The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-07-20
CHAPTER XIV.

Ia terrible blow TO all who had known
her. Even my grandfather followed IN
to the grave as we left it, ard dropped
in the flowers he had gathered for that
purpose; but tho one most Frustrated was
Sir Henry Duncan. He looked like a
nan who never slep!. Morally and ply
sically he seemed unable to hold up his
bead and looked as il he had risen from
bed of sickness against his will. His
condition perplexed Ethel, as much as it
alarmed her. y
HE has always suffered from occa-
sional fits OF detection" Ethel said to me,
''and hitherto l have been able to give
him relief. But now ny efforts fail:
lit seems as if he did no. bear my voice.
I wish you coald persuade him to have
medical advice"
Finding him alone in the park that
evening told him what she had said.
YES" he said, "it is time / did some
thing. / can't go on like this, bnghting
the happiness Of all love. You will be
over early tomorrow morning; tell her
I have gone to consult the best physician
1 know, and shall act on his advice, no
matter what it is. / can't tell her my
self; she'd ask questions, and l have
never told her lie"
lie was absent TIE next day, and !
told Ethel what he had promised to do;
but / knew that he had gone no farther
than the rocks where Psyche persisted,
and that Conscience was the only phy,i-
clan whose guidance he sought and in
tended to follow. We met him in the
evening as he was coming home, his hands
behind him, his cain almost on his breast.
I've seen him, love- he said, taking
Ethel's hand with more tenderness than
nc had lately displayed. Says need a
change. Tells me l must go away as
soon as possible"
Il thought he would advise that"
Ethel said. where shall we go?'
II shall go alone" he said firmly, and
then with an abrupt change: when shall
you be marrie1?"
1T is almost too early to think of
that" she replied, looking down at the
crepe on her dress.
Il suppose conventional considerations
must be studied even in quiet wedding.
/ should have liked to wait until you
were married, dear; but don't think l
must delay this-this journey. l want
to avoid anything like parting" he
continued, after pause. My sister Is
coming down with her youngsters next
week--perhaps l shall go then, perhaps
before, as l can't stand children. Any
how, I shall aot say goodbye to you."
One night at the ned of the week, after
] had parted from Ethel, | found Sir
Henry in the drive, where he waited pur-
posely for me.
II want to talk to you," he said. Let
Us go on to che downs. This path is the,
most direct"
We turned from the drive, and walk
ed in silence through the shade.
do you believe in expiration, Thorne"
he cried suddenly.
eff you mean reparation for injury
impatiently.
"There are some injuries that can new
er be repaired. Do you believe that
man may get mis- soul out of torment by
en- act Of f-sacrifce-that is what /
meanw
.No. To injure oneself for having In
ejnred another doubles the offense."
''If a man may cry quits with society
when he has served his term in gaol for
breaking society's laws, why should not
a mans conscience be at peace when he
has inflicted upon himself the punishment
he deserves? How else is he to get his
soul out of that torment when the vul-
ture of reproach tears at 1t night ard
day? There is no other way by whii.
he may hope to meet those he loves here
after"
But for that fear of something after
DEATH" he continued in lower tone,
speaking to himself rather than address
irg me, "the fear of facing one pale
haired, sweet-faced child and but for the
hope of meeting my dear daugater-es-
cape from this pursstory would be easy
and quick enough"
The park was bounded by deep ditch
VIZ leapt it; but on the other side Sir
Henry stopped as IL il had recalled some
thing to his mind; and instead of strik
ing over the downs, as had seemed his
intention, he followed the edge of the
ditch till it -an into deep cleft in the
cliff, whence the drainage was carried
of.
The cleft was deep, but not more than
sir or eight feet wide at the surface, and
il grew deeper as il went down to the
outlet on the shore. Following the cleft
for some twenty PAGES Sir Henry stop
ped at a point where the turf showed
chat a load OF lime had been thrown
there.
Il had lime shot In " he said, because
there is something dead and putrid down
there. Peter Beamish is down there. I
shot him through the head that night
you remember J"
as that the crime you are going to ex-
piate?" cried.
de laughed hoarsely. "Crimsr" he ex-