The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-09-07
CHAPTER VII.

; 1t was late one eVenlng-While Olive
Dumbarton and her daughter we're in the
drawing-room, when Valerius Galbraith
/ was announced Both started at sound
OF his name and. looking up, kept their
eyes fixed OH him with something of sur
prise in their expression, for even in
that first glance they saw how changed
was the man before them from him who
had parted from them little more than 4
week before
The freshness and buoyancy which had
been his chief characteristics had given
place to an expression of pain and anx-
lety; his prominent blue eyes, which had
ever sparkled with pleasure, were now
clonded by grief lines were for the first
time visible in his face, that sedulous
care of his personal appearance which
formerly gave the impression of elegance
was now conspicuous by its ABSENCE and
he looked every year of his age
"Ollve!' he exclaimed, grasping her
extended hand in both his own.
u knew you would come back, and
l am glad you have" she said.
"Ot course ] returned the moment
heard of-of this terrible affair."" he re-
Iplied.
81 sent telegram to Paris the day
after it happened
II had left by then. It was in Brin-
dist ! first read of his death You can
imagine the shock I received. I have
hardly slept since. Then / came back as
soon as could, and only reached town
a couple of hours ago.
Il suppose you have heard ALP"
Cali that the newspapers could tell
me"
about the Coroner's Court and the
verdict?' she said, in troubled voice.
eyes, yes" he answered, struggling
with his emotion. "Its terrible to think
that you should suffer thus-you who
would not injure any living thing; YOU
have already endured so much" ~
Tell me, Valerius," she said in hesi-
tating voice. did you at first, even for
moment, think was guilty."
"You guilty?' he cried out "Never,
never! knew you were innocent"
1T makes me almost happy to hear
you say so, to know that my friends
don't believe me guilty You are aware,
of course, that circumstances are all
against me?"
$50 gather But let me hear all"
There is little to tell that you have
not already read" she began by saying,
and she went over the details of the
case which we're ever present in her
mind, dwelling on the narrow compass
which surrounded the case, and seemed
to fasten the guilt upon her.
Then there's no absolute clew?"
"Not that know of, at least" Olive
J Dumbarton replied
Except the knife" suggested Yer
onica.
"The knife?" Valerius repeated, turn
. ing toward the girl.
, Il had forgotten that" Olive remarked
"Mackworth, the detective, hopes it may
help him to discover the owner"
But is there nothing else to go upon?'
he asked
Nothing at present." Olive answered
| and something in the sound of her voice
5 and in the expression of her face be.
, trayed the depths of that despair to which
at moments she was driven.
, "Ah. Olive" he said suddenly and We
hemently, as if carried away by an If
| resistible impulse, eff you had listened tc
me long ago, how much pain might YOU
5 and have been spared how much hap
] piness might we have known?"
5 "Valerius," she exclaimed, reproach.
r fully
1 Forgive me. 1 don't know what
am saying tonight. / did not mean tc
! blame you now, least of all, when YOU
: suffer most. cannot control myself to.
night, but will leave you at once. Goo
knows l have no desire to add to you,
: vexations. Goodnight"
: Goodnight" she replied, holding ou
her hand.
, AS he took it in his own quive,
! passed through his frame. He turned
from her almost abruptly, but before h,
: reached the door Veronica entered anc
said:
' Doctor Quave cannot come tonight
S mother"
: very we'll, DEAR
: "But Quinton is here" Veronica said
somewhat shyly, "and says he would l;k,
, to see you, mother"
e "1n the dining-room."
II "Ask him to come here. You remem
: Der Quinton Quavc," Olive said to he
3 cousin as Veronica quilted the room.
"Yes, very WE'LL"
"He has taken his degrees and give
great promise of being very cleve
S doctor. He and his parents have bee,
e most kind to me since-since-that ter
S rible night
Valerius remembered that DR.. QUAY
and his son were among the first VIII,
4 had come upon the scene of the tragedy
! and he felt interested in seeing the youn
man, with whom, on his entering tn
S room, he shook hands.
5 Ito be continued)