Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-11-27
The Fatal Three
EISS M. e. RRADDOH
--~ ---
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continucd.)

Christmas came and found her in this
srnme of mind. There were very few
tourists now, and the long corridors hal
q sepulchral air, the snowy mountain tops
were blotted out by mist and rain. For
Pamela, Christmastidc had been a season
Of much gaycty hiihcrto-a season OF new
frockS and many dances, hunting aud
hunt balls, and the change was II severe
test of that young Iady's temper.
In almost every excursion she had be
| guiled the tcdium of the way with some
pleasant day dream. Cnstcllaui would APP
pear in the most unlooked-for manner at
the resting place where they were to
lunch. He would have followed them
from England Mt his leisure, and would
come upon them unannoInced, pleased to
startle her by his sudden apparition. In
| absence she had recalled so many tender
speeches, SO many indications OF regard :;
and she had taught herself to believe
chat he really cared for her, and had but
been withheld from Il declaration by a
noble dignity which would not stoop to
WOO a woman richer than himself.
"ne Is poor and proud" she thought.
She had thought of him so necessarily
that it was hardly a coincidence, and yet
It seemed to her a miracle when his voice
sounded behind her in the midst Of her
reverie.
"You ought not to be out OF doors, Miss
Ransome, when the sun is SO nearly
down"
She turned and faced him. pale first
with infinite pleasure, and then rosy to
the roots of her haxen hair.
"When did you Gomez sho asked Gag
eriy. Have you been long In ItaIy?"
II only came last night. I have not
seen Mrs. Greswold yet. She is well, |
hope?"
She is not over well. She frets dread
fully, / am afraid. 1t is 80 sad that she
and Uncle George should be living apart
for some mysterious reason which nobody
knows. They were the most perfect con-
pie"
Mrs. Crossword is a perfect woman
"And Uncle George has the finest char
acter. His first marriage was unhappy,
I believe, nobody ever talked about it.
| think it was only just known in the
family that he had married in Italy when
he was n young man, and that his wife
had died within a year. 1t was supposed
that she could not have been nice, since
nobody knew anything about her"
Rather hard upon the dead lady to be
condemned by her husbands silence. VIII
you take me to your aunt?"
with pleasure. l think she ought to
be charmed TO see you, for we lead the
most solitary existence here. My aunt
has set her face against knowing any
body, in the hotel or out of it. And there
have been some really charming people
staying here people one would go out of
ones way to know. Have you come here
for your health?'
FOR my pleasure only. | was sick 20
death of England and Of cities. l longed
to steep myself in the infinite and the
beautiful. Those indigo clouds above The
mountains yonder-with that bold splash
of orange shining through the gorge
are worth the journey, were there no mole
than that; and when the wintry stars
glass themselves in the lake by and by.
ah tken one knows what it is to be Tie
living, acting element in n world of pass.
i've beauty. And to think that there arc
men and women in London cropping about
in the fog, and fancying themselves
Mildred received the unexpected visitor
with marked GOODNESS.
81 am staying at the hotel" Mr.. Cas-
tellnni said. II hope I may drop in some
times-to-morrow even. Miss Ransome is
good enough to say she would like to
sing some duets with me-" !
"AIiss Ransome knows I lave not been
receiving any VISITORS" Mildred answer
ed, with a touch of Representatives,.
ooh, but Mr.. Castellani is an old
The people you avoided were
strangers said Pamela eagerly.
Mildred made no further protest. Few
men would have accepted a permission so
.grudgingly given. but Castellani stopped
at no obstacle when he had a serious pur-
pose to serve, and in this case his pur-
pose was very serious for life or death, |
he told himself.
He came next day and the day after
that, and every day for four or five
till tho first flush of ]precpcious
spring lent beauty to the landscape and
softncss to the sky. Mildred submitted
to his visits and by and by fell into the
habit Of being amused by Castcllani; in
ttrestcd in his talk of men and womcp
Of books, Of which he seemed 10 have
read all Of any mark that had ever been
She allowed herself to be inter
ented she allowed herself to be soothcd
BY his music; she let him becoina all in |
i1utnce in her life; but never did this
presumptuous wooer beguile her into one
single thought that wronged her absent
husband. Her intellect acknowleds ed the |
intellectual sway, but her heart ,
knew no wavering.
Cesar Castellani believed himself in |
vsncible with women. The weakest, and
In some cases the worst, of the sex had |
educated him into the belief that no wom-
an lived who could resist him. And here
was a woman whom he intensely admired, |
whose married life 1t had been his
privilege to wreck.
He knew that Mildred Crossword was
three times richer han Pamela Ransomc.
The wealth of the Fausscts came within
the region of his knowledge; n ne know
how large n fortune John Fausset had
left his daughter, and 10Y entirely thst
fortune was at her own disposal. He
might have had Pamela for the asking
Pamela, with a paltry fifteen hundred a
year; Pamela, who sang false and bored
HIM beyond measure. The higher prize
seemed impossible but 1t was his nature
to attempt the impossible. His belief in
his own power was boundless.
.'She cannot divorce her husband" he
told himself but he may divorce her"
He thought himself very near success
in these frightening afternoons in rhe
beginning of February when he was 81
lowed TO spend tine lovely hour OF sun