Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-03-03
CHAPTER xxx.

~ lAgV liz hoA "
love for George Bostock was respon
slble for her husbands murder, Va
ierius had walked about the neishbor-
hood Needless OF where he went so long
az he avoided crowds and traffic, his
mind in a state of fierce rebellion
against the woman whose presence he
had Quilted. against the man for whom
she had confessed her love.
All the affection Falerius had felt
for he. throughout his life turned TO
bitterness ut the avowal she had made;
the dislise he had ever entertained
toward Rostock deepened to hate. For
the publisher had succeeded in gain
iug what he, Valefius, had from boy
hood sought In vain to win. That she
had denied TO him was freely given TO
one. who, by comparison, was a
stranger,
With n rapid pace he traversed
winding reads and long avenues now
almost deserted, dead leaves from the
rapidly barring branches iuttering in
his face, the sharp ring OF his foot
steps or the frosty paths audible at
long distances, his thoughts in wild
disorder, his face distorted by passion.
his feelings outraged, jealousy singing
him 10 madness.
Not Until q couple OF hours had
JOY - Al&g w A. ~
scious OF the fact. slacken his pace
through sheer WEAKNESS, and his emo
tons having meanwhile reached their
highest pitch Of fury, now began to
subside. Then he reflected on the part
he had recently played, his thoughts
roming 10 the subject casually n
fittingly ut first, afterward with
steady pcrsistency that was all the
more welcome, because IL r to
inAict upon himself fresh pain, more
acute than he had yet felt.
The insolence. the bitterness, the cru
city Of his words stood out before him
IN their tue colors. n he reviewed
and realized the cowardice, the inhu-
mainly, the injustice of his bearing
toward her he had yer loved, whom
he loved now more than ever. And as
he viwed mis- conduct in this light.
his contempt and loathing for himself
were only ~equalled by his compassion
and affection for her.
TO strike her down with uch a
weapon as he had used, at such a time
AS he had sought, was to nave behaved
rs a despicable ~scoundrel, as an UNI
manly wretch. What words of his
could now take from her the pain he
had inflicted, which must rankle in
ner mind and poison her peace for
many q day to- come? What deed
Of his could make r%eparation for the
wrongs he had done her? He paused
m his walk and leaned against a wall
for support. daZed and weary, all in
1ignation and hate having burned
themselves o u of his heart, which was
now fun OF remorse and pity.
And for long he remained there lost
In thought, the past with all the pleas
ures he had known in his association
witt her. thronging back from forgot
ten years; the future with all its un-
certainty, humiliation, pain and terror,
rising before him.
A sudden chill from the bitter night
air striking him. brought him to a
Consciousness of the present. One
thing ut least he resolved must be done
woman he had %grievously .insulted, as
sure 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 road
IN which he found himself was I'M
familiar, Ink having with some trou
bic discovered its name. he knew not
N what direction it led, or to where
he should turn in search of his destin-
alton
Resolutely he set out looking round
Cor some familiar landmark until
eventually coming in sight of q church,
ae recognized his bearings and made
straight for the Hixton road. Through
nut his walk his determination to seek
Olive D~umharton's pardon never wav-
cred until coming in sight of her house,
when the lateness OF the hour. and.1s.
dnsuftability for a visit struck him.
He looked at his watch and saw that
1t was long past midnight. For all
that he went to the garden gate, and
pushing it, found as he expected, that
It was locked. He then stepped across
to the other side of the road, that he
night see the upper windows of the
house which were all in darkness.
With mingling feelings of relief and
regret he saw that the moment of the
meeting must be postponed: but he
was in no hurry to quit the spot,
SsatiS1c from his long "-:G.s ,r.car:acSS
from the conflict of his thoughts, and
The reaction Of his excitement set in
npon him, and he rested there against
the wall which faced the house, sat
isfied to wait until chance should SEND
I'm his "a a passing cab hat would
drive him home.
And as he fingered there, his thoughts
full of Olive Dumbarton, the hill
which follows on inaction after exer-
else struck him again, the more read
lily that he was clad in evening dress,
~whereupan he wrapped the heavy folds
Of his Inverness cape around 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,
ne gazed at the man before him. and
recognized the anxious, frightened face
OF Quinton Quaye.
1t happened on this particular even
ing that the young medical man. hav-
tMar N.nrx. GsxRf.,r xpffA rnp. frin.1- -
Kensington, had remained in their
pleasant company until late when
catching his last train he had arrived
- after midnight at Marlborough
Road station, from which he walked
home.
Now the principal topic of converse
ton at dinner had been the Hixon road
tragedy N the startling confession of
George Bostock. which the late edi-
lions OF the afternoon papers had pub
lished SO that he subject in which. he
was deeply interested was fresh in
Quinton's mind as he took his home
ward way. With bent head he reflected
that the mar 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 i'm
stantly stood still as If he had received
"A shock, for there before him In the
same spot, wearing the self same cloak
~concealing the lower part of his face
and giving him the foreign air, stood
tho mar nc had seen 0 n the night
David Dumba.ton was killed. Concern
Ing this conclusion there could be no
doubt: IL was one OF those sudden
convictions which no reasoning to the
contrary could weaker or refute.