Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-08-29
sy GUY THoRNE.

i dame, that already. in the exhiliara-
1 ton of Sir Williams presence and
kindness, new hopes and ambitions
were not reviving? Lady Poole was
a woman, and she was an opportunist,
! too. Woman-like, her mind moved
i fast into an. imaginary future-it had
/ always done SO. And 1t is possible
that upon the clouded horizon Of her
1 hopes faint star began to twinkle
once more.
Who shall blame Lady Poole?
Now, my dears," she said In more
matter-of-fact voice, II think, perhaps,
| you might be happier in discussing
| this matter IL were to go away. IN
/ der the circumstances, am perfectly
aware that It's not the correct thing
to do, but that is speaking only from
a conventional standpoint, and none of
US here can be conventional at a mo-
ment like this. II you would rather
have me stay. Just say so. But 1t is
with pride and pleasure that know I
can leave you with Marjorie, William,
even under these miserable circum-
stances and in this unhappy bust
ness"
Gouldesbrough smiled sadly.
1t is as Marjorie Wishes" he said.
But | am confident that Marjorie
knows she can trust me-"
The great man saw that once more
the girl lifted her eyes and looked at
him with something which was almost
like reverence. Never before had he
seen her look at him like this. Once
more the evil Joy in the possibility Of
victory after all leapt through his
blood
No thought or realization OF the ter
rible thing he had done, of the horrors
that he and the pink-faced man IN
Regents Park were even now perfect
Ing, came to trouble that moment Of
evil pride. Everybody had always
said-ev erybody who had been
brought into contact with him always
knewthat Sir William Gouldes.
brough was strong man!
Lady Poole waited moment to see
II her daughter made any sign Of wish
ing her to remain, and finding that
there was none, for Marjorie was
standing with dropping head and
made no movement, the dowager
swept out of the room with rustling
Skirts and gently closed the door.
+ Sir William Gouldesbrough and Mar.
jorie Poole were left alone.
The man Of action asserted him
self. 5+5s
sit down. Marjorie" he said, in
q commonplace tone, and just let me
talk to you on pure matters of fact.
Now, my dear, we haven't seen each
other since you wrote me the letter
telling me that our engagement was a
/ mistake. You know what my reply
to that was, and believe and trust
you know that I shall remain perfectly
true to both the spirit and actual
words of that communication. That's
all we need say now, except just this.
loved you dearly and I love you
dearly now. had hoped that we
might have been very happy together
and that I might have spent my life in
your service But that was not to be
in the way that had hcped. AT the
same time I am not man easily
moved or changed, ard IL / cannot be
yours in one way, dear girl, I Will be
yours IN another. However, that's all
about that. Now, then, let me tell
you how hard | have been trying to
discover the truth Of this astounding
disappearance Of poor Mr.. Gerald
Rathbone."
a low sob came from the girl in the
chair. II was 9 sob not only Of regret
for her. lost lover. but 1t had the same
note OF reverence, OF utter apprecia.
tion, Of her first words.
You are too good. !" she said. .sWill.
lam, 4 have treated you horribly badly.
You are too good. Oh, you are too
good
Hush Y he said |. IN a sharp, taeca-
to voice. We agreed that aspect Of
the question wasn't to be spoken az
he a5t is the past. and
my dear little girl, 1 beg you to real.
g Il You loved poor Gerald Rath-
bone, and he seems to have been
wiped out OF binary lite. Ny bust.
lnss Is to find him again tor yeu. So
that You may be happy. 1 have been
trying to do the utmost In my power
for days. have done everything that
my mind could suggest, and as yet
nothing has occurred. Now, Marjorie,
let's Just be businesslike. TEL me
what you think about the matter. and
will tell you what I think. See IL
our two brains cannot hit on seine.
thing which win help MS
Ham. I, she said with 4 full note
schord. rather Of deep pain il her
voice, Nilliam, I don't know what
to think. can't understand it. j am
lost in utter darkness. There seems
no possible reason why he should
have gone away 10 can only think that
the worst has happened, and that
some terrible people must have killed
him. 9.
But why q.
OH, she answered, almost hysteri.
cally, he was 30 beautiful and so
strong They must have killed him
because he vas 30 different from otI-