Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-09-21
CHAPTER XXv.-(Continued.)

worse than this, l am sure, If it could
have been done. l was mad. / will
tell FOL all. l was mad, because |
had learned to low you with all the
strength of my heart and SOUL
'You love me?" he Intercepted, In
credulously.
The dark shawl fell from her, md
h stood erect before him In all the
dignity OF her pale, passionate beauty.
He amber dress and her rubies CLEAN
ed In the starlight; the queenly head
was held aloft she no longer pleaded
and wept; the memory of her passion
ate love and her bitter wrongs filled her
with angry pride.
Yes, | owe YOU she continued.
proudly. Whose is the sin? Is 1t
mine, because I, your wife, have to tell
you this, and You feel surprised? l
love you and now thnt | have to leave
you i tell you Unat Homan never loved
man, wife never loved husband, more
dearly, more deeply, more dcvOtedly,
than l love you I would have devoted
my life to you: I would have died for
you; every heat Of my heart, every
thought 81 my mind, every action was
for yGI- | lpVe you as no II else ever
will--aS no Noman has ever loved you
PARTLY because / could not help loving
you and partly because | have helped
to awaken the better nature within
yoN You may live many years happy,
flGffercd, but no love like mine will
eva reach you; the wife you are send
inG from you Is the dearest and cruest
friend you have"
lie looked terribly distressed.
"Why did you not tell me this before,
Ujidred?' he asked.
", tell you? How little you know
nrs! Was 1t my place to go to the hus-
band who neglected me and plead for
his caresses, for his love? l could have
died Il thousand deaths first. 1 should
not tell you all this now, but that I
know in this world we shall never per
haps meet again. I am speaking to you
ACROSS a grave. ] stretch out my hands
to you over a ~grave--the grave where
my love lies--slain"
And as she said the words she fell
upon her knees, weeping, sobbing with
bitter cries, as though a grave lay
iiciGf III piAc Il Iiiltl hloil -.
He was touched. He could not toll
crate what he believed to be ner crime,
but she was young, beautiful and low
ing. Her crime had been committed
through love for him. He raised her
from the ground.
II am very sorry, Hildred," he said;
1T Is very sad for both of us. Now
We must talk of something else. You
must go Mt once"
"AIust you send me awayT she
asked gently. at was wrong. 1 was
mad with jealous anger, but l did not
think / was. Could you not overlook
IT."
you speak lightly" he replied, stern
~. mo. o can never re-enter my
house. l have arranged It all. 1 did
so when I took poor Lady Hamilton
back to tie Caste. I told our guests
that you had been suddenly sent for by
your father, that I had driven you to
the station-and it Is to your fathers
house you must 60"
Every WE'LL" she said, drearily.
"You do not seem to understand" he
remarked, sharply; do o hot know
the danger, the peril that hangs over
your"
She did not, but of what Use was 1t
to say sof
.'Try to collect yourself and under
stand.' he continued; time presses. l
cannot keep them away much longer.
You must depart at once without being
seen. No one must know at what hour
you went. You must so to you fathers
house and wait there. IT it should be
needful to lend you abroad, l will ar
range IT."
"Have J. done so very wrong?" she
murmurec- The earl cried out, passion
ately-
Heaven give me patience! You must
be mad to ask me such a question. One
would think you did not know what
wrong meant. I have told you that you
must never re-enter my doors; but you
bear my name, int for my names sake
I will shield you. The Countess of
'Caraven may have done wrong, but the
world must not know it. I must save
you from the consequences Of your mad
folly. See--I went quietly to your
rooms and have brought you these"
He gave her a cloak and a bonnet with
a thick veil / would accompany you,
but that IL would draw down suspicion
on you. I must be here to ward it off.
Wrap yourself IN this cloak. Hide all
that amber satin. You must not go
near Court Haven-you are known
there. You must walk to Worscly that
is a larger station; no n will know
you. Take n ticket for London. When
you reach there, hail a cab and go
straight 10 your fathers house. Are
you quite sure that you understand
Yes; what must / say to my
father?" she asked.
You had better tell him the truth.
He is a qnick, keen man Of the world
he will know far better than I what
should be Gone. Tell him ALL"
Eyes" she replied, mechanically.
"Now, hasten away from here, Hill
dred,'' he said. Il am in mortal fear.
You understand all. You know the
road to Worseley-it is direct-you take
the high road without turning. Good
bye"
She raised her dark, sad eyes to his
face; all the love, the passion, the re-
greet that she could not put into words,
was revealed in them.
~ 49, " - EEHZTTW~