Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-02-08
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
With cruel haste Guy Erskine's last
day on earth was approaching.
Now four strokes on the clock were
telling him that of life there remained
but sixteen hours--sixteen hours in
which to endure the torturing knowl-
edge Of his fast-approoching CHASTITY
end.
But with his death would pass away
the only witness of the Arlington
tragedy. With his death the seal of
silence would be placed on the only
lips that could denounce the true per-
petrator of the crime. And with his
death Hilda's lifes happiness would
be purchased-al would be over, end
ed forever. as he, Guy, had planned.
Yet--yet-regret was the reverse of
absent from his mind. To say that he
did not long to live would be to lie.
Appallingly hard was it to stifle the
words from rushing to his lips by
which he might yet save himself from
death.
More than once the warder on spe-
cial duty In his cell glanced anxiously
at him, fearful that the wild misery
written on his face might be indicative
OF q craving to anticipate the end.
But to play the coward now would
only lead to my being branded as a
mailman, or one feigning madness"
thought Guy, with increasing resent
ment against the true criminal "And
Hilda's happiness would be more COM
pletely wrecked than IL / had never
striven to save 1t. After all, SO little
time remains now to be lived through
In which can live and suffer, and
each minute mercifully shortens that
time! Yet, would to heaven that I
had felt more resigned, more resigned
to say goodbye to all am leaving be-
hind on earth. oh, why do torment
myself with thinking Of these good
byes? Have not vowed to die for
Hilda? Have not vowed to thrust
aside every other consideration and
to die bravely for her?
And will do 1T will!
"What relief it would be If only
I could spend the intervening hours
between now and the moment Of my
execution under merciful narcotics!
Anything that would deaden the acute
ness of my thinking powers would, in
deed, be divinely welcome. But it
can't be. I must endure it all to the
end!"
He closed his eyes and lay motion
less, striving to sleep; but, in mockery
Of his craving for Inconsistencies,
there began to course through his
mind an amending stream Of alluring-
ly pleasant recollections. The world
he was quitting was full of friends
that he was grievously sorry to leave;
friends who would never mention his
name. save with thoughts OF loathing.
All for Hilda's dear sake.
And she would never, never know it.
She would pass through life glorious
" unconscious OF the tragedy that had
sprung from his love for her. Ali
would be as he hope yet yet!
But now the door of his cell was be-
ing unlocked. A warder was entering.
Excitedly the prisoner sprang to his
feet, The blood rushed into his face.
What had this man come to say2 Had
aught occurred TOTO alter
No. He had merely come to conduct
the prisoner to the room reserved for
interviews, where Reggie was waiting
to say farewell. i,
But It took few minutes for Guy
to recover from that unnerving flash
OF hope. few minutes to stifie the
overwhelming craving for freedom
and life that had sprung into existence
with that momentary golden hope.
Limbs quivering with excitement had
to be steadied, lips yearning to de-
nounce the true criminal had to be
brought under control.
He wss ready now.
a few minutes later, separated by
Iron bars. the brothers stood opposite
to each other.
There followed q brief, awkward
silence silence overshadowed by
the terrors of the dark misery Of this
last day of Guys existence. He wal
the flrst to command himself. with
almost startling naturalness. his voice
broke the silence.
Thanks. old man, awfully for DOM
ing to ~ goOd.byesn he said.
put Il OH until the last mo
mAnt, hoping that something would
|, turn ia. * said Reggie, hnskily.
No chance of that 1t seldom hap
pens TINT any thing turns up, except II
hdntiOn. have LETT I'll straikht AN