Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-05-24
CHAPTER XVII.
THE VEIL IS T

80 49, N~Np SO
had pointed out TO US. Martigny was
already out of sight, and we a need
OF haste. My head was in a whirl. 80
Frances Holiday was not really the
daughter Of the dead millionaire! The
thought compelled a complete readjust-
ment Of my point of view. OF course,
she was legally his daughter: equally
of course, this new development could
make no difference in my companions
feeling for her. Nothing, then was
really changed. She must go back
with us; she must take up the old life
- But i had no time TO reason II all
out.
We had reached the beach again, and
we turned along II in the direction of
the cliffs. Far ahead. / saw a man
hurrying In the same direction could
guess at What agony and danger TO
himself. The path began to ascend,
and we painted up il 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 q glimpse
OF a farmhouse.
We ran toward II, through a gate,
and up the path to the door. II was
closed, but we heard from within a
mans excited voice-a resonant voice
which 1 knew we'll. / tried the door;
ii yielded, and we stepped into the hall.
The voice came from the room at the
right. II 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 / knew at a glance-the younger
my heart leaped as | looked at her
was II Miss Holiday? No, yet strange
ly like.
He saw their startled eyes turn past
him TO us, and swung sharply round.
For ar 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 a ~strargled 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 mis- breast.
Then he arose and turned gently to the
woman
1T is no use he said. He is dead"
/ looked 10 see them vince under the
blow; but they did not. The younger
woman wen slowly to the window and
stood there sobbing quietly: the others
80 ~ W q lfCHANANN jazz VI JOS.
So she exclaimed, in that low. vi
brant voice / so we'll remembered. 80
he is dead That treacherous, cruel
heart has burst ~ lasti'
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 claspiug and unclasp-
ins.
Madame Alix, he aaid ut lact. you
know our errand-we must carry it
out"
She bowed her head.
II know 1t, monsieur" she answered.
"But for him, there would have been
no such errand? As it is, l will help
you all / can. Cecile.' she called 10
the woman at the window, go and
bring our sister to these gentlemen
The Younger woman dried her eyes
and left the room. We waited i'm tense
silence. u eyes on the door. We heard
the sound of footsteps on the STAIR: a
moment, II she was on the threshold.
She came in slowly, Hstlessly-lt gave
me a shock to see the pallor Of her face.
Then she glanced up and saw Royce
standing there; she drew in her breath
with a quick gasp, "A great wave of
color swept over her cheeks and brow,
a 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 i looked at them. / glanced at
the elder woman, and saw that her eyes
were shining and her lips quivering.
And / have come to take you away.
my love-" he was saying.
"Oh, yes; take me away" she
sobbed. before the other comes"
She stopped, her eyes on the window
seat, where 1.-THE other lay, 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 WON
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 boa home"
Blu Royce held back.
Then there has been a crim1 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
-murder-"
AutiG was no lIiuIuSIs DufSl III
Cecile Alix. Il wear ii to you, mon
sieur. dc you understand. There was
no murder"
/ saw Miss Holiday vince at the
others voice, and Royce saw 1t, too.
Il must 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 / wached them till the trees hid
them. and then turned to the women.
Now l said, Il shall be happy TO
hear the story"
1T was hat man wonder Who was
the cause of ii ALL" said the mother,
clasping her hands tightly in her lap
TO keep them still. -Four years ago
he came from Paris here TO spend the
summer--he was ver' ill--his heart.
We had been living happily, my
daughter and 1. but for the one anxiety
OF her not marrying. He met her and
proposed marriage. He was YER good
he asked no dowry, and, besides, my
daughter was twenty-five years old
past her first youth. But she attracted
him, n they We're married. He took
her back to Paris where he had a little
theater, a hall OF the dance-but he
grew worse again and came back
he- 1t was her that he found oui
that l had another daughter whom
had given to a rich American. | was