The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-08-17
CHAPTER Viii.


Billery did not die that time but he
lay for a week in the balance. Alexis
suffered a good deal from the neces-
sary invasion Of his privacy, and the
discovery of Billery's terrible secret
was all the harder to endure because
in the very nature of things it was
impossible for him to seek any sort of
friendly consolation or advice. 1t was
not thing to breathe word about to
any human creature, and whilst
Billery lay under his roof unconscious
his host went almost crazy with ankle.
ty and with wonder as to what course
of action he would take when he re-
covered. 1t was quite impossible to
know whether that drunken declara-
Stion Of his resolve to do his duty and
to make his knowledge common prop
erty would be put in effect or not. He
had always been so much of wealth
ercock that he could be blown this
way or that by any gust of feeling;
but for the time being, at least, Billery
was not amenable to reason, or in a
state to be appealed to. however gent
ly.
If under these conditions Alexis
sometimes found his self-possessiou
severely tested, and If at times he al
lowed that fact to be seen, 1t was, per-
haps, hardly to be wondered at. 1t
was evident to most Of those who
were close to him at this period of his
trials that he put a grsat restraint
upon himself with regard to Rillery.
He was sometimes on the very verge
of an angry outbreak with Gervase,
who had hitherto found him the least
exacting Of masters. the suavest tenn
pered, and the most easily pleased
Now that unhappy servitor stole about
his duties with sense of an over
charge of electricity in the air and a
constant expectation of thunder
storm. There were two nurses in
waiting on the patient, one attending
by night and one by day, and the alb
ruptness of Alexis's manner kept them
both in fear. But there was simply
no end to his patience and kindness to
Billery, who, when he began to APP
proaeh recovery. was extremely try
ing. He brought him grapes and iellies
and all manner of comforting and
Strengthening things. and he was so
uniformly gentle in the sick room that
everybody preferred to encounter him
there rather than elsewhere.
But when Billery was we'll on his
way to convalescence his hosts insta.
bility took such hold upon him that
sometimes he would march from the
room in which the invalid sat or
/ lounged at rest and would ease his
mind by the use of vigorous language
until he felt that he had let of steam
enough, and that it was safe for him
to return.
We'll. Alexis" said the convalescent
one evening when they were alone to-
gether, II suppose must be of to.
morrow. I shall never find words in
which to gay how much l thank you
for AL your kindness. You've been
better than brother to me. old chap.
came here and blurted out that
dreadful news Of mine when I wasn't
In At state to tell It. I've been a
chastity nuisance ever since, imposing
myself on you 40 IL you were an insti.
tuition for the relief Of submerged In.
ebriates, and you've been miracle Of
forgiveness. I'm deeply touched. Alex.
and I'm profoundly grateful, and on
top q Il III. old chap. I'm more
ashamed than I can Ny"
And DtlSfy. being stin Wy veal