The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-06-09
Copyright, 1897, by RoBEnr BosHEks Sons.
All r1vhts rassrved-
CHAPTER XII.

"Ye know no good o him, l be
bound, and I'm one as is not slow in
expressin' my mind about such cat
tie"
Don't, Kate, | beseech you"
All the while the marble white face
of Theodore was unmoved
is this your handbag. Laura?" he
asked, picking up the pretty, white
bag where the porter had left it.
Yes"
LET me carry it to the hotel for
you This good woman will assist
you Come, there is but one hotel in
| the place, and there is no missing it.
| 1t is long way from the landing, with
no cable line"
| In maze the unfortunate Laura
was led from the landing back toward
the hotel. She had left home, hoping
to be rid of her prosecutor, and found
him waiting at the landing for her.
She longed to know, and yet dreaded
to ask him why he had come to
Alaska. Her heart told her he was
on his way to the Klondyke, and she
felt strange dread of him.
On reaching the hotel, which was a
but roughly finished, she ordered a
room and was taken to it. Kate was
assigned miserable little apartment
near the kitchen, where she could
smell the beef roasting and hear the
cooks quarreling.
Laura had not been long in her
apartment when there came tap at
her door, and boy with tangled, red
hair entered and said:
EFF yer please, mum, thar's Teller
downstairs who gin me this keard fer
We, an says he'd like ter chin yes a
bit"
Laura took the small. ceat card
from the dirty hand of the boy and,
glancing at it, read the name of Theo-
dore Lakeland. Should she see him
She knew the interview must come. In
fact she wished for it on her own ac-
count, so why not have it at once
understand each other and have it
over with?
She told the boy that she would see
Lllc stranger dt OllCS. anu ne DOVE
his red head and retired from the
apartment. She neryed herself for
the coming interview.
There came light rap at the door
Come in" she said.
The door opened and Theodore
Lakeland entered the apartment
There was an insidious smile on his
face. as he said:
You did not expect to meet me
did your"
Il certainly did not she answered
her eyes growing round with astonish
ment
II hope my appearance did not
nerves, and now that it is over l trust
you will be glad to have friend in
this strange, wild land"
There was short pause, aftel
which he went on:
II will be frank with you. Miss
Kean. l came that might be neal
you
II am capable Of taking care of my
self" she answered.
But while concede all that,
reasoned that you were coming to {
land beset by many dangers, ant
could not feel comfortable in the
thought that you were alone. hac
leisure and means, and consequent,
why not devote them to your ser
vice? Oh, Laura" and he drew hi!
chair q little nearer to her. 81 know
you spurn me. know you believe me-
to be . deceitful hypocrite, but an
not so bad as you think. am YOU
friend-your best friend If you will
only permit me-"
II cannot"
"You have mistaken me all along.
Perhaps at times l have. but
know you now"
Laura, will you listen to me {
moment.-iust one moment?'
Eyes, I will have to do so. as l hav,
no other choice"
His voice regained its calmness, bu
his manner was still agitated.
II may serve you even yet" b.
said. Il have done you much wrong
II know that-and him. too. die
you and him wrong, knowing
would repent it to the last hour o
my life. but l was driven to it; hac
no power to resist lit mastered m,
then; 1t masters me now"
Theodore had risen and took a stel
nearer.
Laura" he said, and his voice Eel
to a broken whisper, Il love you 81
l can see you the wife of another i
he can make you more happy than
Do you believe there can be an unset
fish love? l know it, and swear tina
II you can be more happy as the wife
OF Paul Miller. then l will go with
you all over the world to find Pau
Miller. and If he be living will FIND
him and give him to you"
His words had produced q profound
effect on Laura, and she could only
gaze on him in wonder. Overwhelm
ed by the ardent manner Of the man
she was speeches. and dumbfounded
When she could regain her voice sh'
said:
Heaven forgive me. Mr.. Lakeland
a. h.~,n Ao~o ~y<>,, }s,i ,,uf{co -