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

iiole VI lSlllOFSe IMAM disappointment
IN his mind, as he took his way down
the path, the frozen leaves cracking
under his feet, the black boughs bend
ing toward him. the gate swinging
with hollow bang behind him.
lie was In no humor to visit his club
! ana meet his fellow men, his mind be-
ing all unhinged. and having nothing
In common with the idle interests that
amused them, and yet he shrank from
solitude, where he felt himself the un-
protected prey of thoughts that gnawed
| his heart and bereft him of peace He
therefore walked for hours along roads
and avenues, through squares and.
streets always in the center of crowds
| that distracted him and bore him COM
pany without intruding on him.
Eventually he decided on returning
to his home and writing his apologies
to Olive Dumbarton, but when he
found himself seated at his desk he
seemed unable to carry out the task
which he felt assured could be much
| more readily accomplished in an inter-
view, which he would seek annd obtain
a few days later. Slowly and dismally
the day wore itself out, yet from his
experience of the past night he dreaded
to retire, knowing that in no other
place than his bed is man so much the
victim of narrowing thoughts, distress
/ Ing SpeculationS and terrible fears to
| which darkness lends force.
But fatigue overcoming him, he lay
| down and slept soundly, not waking
! until late the following morning, when
his mind seemed calmer. his head more
clear. What he now most desired was
an interview with his cousin, that he
might by calm and resolute words as
sure her of George Bostock's guilt, and
show her the suspicious to which she
left herself open II she. notwithstand-
Ing his confession. continued to assert
| his innocence. So again he drove to
| t,n,, u tr>ll 11,t l,.n
servant that her mistress was better,
but was yet unable to leave her rooms
or to suffer any disturbance.
And feeling less worried and not SO
| depressed, Vale-ius went to his club.
Where he lunched, and whence he wrote
"A note to Olive. begging her to see him
as soon as she felt able. Afterward
he spent some hours in the smoking
| ana sitting rooms. and then set out to
walk home in the afternoon. Leaving
Pail Mall he hurried through ST.
| Jamess park on his way to Knights
bridge, and had got as faras Hyde Park
corner. when the shrll cry of a news
| boy made him suddenly pause; he had
caught the name of George Bostock
| and Immediately concluded the pub
lisher's death was being announced.
| But while Nalerius stood with ears
strained to catch the words which were
| being shouted, a friend Joined him.
This" said the latter, military
man with fresh face and gray hair
this Is strange news about Bostock."
HIS death?" gasped Valerius
Ills death--why, there would be
nothing unexpected in that"
What then?' Galb:aith asked.
His probable recovery"
"lmpossible!" exclaimed Galbraith.
| 1T seems there's nothing impossible to-
science nowadays-read for yourself
answered tie military man. handing
an evening paper he had just bought to
| Nalerus
The latter. with an effort to steady
himself took the paper, and walking
TO a neighborlng lamp, read by its
light of the operation made that morn
Ing by Sir Pugin Tate on George Bos-
took; whose recovery, It was stated.
would probably be merely a question
Of weeks Valerius kept his eyes on
the paper until the words danced be-
fore him and made his brain feel
giddy.
Well, that's plain enough" he heard
his companion say, but the words came
to him as from distance, and he was
Unable to reply
you are naturally interested in the,
case?" the voice said.
Naturally" Valerius forced himself
to reply as he returned the paper All
his senses We're stunned for the mo-
ment. his mind in chaos.
The fellow will find himself In q
predicament he never expected, and
serves him right, too" the military
man remarked as he walked beside
Galbraith, who had mechanically
"A very strange predicamentn Va
| lerius murmured
But then 1t has been q remarkable
case from the beginning"
It's not true; 1t can't be true" Va
| lerius suddenly cried out.
"What?" :
| His recovery. It's something the
newspapers have got to create a sensa-
| ton and sell copies. / have often
known them to hoax the public be-
fore, and such 9 thing should be pun
ished." Galbraith exclaimed.
think your supposition is wrong,''
replied his companions; "the details are
too circunstantial, and they would not
give Sir Pugin Tates name If he had
not carried out the operation"
But l tell you there must be some
mistake. Yesterday the mans life
was declared hopeless. and now" -
Time will tell" said the military
man calmly.
"Tll not wait for time" yalerius am
swered hurriedly. IN drive at once
to the hospital and learn whether this
report Is true or false" and hailing
hanson. he sprang into it before Its
wheels touched the curbstone, uncere-
moniousiy leaving his friend. who
gazed after him in surprise.
On reaching the hospital Valerius
was assured that the report in the
evening papers was quite true, and that
the patient continued to progress ia
vorably. On hearing this Galbraith
turned away abruptly, and regaining
his cab drove home. What the thoughts
were that seethed through his mind
that night, now reaching a ferment
of fury that nearly drove him to mad
ness, and again subsiding until merely
the stuDor Of pain remained, no man
may know. !.
With eyes wide open and fixed he sat
in his study through midnight and the
early hours Of dawn, letting his fire
die out gradually until the last red
embers turned to ashes, scarcely con-
scious the while of the cold which
crept over him as might death itself.
chilling his blood, almost freezing his
heart, until at last, as IL he had come
| to a resolution there was no gain
saying, TO a point from which there
was no turning, he suddenly rose to
his feet Then, as If awaking to con-
seriousness. he shuddered Violently.
went 10 the spirit case and filed out
some brandy which he hurriedly swal-
lowed, when with the calmness OF ex-s
haustion that succeeds hours Of mentas
strain. Ne retired to bed.
Continued Next Week.)
A Few Remarks.