Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-09-14
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte.

Now two men with lanterns were
walking straight toward him, as il
they guessed he were there-even
saw him already. Now only twenty
yards separated him and them, now
only fifteen, now only ten, and his
heart was beating so thunderously
loud. Thud! thud! thud! the men
must hear it! Even if they had not
already seen him his uncomfortable
heart must reveal his presence.
Il say, JIM" whispered one of the
men, with arresting sharpness.
F Eyes," queried the man addressed,
speaking in an irritable voice.
Don't let's keep on any more along
this way. Where's the chance of his
having come up here? What'd he do
1t for?"
"Of course, it amt likely he'd come
away from the path and up here"
was the tired reply. 81 only came to
satisfy her ladyship. She's in such
state Of worry about him. / never
knew anything madden than a-ordering
of us all to hunt through the woods
this time of night,
these high-born ladies are that
nervous" said the first speaker; "al-
ways gettin' into frights when them
as have to work for their livin' would
not take any heed, and Lor'!
wasn't that summat moving? amt
goin' to stay here any longer! I'll
go back to the others. It's soaring
work being up here, just you an me
alone"
= agrees with you there; but. like
as not, it was only rabbit or fox
you heard just now
"Leastways, we won't say word
about it to the others; will your"
Not Il" was the emphatic rejoin-
der.
AS Sir George heard the last word
he uttered a mental cry Of thankful
ness. Suddenly, Unexpectedly, nearly
all danger of detection had subsidized.
j In few minutes he might venture
to lessen the pressure of his thorn
pierced limbs against the ground. Al
ready he was stealthily moving them
little, Just enough to decrease the
agony OF his strained position.
Now the two men were rejoining the
rest Of the search party, and Hilda was
heard interrogating them.
you saw nothing or heard moth
ing?" she asked.
Nothing, my lady" they answered
simultaneously.
Then all moved on, slowly search
ing right and left. At last they passed
out of sight, their voices grew indis-
tinct. and the silence of night once
more held its sway over the wood.
As noiselessly as possible, for the
sound OF MS own movements terri
fed him, Sir George stood up and
peered around.
I'm alone once more. thank Heay-
en!" he whispered to himself.
Then there rushed into his mind the
bewildering question, What is to be-
come of me?"
What, indeed?
The motionless form in the shallow
pit still remained to be completely
covered up; no fraction of the blood
stained clothes must be left exposed
to view. Well concealed the body
might remain undisturbed for years
and years--until all trace of identity
and proof Of the tragic end would
be gone. Once more dead leaves and
bracken were being quickly thrown
into the shallow pit. At last, hidden
quite from view was the lifeless form
Of Hilda's rival.
Then Sir George staggered to his
feet and moved away.
Would that every incident of this
CHASTITY night could be as easily hid
den and the sin of murder as easily
biotted out! he said to himself, as
bitter despair took possession Of his
mind.
He glanced homewards; then shook
his head II he returned to Carlton
Park he would have to explain why
his clothes were bioodstained, and
why he had SO long delayed his return
home. and why his hands were toll
stained. .sg
All must be explained to the extent
OF entirely allaying apprehension.
And were ever explanations more
difficult to coin?
Return home he could not! He had
not the requisite courage! Then
where should he go? Where could he
go? He could not remain standing
where he was. He must move away
SO to the north, south. east or west.
But It was to home that he yearned
to go; Hilda thatahe yearned to see;
their child that he longed to look at
again. Yet he was no child worship
per; he had loved their boy because
he had represented the completenss
OF their home life and was his heir.
the being who was to carry down to
another generation the time-honered
name Of Ellingham. This nights crime
had been committed in ! frengied at
tempt to prevent the completeness Of
] that ioxnns home lie being ~ 6 81
away. Yet already he was staggered
blythe difficulties of benefiting ~ his
ssr1tnl nytsr,xa 70.