Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-11-23
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte.
b Z

handing 1t to Guy.
! White as a sheet was the latter:
face as he grasped it eagerly; but MOI
a word escaped his lips. He stood vi
Immediately and held it close to the
! electric light at the side of the fire
place. With his back to Reggie he
opened the knife and looked carefully
! at it.
| "Well?" queried Reggie, hoarsely.
Eyes, it must be the knife that was
used" was the reply.
| AS he said the last words Guy turn
ed round sharply and faced the fire
| Another moment and the penknife was
thrown into the center of the flames
You" Reggie began excitedly.
1T is better there!' retorted Guy.
"The initials ON it were C. E. :"
cried Reggie. with flashing eyes.
We'll, what of that" retorted Guy
with equally flashing eyes. What OF
that?" he repeated, in a laundering
voice.
Only that they are your initials, .
flung back Reggie.
1t was not the Reggie of hitherto
that was speaking now. Good-natured
second.
So you think am the murderer?
Your knowledge of my disposition
leads you to believe that am capable
of killing fellow creature! You are
superbly complimentary! never felt
more fiattered!'
Why did you throw the penknife
into the fire. You know it was most
important piece of evidence cried
Reggie.
There is one thing that have new
er tolerated from you, and that is crit
icism Of my conduct; and | won't toll
crate it now!"
Hang it all, don't care if you al
low it or mott shall certainly do it.
Being your brother, if you fall fall
With my fall Audrey's happiness and
my happiness are dashed to atoms
This morning it would not have mat
tered, and Hang it, though, l only
waste my breath talking of it! That
action Of yours-throwing the penknife
into the fire-speaks volumes. i don't
want to hear another word on the sub
ject.' He strobe toward the door as he
spoke. II don't want ever to see your
face again, or to hear of you or. from
you. IL it had affected only myself
now he was standing with his hand on
the door, his white, excited face turn
ed toward his brother-.'only myself"
he repeated, in trembling voice, sit
would have been quite different
thing, but to have to break the heart
of the dearest and sweetest girl in the
world makes me feel as if 1, your
brother, would like to put a bullet
through your head
81 wish you would" was the slowly
spoken reply.
It was an unexpected reply; it stag
gered Reggie; took from him the power
to heap scorn on his brothers head.
He looked at the tall, strongly-built
man leaning impassively with his back
to the Observation-Disclosures at his
strangely fearless eyes and air of per-
feet unresistance.
Why-why did you do it y he asked,
In a different voice.
Again tell you that you fiatter me
by your belief in my villainy.''
As that is ali you say. Will leave
this house In half an hour. Tomorrow
i shall break off my engagement with
Audrey
Then you will be fool. In the
end you will regret it,
To remain engaged to her would be
scandalons conduct on my part; since
1, like you, cannot marry, row that
our name Is crime stained Would that
! had known 1t this morning! Let me
tell you, Guy, that am utterly sur
prised at my own powers Of restraint
at this moment, and / despise myself
for them. Once more say that hope
we shall never meet again.
The door closed. Forever the broth
ers had parted. OF the two, the elder
was the more broken-hearted. He
staggered forward and flung himself
into a chair; then he buried his face
In his hands.
g Ida lost! Reggie lost! My own
-
unhappy existence alone left to me!''
he murmured, in a quivering voice.
a"Oh, God, how long must it go on?
How long can I stand it? If were to
go away there would be no one to keep
dillingham; curbed in. No, must stay,
live or die, for Hilda. 1t is the only
thing worth doing that i have got left
me ON earth to do. / have had my
fling at dissipation. and most ,unsatis-
factory found It! BY Jove! i little
knew that 1t was IN Reggie to act as
he has tonight. But love for a. girl
changes mans disposition; makes
him act like tiger when otherwise
he would be a lamb.
But 4 cant do anything. Unjust be
true to my part and live or die for the
woman 4 love. know what Reggie
would do If he knew all--go STRAIGHT to
the police. He would not screen that
black scnundrel Ellingham. After all.
z But 1 1T, because
still love Hilda- 1t is very Immoral to
do " Of course. But q heart is
heart. and can't be cut and pared down
to suit the requirements Of Law ana
society Thank heaven, the leanings.
or our hearts are our own secrets: And
-. .rL9.