The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-06-09
discontinued

SaAouSh w iLLdkc Iuy lie II lIuln, j SdW
that all was yet contingent upon my
lady's viewing Of the proposal. That
! could win her over ! had some hope,
II only they would leave the task TO,
me. But there was room to fear that
this poor miser father wou max II
all a thing OF property n so provoke
her to resistance. And, notwithstand-
ing what he said-that she would do as
she was bid thought knew her tenn
per well enough to prophesy a hitch.
For l made sure of one thing, that II
she put her will against the world, the
world would never move her.
Twas past midnight, with Tybee O.
Ing In his chair, when next l heard
some STRINGS in the corridor. AS be-
fore, 1t was the lifting of the wooden
bar that reused my friendly guard,
and when he went to parley at the
door l stood apart and turned my back.
When l looked again my company
was come. At the table, busted with a
ducal title deed for size, stood Gilbert
Stair and the factor-lawyer. Owen
Pengarvin. A little Jack Of them the
good old Father Matthew had Margery
on his arm. And in the corner Tybee
stood to keep the doo
/ grouped them all in one swift eye
sweep, and having listed them, strove
to read some lessoning of my part in
my dear lady's face. She gave me
nothing of announcement, nor yet a
! cue OF any kind to lead to what it was
that she would have me to say or do.
AS had seen it last, under the light of
the flaring torches in the room below,
her face was cold and still; and she
was standing m%otionless beside the
priest. looking straight at me, it SEEM
ed. with eye that saw nothing.
II was the factor-lawyer who broke
the silence, saying, with his predeter-
mined smirk, that the parchment was
ready for my signature. Thinking it
we'll beneath me TO measure words with
this knavish pettifogger. l looked be-
You'd him and spoke to his master.
II would have a word or two IN priv
ate with your daughter before this
matter ripens further, Mr.. Stair" l
said.
My lady dropped the priests arm and
came to stand beside me in the Win
dow-bay. / offered her a chair but she
refused to Sit. There was SO little time
TO spare that I must needs begin with
out preliminary.
What has your father told you,
Margery?' asked.
Fl tells me nothing that l care to
know"
But he has told you what you must
do?"
Yes" She looked with eyes that
saw me not.
And you are here to do it of your
own free wil?"
NO"
Yet it must be done"
$50 he says, and SO you say. But l
had rather die"
"'Tis not a pleasing thing. I grant
you, Margery; Notwithstanding, Of our
two evils it is by far the less. Be
think you a moment; tits but the say
ing OF a few words by the priest. and
the hearing of my name for some short
while till you can change it for a bet
ter"
Her d%eep-welled eyes met mine, and
In them was a flash of anger.
rs that what marriage means to
you, Captain lreton?"
mo truly. But we nave no choice.
TITS this. or l must leave you in the
morning to worse things than the bear
ing of my name. l would it had not
thus been thrust upon us, but I could
see no other way"
See what comes Of tampering with
the truth she said, INC l could see
her short lip curl with scorn. Why
should you lie and lie again. when any
one could see that it must come to his
or worSe?'
II saw 1t not" I said. But had l
stopped to look beyond the moments
need and seen the end from the begin
ming, l fear ! should a lied yet other
times. Your honor was at stake, lear
lady"
MY honor."-this in bitterest irony.
VIVA is a Woman's honor, sir, when
you or n man has patched and sewed
and sought to make 1t Whole again? I
will not say the word you'd have me
say!"
But you must say it, Margery. TITS
but the rnerest form; you forget that
you will be a wife only in name. 1
shall not live to make you rue it."
You make me rue it now before
hand. Mon Dieu! is a woman but a
thing, to stand before the priest and
plight her troth for 'lmerest form?'
You'll make me hate you while l live
and after"
You'd hate me worse, Margery dear,
If ! should leave you drowning in this
ditch. And car bear your hatred for
some few hours. knowing that if 1
sinned and robbed you, l did make
restitution as l could.'
She heard me through With eyelids
down and some fierce storm of passion
shaking her. And when she answered
her voice was low and soft; yet it cut
me like a knife.
You drive me to it-listen, sir, you
drive me to It! And I have said that l
mockery. as you say; n they are
waiting"
sought to take her hand and lead
her forth, but this she would not suf-
fer. She walked beside me, proud and
cold and scornful; stood beside me
while ! sat n read the parchment
over. 1t was no marriage settlement;
1T was a will, drawn out in legalsform.
And in 1t l bequeathed' to Margery
lreton as her true jointure, not any
claim OF min to Appleby Hundred, but
the estate itself.
I read 1t through as I have said, and.
looking across to these two plotters.
he miser-master n his henchman,
smiled as l had never thought to smile
again.
So" said I, the truth is out at last.
| wondered If the confiscation act had
left you wholly scatheless, Mr.. Stair.
Well. / am content. l shall die the
easier for knowing hat l have lain a
guest in my own house. Give me the
PEN
Twas given quickly, and l signed the
will, with Tybee and the lawyer for
the witnesses; Margery standing by
the while and looking on: though not,
I made sure, with any realizing of the
business matter.
When all was done the priest found
his book, and we stood before him.
the o1na who had sworn to hate. and
the man who, loving her to sull for
of death itself, must yet be
and formal, masking his love for