The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-03-03

CHATTER MIN.

Gus fury, he had insinualed that hel
love for George Eostook was Iespol,-
sihle for her husbands murder. Va
leriuS had walked about the ne}yhEor-
hHod needless of where he Went so long
mind in a state OF fierce rebellion
asains, the Woman whose presence he
had quilted. against the man for wfioul
she had confessed her love.
All The ate ton Naicrius bad felt
for her throushout his life turned IL
bitterness at the aNoW;tl S,se had made
the dislike he had ever entertained
toward Rostock deepe.lea to hate. fo,
the publisher had succeeded in gain
ing VIA he, Nalcrius. bad from boy
hood sought in vain to Min. Tina, Size
had denied 10 him was freely given IL
one, Who, by comparison. WAS a
st:anger.
Mnh a rarid pace he 'raversed
almost deserted, deaf leaves from the
rapidly barring hran' hes tlu,tering in
ms face, the sharp ring Of his foot
steps On the frosty Iatl.s audible at
long distances. his thoughts IN wild
disorder, his face distorted by passion,
his feelings outraged. jealousy singing
him to madness.
Not until II couple of hours had
passed did he, without becoming con-
- Ao''E VI WV u. t'i'ht ~ lsttt
through sheer Wearin"ss, and his emo
lions having meanwhile reached Their
hishest pit, h of fury, now began to
subsilc. Then he reflected on the part
he had recently PLAYED, his thoughts
coming To the subject casually and
steady lersistency that was ala the
more welcome, because it served to
inflict upon himself fresh pain, more
acute than he had Yet felt.
The insoience, the bitterness, the cru
city of his words stood out before him
and realized The ~cowardice. the inhu-
manitN, the injustice Of his hearing
coward her he had ever loved, whom
he loved now more than ever. And as
ne Niwed his conduot in this light.
his contempt and loathing for himself
"ere only equalled by his compassion
and affection for her.
To strike her down With such "A
Weapon us he had used. al such u time
az he had sought. was To have behaved
as d despicable s~couna.e!. as an UNI
manly wretch. What words OF his
could now take from her the pain h.
had inflicted. which must rankle in
her mind and poison her peace for
mann 4 Il to come" What decd
of his could make ,epa1ation tor The
wrongs he had done her He paused
IN his walk and leaned agains; Il wall
80 "tfi'oIt VstLN'i rtlld Wear. AN m
iignation and hate having burned
themselves out of his heart. W hich Was
now full of reraorse and pity.
And for long he remained there lost
N 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 it's UNI
certainty, humiliation. pain and terror.
rising before him.
~ sudden chill from the bitter night
cir striking him, brought him 10 "a
consciousness of The present. one
without delay; he would seek tie
women he had g~fievously insulted, as
cure her his words We're 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 load
IN which he found himself MAS UNI
familiar, and having with some irou-
bic discovered its name he knew not
N h direction it led. or To where
he should turn in search of his destin-
alton.
Re~solu.ely he set out looking round
Cor some familiar landmark until
eventually coming in sight OF a church.
ne Recognized his bearings and made
straight for the Hixton road. Through
out his walk his determination to seei:
Olive Dunbarton's pardon never MAY
49, ''''' N'i'i"NiS M NiSI VI lti mouse.
when the lateness of the hour and its
ansnitabiiity for Il visit struck him.
He looked at his watch and saw that
q was long past midnight. For all
that he Went To the garden gate. and
pushing i'll. found as he expected. that
Vt Was locked. He then stepped across
to he other side of tie road. that he
might see the upper windows of the
house which We're all in darkness.
With n.ingling feelings of relief and
regret he saw that the moment of the
meeting must be postponed: but he
fatigue from his long walk. weariness
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
lsficd TO wait until chance should send
IN his way Il passing cab ,hal would
drive him home.
And as he fingered there. his thoughts
fun of Olive Dumbarton. the chill
which follows on inaction after cXeI-
Is" struck him again. the more read
lily that he was clad in evening dress. |
"~hereuPon he wrapped the heavy folds
otahls Inverness cape round his chest
and throat. Then feeling more COM
PORTABLE. he fell into a reverie from
which he Was eventually aroused by a
hand being pressed upon his right arm.
when. recovering himself with a start.
49, - Wv "a iilIil, tllIi L
recognized the anxious, frightened face
of Quinton Quave.
IT happened on this particular even
Ing that the young medical man, hay ,
Ing been dining With some friends i'm
kensington, had remained in ,heirI
pleasant company until late when
catching his last train he had arrived
soon after midnight at Marlborough
Road station, from which he walked
home. (.
Now the principal topic of conversa-
ton at dinner had been the HiNon road
tragedy n the startling confession of
George Bostock, which the late cdi-
tons of the afternoon papers had pub
lished SO that the subject In which he
Was deeply interested was fresh in
Quinton's mine as he took his home
we'd a With bent head he reflected
that the man whom he had seen from
his bedroom window on the night of
the tragedy was the same whose dying
confession had been made but a few
hours before, though. when seen again
at the same hour and place. Quinton
leaning against the wall. Quinton in
stantly stood still as ii he had received
a shock, for there before him in the
same spot. wearing the self same cloak
coI2Cealin2, the lower part of his face
am. giving him the flreipr ain St,,I