Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-03-20
4 SMILING VILLAIN.
CHAPTER xxvII.-fcontinued.)
By VIOLET M. Finn

E&
CHAPTER XXVII.-fContinued.)
She was so very historical that, for the
time, she could give no explanation or at
tempt any extenuation of her conduct.
Her sisters took her of to her bedroom
to fuss over and comfort the stray lamb
With every endearing word and loving
! earess.
The Rector thanked Lewiston in a
few short but feeling words, that showed
how deeply he was moved.
For really these last two days l have
felt as though a load of stone had fallen
] upon me, and it Is a blessed relief to
know 1t Is of. ! suppose why Bride
hooked it was because she was frighten-
edY' Terry asked.
1T was because she discovered that all
unwittingly she had divulged a secret to
Lone who made a bad use of it," Lewiston
I said solemnly. ..One who had betrayed
the friendship and trust=with which he
bad been honored, and used it as a cloak
to further his nefarious designs. You say
the jewels nave been restoredf There
has-"
.'The two actual thieves are in Gus
tody,' Angus interposed solemnly. The
other. who was the prime mover, the lead
er, has paid his penalty. Bertram Char
teris is dead"
Dealt"
1T is true; when Forbes and I were
Mt Caterham landing stage we saw the
boat approach. Charteris was on her, and
instead Of waiting for the gangway to be
lowered, tried to jump on to the stage.
| do not know why, perhaps he saw and
recognized me and 1t upset him. but he
jumped short and went in. He was swept
under the pontoons at once. His cry of
abjeet terror and despair is still in my
ears. We stayed for, an hour or SO, but
they had not recovered the body when
we left"
.siIe was concerned in the robbery
the Rector asked slowly, his face ashen
white,
..Iie is the one who directed the other
two and planned the whole AFFAIR. We
found cipher letters and kilograms from
him In the rooms where the second man
was arrested that showed very plainly his
connection with the society,"
Did you know him as a theft" Mr..
Beresford asked.
"IIe was connected with them, but he
passed under another name, and / only
met him once or twice when he wore
both beard and moustache. Here he was
clean shaven. But the recognition this
morning was mutual. | suppose he grew
alarmed at the silence Of his confeder-
ates, and was anxious to hide himself for
4 while. But he is dead now"
CHAPTER XNVIII.
Ii was a great shock to all the family
70 learn Of the dead mans duplieity and
evil doing. Bride cried a great deal
when she was told of his end, but Moyra
suspected that there was much relief
mingled with the sorrow.
II did like him. ! was very fond of
him, I she sobbed. with her head on Moy-
ra's shoulder, ssand he said he was very,
very fond Of me, and-and I thought it
was very grand having a lover and being
engaged when no one knew anything
about 1t. And i was so ~rked! be-,
lieved NIL theshorf.id nasty things he used
TO tell me about you all without really
saying them, that you were jealous be-
! was younger and prettier than
yoH-covering Moyra's face with repent
ars kisses--and that you were jealous
because you wanted to marry him. Oh,
how could be so wicked And then there
was that dance, that horrid dance! I'll
never 20 to another so long as | live.
SAu0 suC was S1&auctls Hill WIleu ne ulQ
come for our dance I-I-really think'-
sinking her voice-'that he was drunk.
He talked and laughed and was SO queer
and all Of a sudden it seemed as If had
suddenly discovered what he was talking
about And. and'-her cheeks burning
lie tried to kiss me, and | was fright
ened, and he lost his temper and said
dreadful things. that l should be put in
prison, that had told him where the
Jewels were kept, and Mr.. ffenton would
have me sent to Jail.
n got so frightened that I went up
stairs to see ii the jewels were safe and
they were gone. I did not know what to
do. nearly died. And the professor
Was 50 good to me. l shall never forget
how good he was to me. When Lulu
told me about the robbery and / heard
thatI was to be examined, / thought Of
the professor ut once, and / felt no mat
ter what happened | should have to tell
him and ash him what / must do? So +
autographed to him from hampton, and he
met ME in Birmingham. 1t was not until
he had talked to me- Bride continued,
hanging Ser head, .sthat / saw what a
selfish thing / had done In going off as i
did. Eut, oh, Moyra, / was so fright
eneu r.
With Brides return the Rectory party
seemed to settle into its accustomed
grooves. and after the storms of the last
month there seemed to be an inauguration
of peace. Vet only the next day the Rec
tors opened the dining room door with q
~ccrnisal look Of amusement and astonisl-
ment ON his face. Aileen was writing at
the table, and seeing that she was alone
hc entered and closed the door.
Never in my life before have | been
80 .astonished,' he began. Frof. Lewis
son ms told me he wants to marry Bride.
thought he was your possession,
Aileeng"
So--I went overheard when he saw
Bride"
well. I'll go and find Moyra. and
Gn1I our her IDEAS on the matter. Dear
me. Il learned professor. known all over
he world. wanting to marry our ignorant
BriJs. who doesn't know a word Of Greek
and does not want to know it. 1t is a
qucer world
Tie Rector did not mi ont Moyra's
Ideas as he fhaa intended. He walked
into the school room and stopped almost
retriised at the sight Of Angus and his
eldest daughter IN very close and unmis-
takgAIS loverlike proximity.
Upon MY word Z. the astonished GEN
tleiaan gasped. as he realized what was
happening.
The couple grew very red when they
saw him., but Moyra drew her hand from