Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-05
CHAPTER XXvIII.-(Continucd.)

had seen her lately so beautiful-sO IA
diant. Now her long black hair hung
In disorder over her shoulders; hel
face was pale and stained with tears
her eyes were dim, her lips white. He
hardly knew her.
"Hildred!" he cried. She looked al
him with dim, sad eyes.
You" she said. as it you, whs
thought me guilty Of MURDER"
Mr.. Ransomc went away. The ear
entered the room md closed the door
He went to his wife, holding out both
his hands.
"Will you forgive mc?" he said. 81
can never pardon myself"
Bat she shrank from him..
You believe that l committed muir
der" she said. NO. | canno touch
your hands"
Mildred, listen. 1t was almost al
your own fault-yOu said you were
guilty"
Not of murder" she rejoined. II
could not have supposed that you would
think me guilty of that, much rs you
| dislike me-"
81 do not dislike you, Hildrcd,' said
the earl, in a voice full Of emotion,
land | am indeed grieved at having
offended you. Do not refuse to pardon
me. You do not know how grieved ]
am to see you like this. / want to tell
you how the misunderstanding happen
ed. VIII you listen?"
Yes" she replied mechanically, and
she sat silent and motionless while he
told her the story. She looked at him
when 1t was ended with dull, dim eyes.
81 am very sorry" she said, that
Blantyre made the mistake. l almost
wish that he had shot mi through the
heart. What have l to live for?"
"Hildred," he said, gently, be mercl-
full. l am much to blame; but you will
surely pardon me-"
He tried to touch her hands, but she
drew them proudly away. She stood
before him erect and defiant.
Il had my life given me to enjoy, as
others had" she said. Il had the DOW
er of loving, the longing for happiness,
as others had. What right had you to
crush them? What right had you, be-
tduSc you Vdllcu lIS lItieS, W tdhO
my girlish heart and break 1t? What
right had you to infict all these years
of shame INT sorrow upon me? What
have I ever done to you that you should
repay me after this fashions"
Nothing" he replied; II am guilty"
"You have disliked, despised, scorn-
ed me, ever since we first met. Now
that you have suspected me of a crime
you have reached the climax. We shall
meet no more"
With shining eyes and pale, passion
ate face she swept from the room, leav-
ting the earl overcome with astonish-
ment. e
"She is the most high-minded woman
I have ever met in my life" he thought.
II have beer blind indeed. How superb
she looked in her indignation! I will
winning her before, but swear to give
my life to the task now"
1t seemed probable that it would be
q very long one, for Lady Caraven
positively refused to see her husband
again. In vain Arley Ransome pleaded
for him she was memorable.
Even a worm will turn when it ia
trodden upon," she said. 81 have suf-
Tered my last indignity at his hands,"
The earl was compelled to return to
Rayensmere, and he did SO almost de
spairingly. Lady Hamilton was fast
improving; she would be bile to g to
her own home o h doctor said,
and all anxiety about her was quite at
an end. The truth of the story had
come to light; all the papers had it;
every one knew that Lady Hamilton
had beer shot by mistake, and that it
was the young Countess of Caraven
whom John Blantyre had intended to
kill.
The earl confided the result Of his
mission to Sir Raoul, who was not
much surprised.
"You nave tried her beyond her
strength he said; II should advise
you without loss of time to return to
London again"
Lord Caraven did SO, but his journey
was fruitless. Hildred refused to see
him; to all entreaties from her father
she answered simply:
II have o one word to add to what
I have said" and with that answer the
earl was obliged to be content.
In sheer despair he sent for Sir
Raoul, who, though almost unfit to
travel, hastened to him; he ~besought
him to use his influence with the beau
tiful young wife who had no pity for
him. Then he grew wildly jealous at
the idea that she would listen to Sir
Raoul when she refused absolutely to
listen to him.
.Why should you have more influence
with her than I have?" he asked, half
angrily.
Because said Sir Raoul, Il under
stand the higher. better, nobler part Of
her nature as you. l fear, will never
understand it. l will try what l can
DO
Lady Caraven did not refuse to see
him. He was shocked and startled at
the terrible chance n few days had
wrought in her. He looked at the pale
face.
Yes. I came to the end OF my pa
tience at last. I can bear it no longer,
Raoul; it was a life of torture after
all, and l will never return to 1t. 1
could not be brave any longer"
Il would have you lay aside your
coldness, your pride, your reserve he
told her. Don't become a revengeful
woman. Your husband has. it is trna.