Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-07-20
CHAPTER xix-{con.inued.)

son of a beggar? Or not my son, as
| for that matter!"
Lord Robert de Layet,'' said Clar
ence, confidently, Il have no doubt is
my father. You heard the story which
| Martha told while she thought you
were delirions--the story of Claude de
| Layet's murder at the Boar inn9"
"Yes-yes: remember it now.
cid not heed much what She was say
ing then. My heart and soul were
with you as you listened at the hole
1 in the ceiling, replied Helen.
Well, that story made clear to me
that Ciande de I1ayet was my uncle,
and Lord Robert de Lavet my father"
'Ah, now know how he was sble
forts fears and fancies," thought So
STA
And / know" continued Clarence,
Il know where to find, in Galway,
those precious proofs which Bashfort
stole from Claude de Lavet, and which
he had been hired to steal by Sosia,
but which he never gave to the treach-
erons sorcerer"
Ii tht: concealed sorcerer had dared
| TO move he would at this moment have
dragged his sleeve across his face to
relieve ii or an icy sweat that started
from every pore of his hideous visage.
With these proofs of my mothers
Innocence" continued Clarence, land
with you on my arm as my wife, will
find Lady Ida Beauclair and Lord Rob-
ert de Layet, and tell them the story
of my life. They will believe me
they must believe me! And if they
do not, You viii still be my own dar-
ling wife.
Ard here the hopeful, happy low
ers exchanged SO fervent and joyous
kiss that Sosia dug his sharp nails
into his flesh and grirned in his dark.
ness like demon on Goals of Internal
fire.
But may l not accompany you to
kdlronan now, dear Clarence?" asked
Helen. Can we not escape from Dun
Aengns now and together?'
If he consents to that" thought
Sosia my present scheme of ven
geance may fail! | may have to kill
him on the spot!'
No, dear Helen I do not know
how all is above yet, and I NAV fail
to secure a boat at Kironan. I NAV
be. compelled to go on to Killeany,
which is several miles from Kilronan.
The distance is too great for your
n cfro OFT !,
perils in the way, too, which can
readily avoid if l be alone. Courage,
darling. Fear nothing! No living
man or woman suspects that we are
here. You are too sensible to dread
the dead; and there are no cave mon
sters more formidable than rats to be
expected, and they prefer the old
building above, where Bashfort's
stores of provisions will feed them .
Il will be brave!" replied the de-
voted girl. Il shall fear only for your
safety, dear one, while you are away"
And my safety shall be to me as IL
1t We're your dear life in my keeping"
replied Clarence. You will not trem-
Bile now, as I go into that passage to
look out upon the yea and sky again,
that may guess at the hol1r?"
.sOh, no, replied Helen, both with
shudder and a smile .'I have learn
ed all I wish to know of that passage.
oh, pray do not remain away so long
as you did before!"
3Of course not. shall not have to
battle with more Bashforts, am
sure"
The night was dark and the sky
cloudy, the light of the moon but
family appearing. Yet remembering
at about what time the orb had risen
on the preceding day, Clarence was
able to almost correctly estimate the
hour.
He did not linger in the cliff cave.
but soon returned to the interior cave.
where he found Helen just completing
preparations for their evening meal
All, you wish to keep me strong"
said Clarence. smiling. st is, 1 think,
about 9 o'clock, and as soon as our
meal Is over / must leave you"
Eat heartily and happily, you dog!s
thought hidden Sosia It is the last
meal you and Helen Beauclair are
ever to eat together. Be gay and fes-
tive, my charming innocents! Sing
and be merryfor, by the heart of the
tiend, this is your last kissing time!''
Happily unsuspecting Of these iron
ical and unspoRen comments. the low
ers did enjoy themselves very much,
and In their soft love speeches and
innocent love-making so tortured the
listening sorcerer that his breast was
lowered with gashes from his gripping
nails, which, like the talons Of a fam.
ished vulture in sight OF an unap-
Iproachable feast, he dug into his own
flesh.
.Oh!,' he thought. ''oh, the two
fools. The two Babes In the Wood!
The two idiotsl The pair Of angels.
1 shall go mad presently and howl like
q starved wolf! Curse the beggar,
Will he never go? Is he going to STAY
there all night, talking love, and tell.
i Ing Of mis- past and Of his hoped-for
future life? $780,
must depart, dear Helen. In two
I hours II will be- midnight. You must
i pos begin to expect my return until it