The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-04-17
you think that perhaps he We
sent to follow uSon

Ballard. She promised to put IN end
to Winton's schemes and save us from
his prosecutions, but she would tell
me nothing of how she was going to
manage it,"
Il do trust that nothing has happen.
ed to her; it is some consolation that
she will have the protection of her
father and-and Godfrey. Oh, why
does he not Gomez"
"He will be here presently, dear;
Miss Ballard promised to send him on
as soon as ever she could; we must
have patience"
How can | have patience when |
am consumed with anxiety? II
doubted him. l thought him a thief,
and worse than a thief. | shall know
no real peace or rest until | have ask
ed his forgiveness. How could /
doubt him-how could II"
You must not blame yourself too
much, Mary; you have faith in your
lover, and can trust him. How could
you know that it was the crafty
Vaccinations of his enemies that
showed him to you in such a terrible
light? And then your promise to mar
ry Winton-'
"Ah! What will he think of that"
Judith Ballard will have told him
all, and he will think you the dearest,
most self-sacrifcing little darling In
all tho world"
"Ah! have been tortured with
doubt, but your words make me hap
py. When I think Of seeing him again
my heart throbs with such a wild, *
ulting Joy that I am almost afraid"
afraid of what?'
That l do not know. I think it is
the suspense of waiting. I know in
my heart that he will come, and that
he will be as good and kind to me as
he ever was, but"
There, there, my dear child, do not
be foolish and torture yourself with
doubts; the grim days Of darkness
are over you, and the stretching away
in the near future are the long, happy
hours of sunshine and love, where
you and Godfrey will pass your time
in a sweet Paradise of your own max
ing"
"And-and you?"
"Ah! My dreams of happiness were
owe long ago. blotted out by the un-
thinking acts of a foolish child. |
sinned, unknowingly, perhaps. but the
crime was there. l repented, and the
price OF repentance is an everpresent
sorrow and a sour-torturing regret;
but I cannot allow you to talk of me,
child. l must keep you bright and
happy until Godfrey comes to claim
you from me. You look tired, dear:
go into the other room and rest on the
couch a little"
and won't you come, too, Miss
Dauncey? There is such a nice fire."
Not yet, dear. I will come later,
but just now I would rather be alone
for o little while"
AS Mary Brent left the room Kate
Dauncey sat gazing into the fitful
gloom of the fast-gathering darkness.
The trees stood like ghostly sentinels,
and as the rising breeze swayed their
branches grim shadows seemed to
fit to and fro like unearthly specters.
4 liz SIcuC was WCllu, Uut IL HItCu III
with her thoughts: the memories Of
past days crowded upon her, the sor-
did days of sorrow n regret, and
these were all her mind could find to
feed upon. Happy days and joyous
hours were blotted out by torture
laden membranes, and there was
no thought of the possibility Of a
brighter future to cheer the GOODNESS
of her heart.
The memory Of Montagu Winton,
and all that he had once been to her,
rose up in her mind, and the days that
she had counted happy were drear
and dismal indeed when viewed
through the vista OF long years. In
! that past time the mans destinations
had laid a spell upon her; and even
now, although she never thought of
him without a shudder, she was dim
w conscious that his power over her
was still potent, and it only required
his presence to command obedience to
his will.
without, the wind moaned dismally,
and the heavy patter Of rain upon the
l SDEluS OlOOSOIA0 dllnOuAlSSa ~ SohA
ing of a storm. With a SILVER she
rose from her seat and stirred the
| fire into a blaze. This light shone
| into the garden, and the tree-shadows
| danced wildly as the storm increased.
The small lamp flickered in the draft
Of the partly open window, and she
advanced to close it. Then suddenly,
with a half-articulated cry Of fright,
she started back.
The window was slowly opening.
Half-blinded with terror, she watch
ed it, fascinated. Then a shadow fit
ted into the room. and Montagu Win
ton stood before her.
"Kate!"
"You here! Why, oh, why a YOU
not leave me in p~eace?"
do not reproach me, Kate-at
least not now. I know / deserve ev-
erything that you can possibly say
against me, but l am In danger. l am
q hunted man."
and did you think you could go on.