Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-11-04

I'm delighted that you think SO,
The last book at which l work always
seems to me the best until it's finished;
then, when / read 1t over. / see how
completely 1T has failed to convey what
( intended, and / am ready to feel I'M
speakable gratitude TO the critics II
they will mercifully refrain from rend-
Ing me-"
Now they unanimously praise YOU
the publisher said.
Far more than / deserve; l am not
unmindful Of their gentleness."
you have earned all their praise"
replied this CHEEKY friend.
sTis more that | receive It"
And they continued chatting OF lit
erature and it's votaries. unmindful be-
cause unconscious of the fate drawing
nigh them, until once more the servant
entered, this time with a book and q
letter which had arrived by the last
post. Looking at them. Mrs. Dunbar
ton saw they were directed In the
handwriting of Valerius Galbraith.
George Boctock rose. He was struck
by the pale and haggard appearance
Of his hostess, which her animation
had until now concealed.
Are you not well?" he inquired
anxiously.
II have been somewhat upset"
He became suddenly grave hest
lated, and then seeing Veronica had
left the room. he, with the solicitude
Of a friend. said:
Surely not by him 2"
Yes. He has returned, notwith-
standing his promise"
Has IRE been here?" Bostock asked
anxiously. eagerly. :.
MOT yet, but he may come any day."
Can nothing be done?' he inquired,
much distressed by what he heard.
II fear not. But the pain of this ex-
pectancy-the suspense
II understand. Remember, IL / can
be OF any s~ervice-you know"
yes, / know" she answered CRATE
fully.
With a strong. firm grasp he held her
hand in his, then left her without
further words. She stood watching the
door by which he had made his exit.
rs If lost in thought, and then turned
absently to the table where lay the
unopened letter and book
AT that moment Veronica entered.
See what Valerius says. mother
the girl said. handing her mother the
envelope.
Mrs. Dumbarton listlessly absently
Dbeyed.
"Only a few words, stating that he
leaves Parfs tonight for Brindisi." she
replied. "And now, dear child to bed.
that o may get your beauty sleep"
Shall / close the window before ]
go, darling?"
No. I feel the night warm; perhaps
It's because I'm feverish.''
You mustn't stay up late, mother:
remember what Doctor Quave said,'
the girl replied, and having kissed her
mother lovingly, she quilted the room.
Left alone, Mrs. Dumbarton seated
herself in a cosy chair, and opened
the book Valerius had sent, one of
Erqnnnic CnnaAtG m authnr whom her
cousin knew she admired. CHANGING
casually at the first page she soon be-
came interested in it's contents, so
that time quickly passed unperceived
by her, for in following the thoughts
Of others, she escaped from her own.
Veronica had been an hour in the
happy Lane of ~childhood's dreams, and
the cook had retired to bed. so that
none were downstairs save Olive Dunn
barton and her maid, the latter await
ng the of her mistress. Sud-
denly, as the girl doZed over a weekly
periodical, she was rudely startled into
wakefuiness by sounds as of the shift
Ing and crashing of furniture, and inn
mediately after came a cry of bitter
pain, UGH as might be drawn from a
woman by some rue blow. TO which
In u succeeded a hoarse shout, as
from a man in his extremity imp!oring
mercy n demanding help.
Petrified by terror, the girl stood inn
movable with strained senses for a
second, then acting on impulse. she
rushed TO the study and flung wide
the doc In the center OF the room a
man lay upon his back m~otionless, his
eyes wide open and fixed. terror on his
CHASTITY face, his jaws clinched, while
bending above him. almost as rigid as
he and as terrible to behold, stood Mrs.
Dumbarton, a knife in one hand her
dress torn and blood smeared, her de-
meanor wild. With a horrible scream
girl sasshea src:: the -cc=:. quilted
the house. and ran into the roadway.
A minute later and Veronica,
wrapped I'm a dressing gown, her hair
about her shoulders. her feet bare. her
limbs trembling, hurried into the study,
nj expression of fright and bewilder-
ment in her scarcely opened eyes, and
paused. frozen with terror, on the
Threshold. Her lips refused to cry.
bent bov the PROSTATE. motion
less figure, and gazed upon the cruel
and evil face.
Father" she said in a shuddering
whisper.
Then she looked upon her mother,
whose c-ountenance was as that of a
marble mask-a mask c~unning1y carved
TO express despair and delir1um. agony
and fear. land lighted by the eyes OF
flame; looked upon the knife ciutched
In the thin. nervous white hand, and
upon the blood-smeared gown, when
with a piteous and tender ry-th cry
of one wounded beyond healing, the
child flung her arms around that dumb.
tragic figure, enchanting:
'Oh, mother. mother. what have you
done?
At that the servant hurried
iy reeutared h room. followed by q
policeman.
Look" she said Historically. as she
pointed to her mistress. Look, she
has murdered himi"
AS the policeman advanced, Olive
Dumbarton shivered and drew back,
tottered. md with a piteous groan fell
senseIess beside the dead.
CHAPTER III.
On seeing the figure OF a man
breast stained with blood, the police
man. unheeding all else. kneit beside
him to ascertain IL life were quite ex-
tinct. Having satisfied himself upon
this point, he looked up n asked:
WHO Is hes"
Her h~usbandl" the maid replied in
q high. wild voice.
Accustomed as he was to tragedy,
and acquainted with crime. the man
looked aghast. for here was a deed
more piteous and more dark than he
had yet encountered. Before he could
ask further questions. sounds were
heard Of footsteps and murmurs OF
voices Of those whom the servants
cries Of murder IN h poltceman's