The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-03-02
Copyright 1901 by
T. ~FitzgsrAid Ma!Ioy
NXIN.


sible for her husbands murder, Va
hood needless of where he Went so long
as he avoided crowds and traffic, his
mind in ii state of fierce rebellion
against the Wonaan whose presence he
had quilted, against theSman for whom
she had confessed her love.
All the affection Nalerfus had felt,
for her throughout his life turned to.
bitterness at the avowalssheh made
the dislike he had ever entertained
toward Bcstock deepened8to hate. For
the publisher had succeeded in gain
ing what he, Valerius, had from boy
hood sought in vain town That She
had denied to him was freely given 10
one, who, by comparison, Was a
stranger.
winding Tuuds anu long avenues nov
almost deserted, dead leaves from the
rapidly barring branches f1uttering in
his face. the sharp ring of his foot
steps OIL the frosty paths audible at
long distances. his thoughts in Wild
disorder, his face distorted by passion,
his feelings outraged, jealousy singing
him to madness,
Not until a couple of hours had
passed did he. without becoming con-
scious of the fact, slacken his pace
through sheer WEAKNESS, and his emo
tons having meanwhile reached their
highest pitch of fury, now began to
subside. Then he reflected on the part
he had recently played, his thoughts.
coming to the subject casually and
fittingly at first, afterward With
more welcome, because it served to
intlict upon himself fresh pain, more
acute than he had yet felt.
The insolence. the bitterness. the cru-
city of his words stood out before him.
in their true colorS, and he reviewed
and realized the cowardice. the inhu-
mainly, the injustice of his bearing
toward her he had ever loved. whom
he loved 10Y more than ever. And as
he viwed his conduct in this light,
his contempt and loathing for himself
We're only %equalled by his compassion
and affection for her.
To strike her down With such a
weapon as he had used. at such a time
as he had sought, was to have behaved
as a d~espicable s~coundsel, as an IN
manly wretch. What words of his
icould now take from her the pain he
had inflicted, which must rankle in
her mind and poison her peace for
many a day to come? What deed
OF his could make reparation for the
wrongs he had done her? He paused
in his walk and leaned against a wall
for support, dazed and weary, all in
~dignation and hate having burned
themselves out of his heart, which was
now full of reinorse and pity.
And for long he remained there lost
In thought, the past with all the pleas
ures he had known in his association
with her, t~hronging back from forgot
ten years: the future with all its I'M
certainty, humiliation, pain and terror,
rising before him.
A sudden chill from the bitter night
air striking him, brought him to a
consciousness of the present. One
without delay; he would seek the
woman he had grievously insulted, as
sure her his words were not the out
come of conviction but the result of
passion. and beg of her TO forgive him
the pain he had caused her. With this
Intention he set forward, but the road
IN which he found himself was UNI
familiar, and having with some trou-
Bile discovered it's name, he knew not
in what direction it led, or to Where
ne should turn in search of his destin-
alton.
Resolutely he set out looking round
for some familiar landmark until
eventually coming in sight of a church,
he recognized his bearings and made
straight for the Hixton road. Through
out his walk his determination to seek
olive Dulmbarton'S pardon never Wav-
cred until coming in sight of her house,
when the lateness Of the hour and its
ulsuitability for a visit struck him.
He looked at his watch and saw that
It was long past midnight. For all
that he went to the garden gate, and
pushing it, found as he expected, that
it was locked. He hen stepped across
to the other side of the road, that he
might see the upper windows Of the
house which were all in darkness.
With mingling feelings of relief and
regret he saw that the of the
meeting must be postponed; but he
was in no hurry to quit the spot
fatigue from his long walk, WEAKNESS
from the conflict of his thoughts, and
the reaction of his excitement set in
upon him, and he rested there against
the Wall which faced the house, sat
isfied to wait until chance should send
in his way a passing cab that would
drive him home.
And as he fingered there, his thoughts
full of Olive D~umbarton, the chill
which OllOW on inactinn after exer-
else struck him again. the more read
lily that he was clad in evening dress
w~hereupon he wrapped the heavy folds
of his Inverness cape around his chest
and throat. Then feeling more COM
Portable, he fell n a reverie from
which he was eventually aroused by {
hand being pressed upon his right arm
when, recovering himself with Il start
he gaZed at the man before him, anC
recognized the anxious, frightened face
Of Quinton Quave.
1t happened on This particular even.
ing that the young medical man, hav,
ing been dining with some friends i,
kensington, had remained in theii
pleasant company until late wher
catching his last train he had arrived
soon after midnight at Marlborough
Road station, from which he walked
home.
Now the principal topic of converse
tion at dinner had been the Hixon roat
tragedy and the startling confession o
George Bostock. which the late edi
tons of the afternoon papers had pub
lished SO that the subject in which h
vas deeply interested was fresh Il
Q%uinton's mind as he took his home
ward way. With bent head he refecte,
that the man whom he had seen fron
his bedroom window on the night o
the tragedy vas the same whose dyin
confession had been made but "a fey
hours before; though. when seen agai
at the salne hour and place, Quinto
leaning against the wall. Quinton in