The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-03-10
CHAPTER NNNI.

Then, sir" Mackworth remarked.
! let me hear it without delay
CHAPTER NNXI
Throughout the night succeeding
his Interview with Quinton Quave in
the HiXton road, Valerius was much
disturbed his thoughts forever dwell
ing with regret on the scene which
had passed between him and his
cousin And though his wrath was
still stirred by he@ obstinate refusal
to credit George Bostock's guilt, yet he
remai med acutely concsious of the cruel
ty and injustice with which he had
behaved to her. He therefore resolved
TO call in The morning upon Olive that
he might ask her to forget his bitter
words; that he might implore her to
pardon him; that he might prove to her
the error she made in believing Bos-
tock's innocence in spite of his DEATH
bed dispositions.
Therefore, soon after the breakfast,
which he scarcely touched, he set out
for the HiXton road. his cab passing
that containing Quinton Quave on his
way to visit Mack worth, Nalerius all
unconscious of the younger mans mis-
sion. or of the consequences to which
1t WAS destined to lead.
On arriving at his cousins house
Nalerius pushed open the gate and en-
tered the garden, where flower beds
were black, frozen and neglected; ger
aniums and ferns, rose bushes and car
nations witherel and dying hoar f'ost
coating the grass, which had been per-
mitted to grow rank and fruitful of
weeds: dead leaves covering the I'M
swept pathway; the trees above with
their bare branches looking weird and
grim.
The hor = itself appeared cold, cheer
less and melancholy to his eyes, no
sign of life or brightness visible its
front discOlored by damp: two of it's
windows on the ground floor carefully
suffered, da'kening the room where
David Dumbarton had met his tragic
fate. The appearance of the dwelling
and the impression 1t gave We're differ
ent from what they had been couple
or months before: when its carefully
Kept garden was a wilderness of color
and itself center of brightness; when
cheerful faces and pleasant voices and
joyous greetings welcomed the conner,
before death. grief and disgrace had
marked II for their own.
Disposed as he was toward depres-
sion that day, the bleak exterior of the
house filled him with a melancholy
deeper than he had felt before. and to
rid himself of this impression he
sought to enter quickly. and fercely
pulled the bell. Its sounds, loud and
violent at first, and gradually subsid-
ing, sounded as distinctly to his ears
as If the place were deserted After
long pause he was about to ring a
second time when the door WAS opened
and servant stood before him.
In answer to his question he was told
that his cousin was unable to see any
one.
rs Mrs. Dumbarton ill?" he inquired
anNiously.
Yes sir. Dr. Quave was sent for
yesterday evening. and he says she
must not leave her room for some days
or be disturbed"
To these words. which seemed more
like message partly delivered than
the girls own reply, Valerius could
make no other answer than to express
his regrets and say he would call to
make further inquiries on the following
day He therefore turned away
grieved at not being able to put his
resolutions into action, and with some
fear In his mind that his offence had
been too great for even his gentle