Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-03-24
Copyright 1901 by
y. FITZGERALD haHoy
CHAPTER XxXIII.

AN
olive Dumbarton spent a wakeful
restless and troubled night, vivid and
soaring thoughts she was powerless e
banish. picturing the past with Its
troubles, dwelling or the present witf
it's seemingly impenetrable mystery
showing the future with ::s dread pos
sibiltties. But when at last sleet
came 1t was profound, nor did rsht
wake until late in the morning, The
fog which had hung mournfully over
the city the previous evening had not
yet quite lifted, and at first thought
the dull gray atmosphere was the light
or early dawn. A glance at her watch
showed her It was past 10 O'Clock, and
she touched her bell.
AS IL awaiting the signal. Veronica
Immediately entered, hastily yet noise
lessly crossed the room, and fingins
one arm around her mothers shout
ders, kissed her.
"Oh, mother, mother" the girl muir
INJURED, with a sob In her throat.
The terror dominant in Veronica's
voice struck it's nearer. in whose mind
Immediately arose a for ~shadowing OF
pain. a f~oreboding of horror.
What is it, child ?" she asked,
scarcely able to frame her sentence.
Something has happened
'Ah. know: he is dead Olive
Dumbarton replied in a tone of de-
spair.
Not Mr.. Bostock," said Veronica
quickly.
mo. Who hem" her mother asked
hurriedly, a load lifted from her heart,
her eyes fixed questioningly upo her
daughters.
"Valerius.''
"valerius 2" repeated Olive Dunbar
8 tom VRnrnl4tFAtEulxr 49,. NT.YVh- nn4 Nra4
reaching her mind.
HE was found dead this morning on
a couch in his study. His man came
here to tell us, but / would not disturb
you. 1t is terrible, terrible, mother
dear
A low moan was the only reply Olive
Dumbarton gave. But no sooner had
she realized the sudden Heath of one
whom she had seen in health and
strength a few days previously than
her active mind began to form sur
misses, her vivid imagination TO shape
fears. After a long pause she said:
This is pitiful, Poor Valerlus. Tell
me all, Veronica"
1T is ~thought-it is feared-but
nothing is yet known. A letter lay
on his desk directed TO George Coris,
and on the table a bottle which had
contained chloroform."
A chill struck Olive Dumbarton TO
the heart, then, even while her grief
was keen, her anxiety began to take
definite form, her suspicious to
strengthen, though her loyalty to the
dead stroye to reject the terrible sur
mise which seized upon her, sinking
her heart, bewildering her brain, and
filing her with agony.
Presently she asked In a voice that
was almost a whisper:
rs there no letter for me?"
Il don't know, mother. | have been
so scared, but I'll go and see
Left alone In the semi-darkened
room. her grief and pity for Valerius,
together with the fear which lay be-
hind them. overcame her. and she be-
gan to sob and cry Historically. See
ing this, Veronica on her return, could
mo- keep back her tears, and they both
wept bitterly for some time. When
eventually the girl was able to control
herself and had partially succeeded In
soothing her mother, she produced an
envelope directed by Valerius and
sealed with red wax bearing his mono
gram. And the curtains having been
drawn and the blinds raised, Olive
Dumbarton with trembling hands
opened the letter and read there the
confession she had dreaded and antici-
pated.
Often she paused, for her eyes be-
came blinded by tears. While there
was horror In her mind for the terrible
crime he had committed, there was no
resentment in her heart for the shame
he had made her suffer, no bitterness
because OF the cowardice that would
have seen the blame of his deeds borne
by others, no censure for the hypocrisy
he had practiced. For she remembered
him only as he had been before the
shadow OF crime had fallen upon him.
blighted his better nature and ruined
his Inanliness; remembered his kind
ness TO and thought for her: his hand
some presence; the charm of his gfa-
cious n and cultured mind; his
puoyancy and the soothing, cheering
INFLUENCE he had exercised over others
And the pity OF his death and the
necessity he had felt for ~effacing him.
self appealed TO her, wringing her heart
ana niiing il with more tenderness for
him now he was dead than she had
ever felt toward him while he was liv-
Ing, In part, she realized the misery
ne must have felt before bracing HIM
self TO quit the world whose Joys he
fully appreciated. Never to see his
face again, never to hear his voice. ever
TO remember him with a sacred feeling
that must surmount her sorrow, was 4
thought that made her feel sick ct
heart.
II only he had never met her his-
band that fatal night, or. meeting him.
had not taken his fife: If only the past
could be undone, liz only he had battled
against and overcome the fate which
had brought shame and death IN its
Train. There was no need for him to
ask her forgiveness. for she gave il
without reserve. and with ii all her
pity. so for long she cried bitter tears.
her heart torn by grief.
And her mind having been stunned
by fright and pain. lit was not until
she a thought for some time over
Valerius that the result of his confess
sion dawned upon her. Not only would
she now be freed from the imputation
of q terribls crime, but the man who
for her sake had falsely him
self would likewise be exempt from
blame. The darkness would be lifted
from her life and his; the mystery
would be made plain. And even at
such a time a thrill OF satisfaction
passed through her as she remembered
her refusal to believe In George Isos-
locks guilt. and her declaration that
merely TO free himself because he be-
lieved IL otherwise impossibie 10 es~
tabtish her innocence.
Therefore her relief and gratitude
We're great that sorrow and shame
would be lifted from her life, and his
good name RESTORED TO the man who
would have sacrificed III for her sake,
even while she regretted the cause by
which this good would be affected.
Meanwhile ali vas confusion iii the
house where the body OF yaIerfus Gall
braith lay: servant passing from room
70 room with a bewildered air: police