The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-05-23
CHAPTER XVII.
TIIE VEIL IS LIFTED.

4
| Of haste. My head was in whirl. SO
| Frances I.o.laday was not really the
| daughter OF the dead millionaire! The
thought compelled complete readjust-
lnenl OF my point Of view. OF course,
sac was legally his daughter; equally
| OF tourse. this rev deve. e.opment could
make no difference IL my Companion's
! feeling for her. Nothing. then was
| really changed. She must go back
with US: she must take up the old life
---- hut / had no time TO reason Ii all
| out.
We had reached the beach again, and
| We turned along IT in the direction Of
the cliffs. Far ahead. l saw a man
| hurrying in the same direction-I could
| guess at what agony and danger to
| himself. The path began TO ascend,
| and we painted up ii to the grassy
down, which seemed to stretch for
| miles and miles to the northward.
Right before us was a little wood. in
| the midst of which l caught glimpse
| of farmhouse.
We ran toward IL, through a gate,
| and up the path to the door. 1t was
closed, but we heard from within a
mans excited ,voice-a resonant voice
| which i knew we'll tried the door;
! II yielded. and we stepped into the hall.
| The voice, came from the room at the
| right. 1t was no time for hesitation
| we sprang to the door and entered.
Martigny was standing In the middle
Of the floor, fairly foaming at the
| mouth, shrieking out commands and
| imprecations at two women who cow
| cred in the farther corner. The elder
! one l knew at a glance-the younger
i my heart leapedhas 1 looked at her
was II Miss Holladay? No, yet strange
ly like. 49,, .-.-. .
He saw their startled eyon turn past
| him to us, and swung sharply round.
| For an instant he stood poised like a
| serpent about to strike. then saw his
| eyes fix in a frightful stare. his face
| turn livid, and with strangled cry he
| fell back and down. Together we lifted
him to the low window seat, pursuers
and pursued alike, loosened his collar,
| chafed his hands, bathed his temples,
| did everything we could think OF do
| ing; but he lay there staring at the cell
ing with clenched teeth. At last, Royce
bent and laid his ear against his breast
| Then he arose and turned gently to the
woman.
1T is no USE" he said. He is dead"
looked to see them vince under the
| blow; but they did not. The younger
woman went slowly to the window and
stood there sobbing, quietly; the others
face lit up with positive blaze of Joy.
So" she exclaimed, in that low. vi
| brant voice l so well remembered, 80
he is dead! That treacherous, cruel
heart has burst at last!"
Royce gazed at her a moment In as
| constituent. She looked not at him,
but at the dead man on the window
seat, her hands clasping and unclasp-
tn-.
Madame AIix." he said at last. you
know our errand-we must carry 1t
| out"
She bowed her head.
| Il know Ii, monsieur" she answered.
But for him, there would have been
no such errand? AS it is, will heln
You all I can. Cecile," she called to
the woman at the window "go and
bring your sister to these gentlemen"
The younger woman dried her eyes
| and left the room. We waited in tense
silence. our eyes on the door. We heard
the sound of footsteps on the stair: a
moment, and she was on the threshold.
She came in slowly, listlessly-it gave
me shock, to see the pallor of her face.
| Then she glanced up and saw Royce
! standing there; she drew in her breath
with quick gasp. a great wave Of
| color swept over her cheeks and brow,
great light sprang into her eyes.
"Oh, John!" she cried, and swayed
| toward him.
He had her in his arms, against his
heart, and the glad tears sprang to my
| eyes as looked at them. glanced at
| the elder woman, and saw that her eyes
| were shining and her lips quivering.
And have come 10 take you away,
my love-" he was saying. .oH ...' p
"Oh. yes: take me away" she
| Sobbed before the other comes"
| She stopped, her eyes on the window
seat, where the other" !ay, and the
color died out OF her cheeks again.
He. at least. has paid the penalty"
| said Royce He can trouble you no
more. my love-" ~. '-'
She was sobbing helplessly upon his
| shoulder, but as the moments passes
she grew more calm. and at last stood
upright from him. The younger wom-
an had come back into the room. and
was watching her curiously, with no
trace OF emotion.
Come let US CO." said the girl. I'VE
must take the first boat home"
But Royce held back.
Then there has been a crime COM
mitted," he said slowly: I'VE must
see that 1t Is punished"
"A crime? Oh, yes; but I forgive
! them, dear" .
''The crime against yourself you may
forgive but there was another crime
-inGrder-A 49,. .
There was no murder" burst in
| Cecile Alix. Il swear it TO you, mon
Bieur. Do you understand. There was
no murder" s".' .
saw Miss Holiday vince at the
! Others Yoice, and Royce saw 1t, too.
| Il r:ust get her to the inn," he said
This Is more than she can bear
fear she will break down utterly
Do you stay and get the story Lester.
Then We'll decide what II Is best to
do"
He led her away. out Of the house,
and down the path. not once looking
back. l wached them till the trees hid
them, and then turned to the women.
Now" / said. Il shall be happy to
| hear the story"
1T was that man wonder who was
the cause of 1t ALL" said the mother,
! clasping her HAMS tightly in her lap
to keep them still. -Four years ago
he care from Paris here to spend the
summer-he was YER ill-his heart.
We had been living happily, my
daughter and ], but for the one anxiety
OF her not marrying. He met her and
proposed marriage. He was ver' good
he asked no dowry, and, besides, my
daughter was twenty-five years old,
past her first youth. But she attracted
him, and they were married. He took
| her back to Paris where he had a little