The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-01-03

you! WOuiu XIII you even now, III YOUR
death would undo any Of the harm you
have worked me. But it is all over, and
the next thing you will hear is that
have killed myselfv
why do you hate me so bitterly,
Pauline" he asked; and he studied her
attentively while she answered:
Because you have been by evil
genius ever since / became your wife.
If had not married you, my life might
have been as happy and pleasant as
other women's lives are. No sooner did
know that l was my uncle's heiress than
| my happiness was destroyed by hearing
| that was to inherit only on the condi-
| ton that l did not marry without my
| guardians consent. Thanks to you, this
condition was already broken; and my
six years of possession have been en-
| Uttered by the certainty in my own
mind that you were alive somewhere
F! and would surely find me some day,
SO much to obtain"
Polling sighed heavily and took up his
| hat.
"You will let me come and see you
again?"
why? You do not care for me in
the least Why should you take so much
trouble to be civil to me?'
| you are my wife. No amount of dis
| like or shortcomings on your part alters
that fact. We have been very unfortu-
nate in the past. | can see you are UNI
happy; and, in an indirect way, | am
the cause of your unhappiness. | would
| give great deal to make things brighter
for you, if you would let me-
She was touched by the earnestness
! of his manner and tone.
"You are very good she said; "and
am sorry behaved so badly to you"
She stood silent for a few moments,
Polling watching her quietly; while they
so stood the clock on the mantelpiece
| struck II.
you must so now" she told him
hurriedly. Il have an appointment to
ride with some friends. Come again at
this time tomorrow"
He did not attempt any outward dis
| play of affection, but passed down the
stairs. He met Babette half way down.
with whom does your mistress ride
to-day" he asked.
| with the Baroness de Belette"-a
woman well known for the pertinacity
with which she had chung to the extreme
| edge of respectable society for the last
| five years. They have a wager as to
who will ride the greatest distance on a
| horse belonging to Monsieur Crevin
which has always refused to carry a
| lady"
| Polling went on with a little unac-
| EnnwlaHpn6 of in
would go back and try to dissuade Pau
| line from this mad freak but that he
| knew it would be useless; and any show
| of authority on his part just now might
| perhaps undo the little good he believed
he had accomplished.
| He drove straight back to the hotel,
and sat with his chin resting on his
hands at the little table in the window
| of his room. He was in a strange state
| of mingled hope and dread. He did not
| know what he wished; he only knew that
| he meant to do what he conceived to be
| his duty; the rest he must leave in higher
| hands.
While thus musing over the past, he
was brought back to the present by the
| sight of his wife cantering by in COM
pany with several others; and, following
| them, he noticed fidgety chestnut horse,
with a sidesaddle on, which was being
led by groom. Pauline looked up and
bowed gravely; he returned the greeting.
How handsome she looked! How well
she sat her horse! How proud he might
have been of her if she had never allow
ed the love of riches to crowd the wom-
anliness out of her heart! He leaned
fnr rI or har for hn
could see from the window.
An hour later Polling was STOPPING
over his wife's poor crushed body in one
of the little chatlets in the Bots de Bou-
logne. She had been thrown and tram
pied on, and was dying of internal hem
orrhage Her voice was very low, and
her words came slowly, with many
pauses.
ct is heavens Justice! After you
had gone this morning made up my
mind to do as you wished. / thought
would try to love you--you were so
good--and we should be-happy toge.h-
err. had no right to be happy-after
my wickedness and heaven has-settled
itw
''My poor mistaken girl!'
Eyes, that is true. I've been mis-
taken al-my life. No one ever-tried
to make me good. l was always left to
scrvants-when l was--a child. Heaven
is just, and the great Judge will re-
member my-great temptations. VIII
You kiss me-just once, Alec? Say you
forgive met will make my mind
easier"
In spite of his efforts not to disturb
her last moments by any show Of feel
ing, a large tear dropped upon her face.
She looked at him wonderingy, and put
up her finger to his cheek.
.For me" she said very softly-"you
cry for me- ! do not deserve-to have