The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-11-21
CHAPTER yyI-(Contipued. }

WIFE, dHu Lub ApitSoioli III MS ~
"a 10 carry her back to her lost youth.
Forgive me-" said Ben again, not quite
steadily. "Mayhap you don't remember
me, Liz. It's many year, my lass, since
I'VE. stood face to face. When l look at
tou," Ben went on, little hoarsely, 1t
scems to me as if time must have gone
back. You look so like what you used TO
be-"
Sylvia pat out her hand.
~Bep," she said, dear friend Ben
Ben Coop took her hand and pressed
~ between his two big ones. She had the
came sensation upon her as il she were
child who had found protector.
"Let us sit down here awhile" She said.
SrYou must tell me all about yourself,
Ben. I saw you a few mornings ago. You
were in the park, speaking with beauti-
ful girl. Perhaps l should not have rec
S0nized you, only that she spoke your
hame, and then / seemed to see your old
self."
They seated themselves upon the other
eide OF the leather couch upon which
Gerald Tenby was sitting Sylvia had for
gotten oil about him. She forgot every
ching at this moment, save the strange
tMCL That huc, "uO,- lOI ~ many scdloi
had done her best TO put the seal of Sc
crecy upon her beginning, who had work
ed diligently to separate herself from all
Ghe old people in the North, should find
&c not only possible but even a happiness
% be with Ben.
~My life's not worth the telling lass"
Ben said, as he seated himself, awkward
ty enough. beside her graceful figure. 1T
was just one simple round of daily work
snd many's the timc, Liz, that I've longed
% know how things were with you. /
came back to the old country, Liz, not for
uay own sake, but for the sake of lad
who came into my life by chance. He
was one OF the old family, and my heart
went out to him the first moment l looked
0pon him. Though he wore a prison
dress, and had chains about his feet, /
knew him to be what his father was be-
tore him-noble at heart, simple and
good"
"Are you speaking Of that young Ten
oy who went wrong few years ago"
asked Sylvia.
Ben nodded his head
"-Then he did not die, Benz"
HE was alive a week agow cried Ben,
with the anguish that lived in his heart
breaking out in his voice. what have
they done with him. poor lad"
Tell me more, Ben" said Sylvia faint
".
She felt as il she were suffocating
Light seemed to be springng in upon the
problem about which she had puzzled so
.tnuch these last few days.
Dap roxna har Inhort,. .4nru L.;our
He wasted no words in describing all he
Feared he mentioned no name, but Sylvia
knew what was in his heart, and her own
was filled with sudden fear Also.
Till last night" said Ben, II had not
q clew to 60 upon; but fate was kind to
Gne, and chance was given to me to meet
with one who may lead at last to the
truth. Last night also saw you with
'tnan outside the theater You sent him
from you as though he had no right to
bc with you. This man, Liz, is the man
who Is constanyt with Gerald Tenby.
What can you tell me about him?'
Everything, and yet nothing" answer
cd Sylvia. George Stanton is in one
eense stranger to me, in another he,
stands closer to me than any living crea-
ture at this moment. / have promised
% be his wife,
''You love him, Liz7"
II think / hate him." she said, under
her breath Il have been free for so
many years that l cannot easily realize
that any man has the right to call HIM
self my master, and that is what George
Stanton can do now"
There was such bitterness in her voice
chat Ben could say nothing for a mo-
uent or two; but after she had said so
much II seemed to Sylvia a kind Of relief
60 say more.
It'll now" she said, II have been
Coaching myself one thing, which was
chat there was only one thing in the
world worth living for, and that was
money. oh, I am changed since the days
you knew me, Ben! | sometimes wonder
if am really the same Liz who used to
live in that little tumbledown cottage,
and go to meet you at the pits mouth.
There Is such world of difference be-
tween the girl was and the woman I
am. Yes, have said to myself all these
years that money was the only thing
cared about. And money has come to
me-" Sylvia said. with almost ruthless
candor. HAD but imagined that Stan
con would ever find the means of making
me keep my word, l would have bitten
cut my tongue before would have spok-
On as did"
There was wildness in her manner
and her voice that gave Ben new pain.
he put his big band softly on her arm.
may, lass" he said, enderly, don't
Aurt yourself by telling the any more"
1T does not hurt me-" Sylvia answered.
1T does me good. Ben, this man used
to be kind Of slave. He followed me
wherever ! went. l did not give him so
much az kind word. Yet he would not