The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-01-03
The Minister'S Wife
BY MRS. HENRY WOOD

ham, just escaped from service In his ca
thedral, turned away, calling upon Cyras
to follow him.
1t was not Cyras, however, who fol-
lowed the dean; it was Lady Grace. He
had gone to his own study, had laid down
his cape, and was taking off his sacred
vestments himself, dispensing with the
customary aid of his servant. His wife
closed the door.
'Ryle, how is this to endT she asked.
| what do you mean, Grace?
| "I mean about Cyras: but you know
very we'll without my telling you. The
boy has been INDUCED until he is getting
the mastery of us all. He positively
struck Gertrude the other day."
| "As Jaquet chose to interpret it, said
the dean. II inquired into that Cyras
gave the child a tap on the arm. OF
course, he ought not to have done even
that, and / punished him for it."
"You cannot see his failings, Ryle; you
supply him with an unlimited command
| of money"
| Unlimited !" again interrupted the
dean. .'You speak without thought,
Grace"
/ ~ think too much,' she replied. II
have abstained hitherto from serious re-
monstrance, for if ever have interfered
by word, you have attributed it, l feel
sure, to a jealous feeling, because he is
not my own child. But / now tell you
that something must be done; If that boy
is to stop in the house and rule it,
won't. l will not allow him to ill-treat
Charles. will not, say"
"Hush, Grace; you are excited. Re-
member the day."
II do not forget it. Your son did,
probably, when he struck Charles"
II cannot think he struck HMM that
fierce manner"
"Why, you saw the proofs" she retort-
ed. Don't you mean to inquire into 1t
I-and punish him?"
II certainly do-if you will only allow
me time, Grace. Much has not been lost
yet"
| Lady Grace left the room, and the dean
rang the bell, dispstching the servant
who answered it for Master Baumgarten.
Cyras had not yet gone the length of dis
obeying his fathers mandates, and at
tended as soon as he had been, what the
nurse called, ''put to rights" meaning his
unsigbtly shirt changed for clean one.
Charley, his nose shiny and swelled, but
himself otherwise in order, stole in after
him.
| 'Now, Cyras," began the dean, 1--WE
must have an explanation, and If you de-
serve punishment you shall not escape it.
/ did not think my boy was a coward,
still less that he would iii treat his young
er brother"
| The color flashed into the cheeks of
Cyras, and light into his eyes. But he
would not speak.
| "Come hither, Charles. Do you see his
face, sir?" added the dean, taking the
child's hand. Are you not ashamed to
look at it, and to reflect that you have
caused him all this grief and pain"
| Papa" interrupted Charles, lit was
not Cyras who hurt me. 1t was the
snobs."
-what?" slowly uttered
the dean, his dignity taken little aback
'Those charity boys. Frank Dynevor
calls them snobs, so does Cyras. 1 was
with the college boys in the cloisters, and
they set upon us; there were five or six
upon me all at once, papa; they hit me on
the nose, and / dare say they would have
killed me, only Cyras came running up
and fought with them, because l was not
strong enough, and got me away. And
then he sat down in the cloisters and
nursed me as long as I was frightened,
and that's how the blood got upon his
| clothes"
The dean looked from one to the other
"Was it not Cyras who hurt you then?
I scarcely understand"
| "Cyras loves me too much to hurt me-"
cried Charley, lifting his beautifui, deep
ly set brown eyes, just like Cyras', just
| like the deans, to his fathers face. "He
was kissing me all the time in the cIois-
ters; he was so sorry was hurt; and he
says he loves me better than anybody else
in the world, and he'll pay off that biggest
snob the first time he sees him. Don't
you, Cyras?
The boy turned caressingly to Cyras.
Cyras looking red and foolish, not caring
to have his private affections betrayed
for the public benefit, and he shock off
Charley. DR.. Baumgarten drew Cyras
to him, and fondly pushed his hair from
his forehead.
"Tell me about it, my boy"
"Oh, you know that big parish school,
papa; well, they are always setting cn
the college boys, and they came up to tile
cloister this evening and Charley, being
with the boys, got in for his share of
pummeling, and beat the fellows of him.
That's all"
The dean left the boys together, and
went In search of his wife. He found her
in her chamber.
| "Grocav saA no oo;no - A.. -
"there has been misapprehension, and
have come to set you right. Charley
got into an ARRAY with some strange boys
In the cloisters, and Cyras defended him
against them--going into them no doubt
like a young lion, for he possesses uncom-
mon spirit; too much of 1t. We have been
casting blame on Cyras unnecessarily"
Lady Grace lifted her eyes to her hus-
band. She knew him to be an honorable
man, and that he would not assert a
a.