Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-09-21
EAL SELY &&
CONDEMNED
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte.

fore the servants came down stairs.
! ! wonder what he's doing?. Sleeping
sound!y, expect How he hates
screening me! It's only for Hilda' s
sake that he is doing it. | wonder If
he will extract from me any reward
for it-any kind of moral payment.
I wish knew what he was doing now
sleeping, or thinking over matters,
Or Anyhow, it's of no use specu-
lating on that subject"
He was right, and Erskine was the
| very last man to volunteer informa.
ton on a matter concerning which
| his mind was IN state of uncertain
| ty. it was Hilda's life's happiness
and peace on earth that he was aim
| ing at securing One by one possible
| means of obtaining it arose in his
mind and were carefully thought out;
but one by one they were cast aside
as impossible.
Nothing can ever stamp out the
err he thought to himself, with a
/ look Of fierce resentment, "and Hilda
not his legal wife and their child with
out the right to bear his fathers name
or to inherit his fathers estates. I'll
defy any man to know thoroughly
! happy hour, weighed down with the
secret of this nights tragedy. But it's
wonder what the day will bring
forth ?"
/ But, contrary to all he feared, it
was fated to pass with comparative
! uneventfulness.
| Early in the day Hilda arrived at
Arlington Towers, and it required the
combined efforts of both Sir George
and Guy to induce her not to send at
once for DR.. Bennett.
Guy watched the carriage drive
away, or to be more accurate, he
watched Hilda. Save for her presence
he would not have vouchsafed a glance
at the carriage.
"By Jove, how sorry l am for the
dear girl" he exclaimed, mentally.
"To see her in that nice turnout,
drawn by those thoroughbreds and sit
| ting by the side of one of the hand
] soonest men in the world, makes one
| almost think that all l know is an i'm
possibility, and last nights work only
a hideous dream. Heaven grant that
she never learns the truth of her po-
sition, or hears of that scoundrel's
crime. It's the best thing to do with
| ugly questions arising in ones mind
every five minutes, to be answered
by a cold chill of fear. I wonder when
| the woman's relations will be on her
| track? Very soon, expect. Then
detectives will appear on the scene,
and we, both the murderer and l,
will live in fever of anxiety, fearing
the truth will be discovered. would
indeed, like to be able to see a year
ahead. Oh, no, wouldn't! Ten days
ahead would be enough. But I'll put
an end to this solitude; I'll telegraph
asking Reggie to come and stay here
notwithstanding fears to the con.
1 trary, those succeeding ten days pass
| ed placidly by. Sir George acted
throughout as if he were well, although
looking desperately i'll.
But that look of desperate illness
kept Hilda always at his side.
you seem to have quite changed
/ dearest, since the night of the acct
dent" she said one day.
They were alone. He was covering
over a bright fire; she was standing
! at his side.
Never make that remark again
Hilda," he replied, quickly.
Instantly she was kneeling dowr
and her arms stealing about his necl
and her lips pressed against his face
| Darling, darling, husband mine,
i she murmured, gently, caressingly
4 "You know would never Intentionally
! say a word to hurt your feelings
Again she kissed him, and again.
4 Poor man, she said gaily. "What
1 it is to have an adoring wife!"
4 "And what it is for that alteration
to be returned" he answered with
sudden vehemence, throwing his arms
/ around her and straining her to hin
4 with; frantic strength.
4 L 1t was only for moment, this
/ display of love; the next instant hi
i had untwined her arms and risen tt
his feet.
II will go out for stroll" he said
! ut has cleared up" Then, as he op
i ened the door, he added, 81 shan
be away for more than an hour o.
two"
In the hall an old man, who had thu
appearance Of being field laborer
4 was standing hat in hand, nervousl,
| cycling his luxurious surroundings.
HE wants to speak to you, SIR
4 explained the footman. HE says h,
4 has come long distance and wants
to see you on a very pressing matter
4 but won't give his name. sir"
Show him into my business room,
q replied Sir George.
A minute later he followed the maj
and closed the door carefully behins
4 him.
my name is searle, sir. began tn.
4 visitor.
les, said Sir George, taking sea
with its back to the window.
4 He guessed who the old man was.
81 hope as you'll excuse my havin,
Il had the courage to come. sir. !"
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