Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-04-27
away with you." exclaimed Bash

away with you!" exclaimed Bash
fort, staggering to his feet. you want
to pick my secret from me, do you?
You want to pump me, to squeeze my
brain, BAH You are sharp woman
in your way--your tongue is as sharp
as the barb they paint for the devils
tail something-but it isn't sharp
enough to pick Neil Bashfort's teeth"
he growled, and clashed his teeth to-
getherin grin of scorn and defiance,
while he closed one eye and leered at
his wife with the other,
Go away, then. Why are you here
at all?"
"Our lord sent me to see how the
young lady was getting on. Has she
eaten anything yet?"
ooh, have you brought me some
thing to eat and drink, dear Clarence?'
here asked Helen, still feigning to be
delirious. 81 am SO glad, for am very
hungry"
THAT is a good sign" growled Bash
fort to Martha, who at once fastened
to place at Helen's disposal the tray
of food which had been brought in, an
hour or two before, and which till now
poor Helen would have had no heart
to touch, even had she not been in
sound and Strengthening sleep. That
is a good sign, Martha. Let her eat
heartily, though the meat is cold now.
There's good wine and cordial there,
too Then let her sleep. She may be
all right by tomorrow's sunrise. I'll
tell my lord So
well, and suppose she is all right
by that time said Martha-"what are
you going to do then?'
81? It's none of my business, nor
yours, Mrs Martha Bashfort. 1t is our
business to obey Lord Genlis. You are
to remain in this room with the lady
that is your business. Lock the door
when | go out and hide the key, for
know you will go sound asleep again;
and sometimes these deliriOus people
get up and roam about, and hurt them
selves So look to that care, too. Lock
the door and hide the key
Having thus spoken. Bashfort open
ed the door and departed, renewing his
whistling the instant the door closed
behind him.
Martha locked the door and placed
the key in her pocket, and as soon as
Helen had no more use for refresh
ment, Martha placed the tray upon
the table.
"Now that dear Clarence has gone"
said Helen. in childish way, and kiss
ing her hand toward the door, Il will
go to sleep, dear mother
Martha. believing her lovely charge
was still delirious, replied:
YES am your mother, my dear; so
go to sleep, while I watch near YOU"
"Heaven knows" added Martha to
herself. that l need sleep, too. My
sleep on the cliff didn't do me bit Of
good My head has ached all day from
that fall. | was awake all last night
finishing and preparing things. | had
just got rid Of my headache and begun
splendid sleep when Bashfort woke
quickly to sleep again, and sleep till
ing me that the sorcerer was dead in
pitt am glad Of that-and then,
when | was well asleep again, in comes
Bashfort once more, and nearly stran-
giles me. So now | hope she will go
quickly to sleep agai nand sleep till
after sunrise--as l know l shall, If l
am left in peace
Sing to me, dear mother" said
Helen, interrupting Martha's unspok-
en- soliloquy.
"Sing to you, my child! Why, new
err knew how to sing in all my life, y
replied Martha. go to sleep"
81 wish she would go to sleep her
self" thought Helen, "for then Clar-
ence and l could converse in whis-
pers."
well, dear mother, as you can't
sing, tell me a story-anything to fix
my thoughts, for then l shall soon fall
asleep
so she may" thought Martha, 'and
l may as well tell her a true one, as
she is delirious and will never remem-
Der it when she gets her senses again.
Ito Be Continued.)
Helping Her Out.