The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-14

pause IN the talk he said, with sue
den seriousness, II must be going. !
shall not be away for more than an
/ hour suppose, but am going to call
on Alex. He must come down with
me and explain that business 10 his
cousin"
"Yes," replied Billery, II am going
to ask him Ito travel down with US.
There Is some rather unpleasant It'd.
ings which want to ask him to carry
to Mr.. Aloysius Brangwyn. Alex and
are old chums. but Aloysius and
only just know each other. and he has
some reason to dislike me-"
"You must not go upon that errand,"
said Lillian. gravely. alexis will not
meet his cvusin. ! am very sorry. but
there is a division between them, and
both Of them say that 1t is final"
At this Billery looked very serious
indeed.
This is a dreadful pity" he said
Dare ask-I would not dare II 1t
were not a question OF moment-can
you tell me which Of them Is answera-
BILE for the misunderstanding"
II can tell you that" said Lillian.
Alexis confesses that he alone IL to
blame"
Thank Heaven for that" Billery
broke out so impulsively that Lillian
started at his tone.
"Why do you say that in such .
way?" she asked.
"Well," said Billery, II am the un-
willing bearer of most unpleasant
news, and If the condition of things
had been reversed-if, mean, 1t had
been Alexis who declined to receive
his cousin-it might have put an ugly
color On what have to say"
"Is there any trouble?" Lillian asked.
"Yes, Miss Lee, there is . little
trouble, but have the best OF reasons
for believing that it will be dissipated
in a moment, and that you will never
hear Of It."
Deal candidly with me, Mr.. Bill
cry" Lillian besought him. She had
grown very pale, and her beautiful lips
even trembled a little. Il can bear
anything rather than suspense"
"Tell her" said Belle. She'll laugh
the thing to scorn, as do"
Thus urged, Billery spoke.
'It's nothing less than the re-dish-
ing Of the old suspicious against Alloy
sius. I have the best of grounds-the
very best of grounds-for believing
that he holds overwhelming proofs OF
his own innocence. You know, per-
haps, Miss Lee, that was at one time
engaged in the inquiry am ashamed
to say now that at that time l be-
lieved him to be guilty"
THAT he should be guilty is impos-
sible," said Lillian. THAT is outside
nature. A nobler heart, gentler, nev-
er beat. A man more rooted In honor
than Aloysius never breathed. know
him as few know him, and I would an
swer for him with my life."
The tears flashed in her eyes but
did not fall.
$50 would l." answered Billery.
now that I understand him better
than 1 did. But the news I have to
take him is distressing to me and can.
not be other than q grave annoyance
to himself
"Tell me-" said Lillian.
"He will be arrested tomorrow" /"
Billery answered.
IT am glad to know 1t for his sake.
There will be public inquiry and he
will be forced to clear himself. He
has disdained to do 1t until now. Alexis
himself at one time suspected him
and helped to spread suspicion. That
is one reason why they are divided
now, although they both aver another
and one more serious"
"Ye take 1t we'll, me dear" said
Belle, laying a hand on one Of hers.
''Ye take it as looked to ye to take
It."
"You must come with me-" Lillian
answered, rising from the table. "But
I will take this news to Aloysius. 1t
will come to him more gently from me
than from anybody else. knew him
as soon as knew my own father, and
he is 50 sure Of my affection and es-
teem that it would not hurt him as II
would If the news were told BY one
who IL half a stranger"
Ito Be continued.)