Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-11-20
The Fatal Three
MISS II. Z. 1RADDoH
-=]l~i-
CHAPTER xI.-lContinued.)

tering u"nannounced at the further doof
Dhe started up, with her heart beating
vehemently, speech1ess and trembling. she
felt as IL they were meeting after years
| OF absence-felt as if she must fling hes-
self upon his breast and claim him as her
own again, confessing herself too earthly
. creature to live without that sweet hl,
man love. He came close up to her, laio
his hand upon her shoulder, and looked
her in the face, earnestly, soicmnly even
mildred, is it irrerocable? Can yon
sacrifice me for a scruple?'
ut ID more than a scruple: 1t Is the
| certainty that there is but one right
course, and that l must bold by 1t to the
end"
$50 be it.. Let conscience be your
guide, and not love. l have done.
He took both her hands in his. and
held them long, looking in her face as
10 went on with what he had to say to
k>-, g~-avsiy, without anger. but with
touch Of GOODNESS that placed her very far
away from him, and marked the beginning
Of 4 lifelong s~trangeness.
"It is settled, then" he said "we part
forever; but we are not going to air our
story in the law courts, or fill latest
editions Of evening papers with the de-
tails Of our misery.
"No, no, no!" q 81.
''Then, though we arc to spend our lives
apart henceforward, In the eyes Of the
world you will still be my wife; and 1
would not have the lady who was once
my wife placed in a false position. You
cannot wander about the Continent alone,
Nildred-yon are too young and too at
- Z A. A-~.,n1 - -, "a prv,n nInn chin
I have brought Pamela to be your COM
panion. The presence Of my niece at your
side will tell the world that you nave
done no wrong to me or my name. IT
may be fairly supposed that we part from
some incompatibility of temper. Hon
nsed give no explanations and you may
BE- assured I shall answer no questions
You are very good" she faltered. Il
shall be- glad to have your niece with me,
only I am afraid the life will be . drcary
one for her.
s"She does not think that. She is much
attached to you. She is a frank, warm
hearted girl, with some common sense
under q surface of frivolity. She is at
my hotel near at hand. If you think
your aunt will give her hospitality, she
can come to you at once, and you and
she can discuss all your plans together.
If there Is anything In the way of bust
ness or money matters that | can ar
range for you
"No, there is nothing she said in a
low voice; and then, suddenly, she knelt
1T his feet, and ciasped his hand, and
cried over it.
George. tell me that you forgive ne,
before We part forever she pleaded !:
pity me, dear; pity and pnrdon!"
Eyes, / forgive you," he said, gently
raising her in his arms, and leading her
to the sofa. "Yes, child. I pity you. 1t
n MT -FOUR fault that we are miserable.
It may be better that we should part
thus. The future might be still darker
for Us ifs we did not 30 part. Goodbye"
He bent over her as she sat in a droop-
ine attitude, with her forehead leaning
against the end Of the sofa, her hand and
arm hanging lax and %motionless at her
side. He laid his hand npen her head
o II II blessing, and then left her with
cut another word.
'.sThsS future might be still darker II
~ did not part" She repeated the sen.
tncs slowly, p~onderins it as if it had
bs0 an enigma
CHAPTER MI.
Altar that interview with her hucband,
which n her own mind meant ~inality,
Mildred Greswold's strength succumbed
suddenly, and for more than . week she
remained In 1 state Of health for which
Hiss Fausset's doctor could find no name
more specific than low fever. She was
not very feverish, he told her aunt. The
pulse was rapid and intermittent, but the
tsmpeeature We not much above the NOR
nal limit. She was very weak and low,
and she wanted care. 1--WE must watch
hsr." he said gravely. "She must not
b. allowed to 90 into q decline"
Miss Faussst looked alarmed at this,
but her doctor, an acquaintance Of fifteen
years, assured her that there was no cause
for alarm; there was only need Of care
and watchfulness.
.Her mother died at six-and-thirty,"
aid Mis- Fausset-"faded away gradu-
ally without any ostensible disease. MY
brother did everything that care AID Fore
thought could do, but he could not save
her."
..Mrs. Greswold must not be allowed 10
fade away replied the doctor, with an
air Of being infallible.
04lIOTVQ xUuhu ti6t dAAClA duu NAE.
Castellani had seen a great deal Of each
other during her illness. They had sung
and played together, they had walked on
the cli6-in sight Of the drawing room
windows the whole time. Pamela explain
Cd, and with Miss Fausset's severe eye
upon them.
Mildred saw that the case was hope
L., and she began to think seriously about
her responsibilities in this matter: q frank
impetuous Crl, her husbands niece. eager
% cast in her lot with q man who was
obvousiy an a%dventurer, living sumptu-
cusly with hardly amy obvious means, and
who might be a scoundrel. His advent
had begun the misery of her life. Had
che never seen him she never might have
known this great sorrow. His presence
was 4 constant source Of irritation, tempt
ing her to questioning that might lead to
further misery. Fay's image had been
constantly in her mind of late. She had
bfooded over that welded life of which
she knew nothing-oyer that early death
which for her was shrouded in mystery.
"And he could tell me so much. per
hape,' she said to herself one evening.
dtting by the fire in the inner o while
Casteiiani played In the distance yonder
NetweenSt the tall windows that let in the
gray eastern light.
aAssHer death was infinitely sad
Those were the words which he had
suspkeh of Georxe Greswofd 8 first wife.