wears smiles and sadness sings
loud, lest It's grief be disclosed; where
the voice OF truth sounds strange.
where glare and excitement hide foIv
and pretense; where human lives are
bought and sold for pay and place, and
souls caught in the whirl of passions.
descend to swift damnation.
Followed and admired. praised ana
eourted, as she was, society was to her
a land Of e~nchantment and before her
second season ended she had wholly
given her heart to a young lieutenant
OF Lancers, but five years older than
herself, handsome, daring, a skilled nolo
player, faultless in his dress, winning
in his speech, popular among women
hailed as a good fellow among men.
Continued Next Week.)
Clyde Fitch, after a long stay in