Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-07-25

The butler came In with the letters
upon copper tray. There was 4
great pile Of them, and as the man
closed the door after he had put the
tray upon the writing table. Sir Will.
lam began to deal the letters like a
pack of cards, throwing this and that
one on the floor with a shutting
movement OF the wrist. And as he did
SO his eyes were horrid in their
searching and their intensity.
At last he came to the one he
sought, a letter addressed to him in a
bold but feminine handwriting. As
his fingers touched it a loud sob burst
out in the silence Of the room. With
shaking fingers he tore 1t open, stand.
ing among the litter Of the unopened
envelopes, and began to read.
He read the letter right through,
then walked to the mantelpiece. lean.
ing his right arm upon it as if for
support But the tension was now q
little relaxed. He had come down to
find the worst. to meet the inevitable.
He had met 1t, and there was now
neither anticipation of the moment OF
realization nor the last and torturing
flicker of despairing hope.
This was the letter. 1t began with.
out preface or address:
You must have known this was
coming Everything in your manner
has shown me that you knew it was
coming, and for that, unhappy as am,
am glad I have terrible confess
sion to make to you. But you, who are
SO great-you who know the human
mind from your great height, as a
conquering general surveys country
from mountain-top-you will under
stand. When you asked me to marry
you and said Yes was pleased and
f1attered, and had a tremendous adj
miration and respect for you and for
all you have done. Then, when we
came to know each other better, be-
gan to see the human side of you, and
l had-and, If you will let me say so,
still have-a real affection for you.
and had it not been that something
more powerful than affection he's come
into my life, would have been true
and faithful wife and companion to
you.
But you have seen and you must
know that things are changed. Are
we not all subject to the laws of des.
tiny, the laws OF chance? Is it not
true that none of us on our way
through the world can say by whom
or how we shall be caught up out OF
ourselves and changed into what we
could not be before? Oh, you know it
all. You of all men know it!
Il need not here speak in detailed
words, because from things you have
seen you know well enough what | am
about to say, of whom would speak
If | could But it is enough, William,
to tell you what you already know
that love some one else, and that II
am true to myself, which is, after all,
the first duty of all of us, could never
marry you. can never be to you
what you wish or what | would like to
be as your wife | am stricken down
with the knowledge of the pain all this
will give you. though ] thank heaven
it is not a pain for which You are IN.
prepared dare not ask your forgive
ness, can say nothing to console you.
I have acted wickedlys and wrongly.
but 1 cannot do anything else but that
which am doing.
Forgive, if you can. Think kindly.
if you can, of MARJORIE.
Now he knew. He folded the letter
gently, kissed tan odd action for a
man so strong-and put it in the In.
side pocket of his coat, which pressed
next his heart.
Then he rang the bell.
'tAsk Mr.. Guest to come" he said.
''Very well, Sir William" the butler
answered; but Mr.. Charliewood has
Just arrived.
@1'nen ask him in" Gouldesbrough
answered.
Charliewood came into the room.
by Jove!" he said, you look about
as seedy as I've ever seen you look!.'
Sir William went up to him, and put
his hand upon his shoulder.
(To Be Continued.)