Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-03-17

ried him 10 his home with needless
haste.
He dined tightly, and drank but lit
tie wine that evening: then passing
into his study he gave orders that he
was not To be disturbed
Electric tight strove 60 brighten this
cosy room with IT'S thick carpet and
heavy hangings its b~ookshelyes con-
tanning rare and handsomely bound
volumes, many OF them first editions
and presentation copies from their au-
thors. Fencing foils ne had brought
and around the library were other curi-
osities he had gathered in various cit
les and continents--an ivory idol
struggled from a Persian temple. a
Turkish scimitar, which had severed Il
Christian head; a Itinerary statuette
in green glazed pottery he had un-
earthed in Egypt; a mosqu lamp OF
ancient date; a scarab OF the time of
Afnenemhat III. Each had some pleas
ant recollection attached to IL: all he
valued. Therefore he looked upon
them with sad eyes. reluctant TO say
farewell.
AS he lay back in his chair before
his desk. the despair that blinds hope,
letters joy. and brushes vitality, came
upon him: but striving To rise above
these feelings, he set himself 10 his
task. He had already destroyed such
traces and mementoes OF his past life
as he deemed too sacred for other yes
TO look upon when he had gone. And
next he made a viii leaving pensions
to his a dividing his valuables
among a few friends. n bequeathing
all else he possessed To Olive Dunn
barton.
Ii was hard that while in h enjoy
ment OF vigor and vitality he should
make preparations FOR what was 10
happen a few hours later, when men
would count him mons the dead. He
was intelligent enough TO know life
could not end here. and the dread OF
wha: might come was full upon him.
Yet he did not finch from his M
pose.
With Overwhelming sadness he be-
gan a letter to his cousin. whom he
might never see again, and whom he
addressed now for the last time. And
while he wrote. the pain and despair
within him grew until tears blinded
his eyes and fell upon the page. More
than once he laid down the pen as IL
unable 10 continue. and then again be-
gan, eager 10 finish his task. YET re-
siuctant To say the Anal word fare
well to her he loved. And this was
what he wrote;
my Dear Olive: / begin by inn
ploring you TO forgive me for the cruel
wrong i have done you, which now, at
this late hour, / am going TO repair.
When a few days ago you said George
Bostock had o committed murder,
your woman's instinct wac right; your
faith In him was Justified. for IL was |
who killed your husband.
When, on the night | dined with
you before leaving England. you told
me OF his return, l was filled with un-
e~asiness. mol kno wing what steps such
- .aA I-Af -E-I 49, n -
and defraud you. | ought to have re-
NAMED by you, /. your only male rela-
tive, but my desire for pleasure was
too strong for my sense OF duty, and
/ went. While I'm Paris my anxiety
Increased, but ven then / debated with
myself as to whether ! should return
or continue my journey. / decided on
the latter. and then wrote and posted
TO you the letter and book which
reached you that unhappy night. No
sooner. however, than 1 had done SO.
the heartlessness of my conduct
in leaving you unprotected became
plain, and | determined TO return and
see for myself what course he had
taken. As my stay might be brief /
left my luggage behind and did not re-
turn 10 my house, hen In charge OF a
caretaker.
"On arriving a. Charing Cross |
stayed at the Eagle Hotel. and after a
late dinner set out FOR Hixton road
with the intention OF surprising you.
Reaching there l caught sfght OF a
man walking stealthily up and down
in front OF Your house. My first Inn
pulse was TO accost, my second 10
watch him. for which purpose / with
drew to the opposite side OF the road.
He disappeared. but finally returned,
when ! saw him open the gate. BY
this time | had recognized him as
Dumbarton. and going over, / caught
hold of his shoulder and flung him
aside. Bitter words followed; he
struck me and | clutched him by the
throat, suddenly | felt a sharp pain In
left shoulder. when. in a moment
or passion, l snatched the knife with
which / was stabbed from his hand.
and struck him with Ii i'm the breast.
Startled by what / had done and by
the fear Of its consequences, / rushed
from the spot, until hearing a servants
cries and seeing a policeman, ! paused,