The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-08-31
Stairs Of
|Sand....

y - " w NANN ONAA wv ENtt ~
had a chance to protest that u souvenir
was not necessary. she had fitted away
out beyond the light into the shadows.
After h had gone he found himself
listening to a myriad OF voices ~ tie
forest. that seemed To fall with irrttat-
ing reiterance on his ears. He felt far
from being In n cheerful mood. not
knowing what the future might bring
forth. or II. indeed. ne would ever SEE
her again. IL was such "A breaking
away from old ties. this starting out.
after the placid years he had spent as
the village school teacher. Sometimes
he wondered IL h. was NJ To wage a
good night beyond there. In the hum
ming city. Well. at least. he was not
without courage. and. ~ he went down.
IL would be TO fall lighting.
How long the girl was, II seemed
90 him that she must have been gone
for hours. Perhaps she had been de-
tanned. and II would be impossible for
her To return. still. knowing what a
passionate little person h was. and
accustomed pretty much to having her
own way. az would have been "A dim
cult matter for them To have kept her
back. Finally. he could bear the wait
Ing no longer. but rose n stepped out
To- the edge OF the trees. looking
anxiously In the direction OF the house.
- NRaAA w FAAA ~ a ~ NAAfAA AAEA
meeting should be 30 woefuliy cur
tailed.
A step behind him. and. M he turned.
u was To face Mrs. Ellison. Even I'm
that ligh. he saw that her face wore an
angry expression.
What are you doing here"
lie did not answer. for the surprise
of the meeting checked his speech. She
vas a tall, handsome woman, and worc
n n gN.NNnw lr... sNns lf.al....N 49,. a..
arms n bosom. In the moonlight.
with the dark trees around. she was n
picture for a painter.
She was fEyIiigtng a garden hat back
and forth In one jewcied hand. with an
angry gesture. then. stamping her foot.
h repeated the question:
II ask you again. sir. what are you
doing In these groundA?"
III may be hat I came To take 4 last
look At the housc-of my friend. Mr..
Ellison" he stammercd.
You might ave spared yourself that
trouble-since II IN my house and not
his" which was true. Dick knew. since
the wife had the fortune. And now.
since you have seen II. go"
Yes" replied the young man. but
making no move TO leave.
II know that Il was one OF the fam
ily you came To see" she continued with
itrAhk 1HNtEs u NHNNIuNhihAt MI FIN
son on his protcgc. a fine guardian for
young people. truly. Sneaking In here.
like n thief In the night. 10 see my
daughter. who ls loo young to know
better"
Your daughter viii never suffer at
my hands. madam" the anger rising
within him. which he dared not give
m 10.
Enough! We will not discuss that
matter. Your presence here Is n suf-
ncient answer. And now ! insist again
IN your going. DO q want me 10 APP
peal to the servants?"
IL will go. I win GO murmured
poor Dick, ~ ne moved away
cursing his misfortune In having en-
countered his beautiful fury ut such
n time. Once he looked back. only
to nnd that ehc was still standing I'm the
path looking after him. She doubtless
meant to remain there until she was
sure that he was on his way ont OF the
park. With a sigh he went on his way.
until a turn OF the path hid heT from
sight.
Then he stopped for "A Ome 20
consider. Should he not he able To re-
turn by n Circuitous rout,, To the place
where he was 20 wait for Grace? What
would she think II she arrived there
and found he was gone? Was IL not
hbNAh UIhNAUE tNNW the AuEtI OF MEN.
Ellison TO try and see her again? While
he vas considering the matter an ago.
nized cry In n womnn's voice rang
through the woods. Had something
happened 90 Grnce2 Without n mo-
mcnt's hesitation. he dashed back over
the road he had just %truversed. Il was
only "A short distance before he almost
stumbled over the figure OF n woman
on the ground. IL was very dark at
VIng RANv.N a.sNA... - -.
and picked her up, carrying her into
the light. IL was Mrs. Ellison. Her
eyes were closed, "A a pallur on
her face. He laid her gently on the
bank ut the side OF the Dad. Had she
faintedr IL was strange hat he should
be the first one 10 come to the assist
ance Of a woman who a been abusing
him but n few moments before. Had
the excitement OF that short interview
so worked on her nerves that she had
tainted? What was To be done? IL
was an embarrassing position for him
To- be In. There was nothing that he
could do 10 help her. and yet help was
needed. Should ne call for assistance?
There seemed To be nothing else to do:
he could not leave the poor woman
there, even II she had insulted him.
Then. as he leaned over her. hoping to
see some signs OF returning conscious
ness, a teelinK OF terror
Crcpt over him. There was "A strange
stain on the white silk waist. a stain
that. as he watched. seemed TO be
spreading s~lowly-slowly. Filled with
horror at the sight. and the conscious
ness that ne was In the presence OF the
victim OF a tragedy. he looked around
him with frightened eyes. Then he
turned instinctively to his hands they
felt warm and strangely moist. With a
feeling OF overcoming faintness, he
stopped hastily and began To hurriedly
clean them on The sas II seemed as
lift seemed as IL the stains would
never come out.
He was rising. eager to be on his way
To h house and warn the people OF
what a taken place. Then he felt a
strong hand grasping his shoulder. He
remembered trying To wrench himself
free. Then the confused sound of many
voices. the fash Of lanterns and inpre-
cations, I'm which his name was mingled.
then "A blow that mcrCifully seemed To
dispel all these distorted visions. and a
grateful oblivion hat hid everything.
CHAPTER II.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE BARS.
The landlord 81 the BIueball inn OF
ENton vas duZing I'm "A corner Of his
cafe one morning, mOodily meditating