Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-09-20

had taken the other side. II lt had
been asked what he was doing at
Weinberg just then he would have
found it hard to answer. The word to
use would have had an ugly look.
'sI'll be up that way, likely, before
long. If come across him-but per-
haps l sha'n't." He hesitated. "You
can't give me anything to show as you
sent me? Perhaps he won't believe
without
There was little gold heart with a
pearl setting hanging from a slender
golden chain round Ursula's neck.
Noel knew it well; she had worn it
ever since she knew him. She drew
the chain from her shoulders now, and
took the heart from the clasp where it
swung.
Show him this and he will know u
she said. Tell him sent 1t. and he
will understand"
Baverstock took the tiny trinket
with something that was like diff.
dence. He slipped it into the little
wash-leather bag of money he wore in.
side his shirt That's all, them"
yes, except you'll be as quick as
you can, won't you?"
He did not seem to hear. He was
standing gazing intently at her, as the
moonlight flooded her with its pure
beams.
Was 1t she alone he saw there, or
what might have been? Did the vision
rise before him of what happier lot
than his could have held? She loved
the man who was SO like him that she
herself had barely known the differ.
ence. Might she not have loved him,
self If he had had his chance? It was
the very trick Of fate to make him the
copy Of a gentleman, and then turn
him into thing she shrank from and
sighted, while the other had her love,
Yet he had held her in his arms for
one brief moment, as if she had been
his own. He had felt the touch of soft
hair against his shoulder, and the beat,
ing of her heart close against his
breast. What ever came, to him in
the wretched remnant of spoilt and
battered life, he would have the mem.
DRY OF that left.
He stood staring at her till she grew
uneasy under his strange look. What
did 1t mean, that fixed gaze, like the
stare of a sleepwalker - or a man
whose mind is hundred miles away?
Then he reused himself with a sudden
shake, as If he pulled his senses to-
gether-and he drew a long, long
breath.
.'I'd better 60" He came sudden
step nearer. Goodbye. You-you
wouldn't shake hands with me, I sup.
pose?"
The strange request half startled
her, but she did not hesitate. nor let
him see any surprise in her manner.
"Of course will! Why not?" she
said, simply enough. She put out tc
him the hand that looked SO white and
small in the silver moonlight; and he
seized it in hurried, eager clasp. The
eagerness of his touch almost startled
her, but she let her fingers stay in his
grasp.
One long, long pressure grip that
made her vince with pain. Then he
let it drop 80 suddenly that it was al.
most as II he flung it from him. He
turned on his heel, and strobe away
without another word. She stood look.
ing after him with a troubled and anx.
ious gaze as he vanished once more
into the shadows that blocked the
road. He fell into stealth and silence;
she could hear the ring OF his footsteps
subdue themselves into hushed eau.
ton, like those with which he had ap
preached. There was something eerie
about it--like the goings of a vision
She could hardly believe it had been
real: that she had stood and talked
with him q moment ago, on that empty
spot. "A
Ito BE continued.)