Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-05-22

I the rogue has come on the scene agan
the lads ~scruples ought not to stand
In the way. They are all nonsense.
The letter may throw some light on the
bishops schemes and C~larencets pres
ence here, and 1t should be a That
is what l think"
What do you say, Carey?" her hus-
band asked as / kept silence. Us not
that 10 BILE z"
Sitting with my elbows on the table,
/ twisted and UNFINISHED the fingers or
my clasped hands, gazing at them the
while as though Inspiration might come
of them. What was | TO do? knew
that the three pairs of eyes were upon
me. and the knowledge distracted me
and prevented me really thinking,
though | seemed TO be thinking so hard.
Well, / burst IN at last, "the circum-
stances are certainly altered. | see no
reason Why I should not
Crash
l stopped, uttering an exclamation,
and we all sprang TO our feet. oh,
what a PITY" the duchess cried, clasp
ing her hands. You clumsy, clumsy
girl, What have you done?"
Mistress Anne's sleeve as she turned
had swept from the table a Florentine
jug, one of Master Lindstrom's greatest
treasures. and II lay a dozen fragments
7 VIZ AAAE ttpA VIC w IN AOONSN Nh
1t. the duchess In anger. Master BERTHE
n | in comic dismay. The girls lip
trembled, and he turned quite white
as she contemplated the ruin she a
caused.
We'll. you have lone it now," the
duchess sale pitilessly. What woman
could ever overlook clumsiness In an
other woman 1t only remains to pick
up the pieces. miss. III a man had done
it-but, there, pick up the pieces. You
VIII have To make your tale good TO
Master I.indstrom afterward."
/ went down on my knees and helped
Anne. the annoyance her incredulity
had caused me forgotten. She was so
shaken that | heard the bits OF ware
in her hand clatter together. When
we had picked up all. even TO the small
est piece, | rose, n the duchess re-
turned TO the former subject. You
VIII open this letter. them she aid
Il see you will, Then the sooner the
better. Have you got it about you?"
NO, 1t is in my bedroom" l an
swered.
Il held it away there, and I must
fetch it. But do you think" | con-
tinued. pausing as / opened the door
for Mistress Anne TO go out with her
double handful of fragments, lit is abb
solutely necessary 10 read IL, my lady?".
Most certainly" she answered,
gravely nodding with each syllable, Il
think so, | Will be responsible And
Master BERTHE nodded also.
; be it, l said reluctantly.
And l was about TO leave the room
to fetch the letter, my bedroom be-
ing in a different part Of the house,
only connected with the main build
ing by a covered passage, when
our host returned. He told us that
he had removed a boat, and l staid
awhile to hear IL he had anything TO
report. and then finding he had not,
went out TO go TO my ROOM, shutting
the door behind me.
The passage | have mentioned. which
was merely formed of rough planks,
was very dark. At the nearer end was
the foot of the staircase leading to the
upper rooms. Farther along was a
door in the side opening into the gar
den. Going straight out of the lighted
room, had almost to grope my way,
feeling the walls with my hands. When
| had about reached the middle. /
paused. II struck me that the door into
the garden must be open. for | felt a
cold draft of air strike my brow and
saw, or fancied / saw, a slice of night
sky n the branch of a tree waving
against it. / took a step forward.
slightly shivering in the night air as
l did so, and had stretched out my
80 AAa1 IL II 1hNa
door when a dark form rose suddenly
close to me, | saw a knife CLEAN in the
starlight, and the G m | reeled
back into the darkness of the passage.
a sharp pain in my breast. .
l knew at once what had happened
TO me and leaned a moment against
the %planking with a sick, faint feeling
saying TO myself. Il have it this timei"
The attack had been so sudden and un-
expected. / had been taken so COM
pletely of my guard, that had made
no attempt either to strike or to clutch
my assailant, and I suppose only the
kne of the passage saved me from
another blow. But was one needed?
The hand which / had raised in
stinctiyely to shield my throat was wet
with the warm blood trickling fast
down my breast. l staggered back to
the door OF h parlor, cropping blindly
for the latch, seemed to be an age And
Ing 1t, found 1t at last and walked In.
The duchess sprang up at sight OF
me. What" she cried, backing from
me. what has happened"
Il have been stabbed" 1 said. and
l sat down.
1t amused me afterward to recall
what they all die. The Dutchman
stared; my lady screamed loudly; Mas
ter BERTHE whipped out his sword. He
could make up his mind quickly enough
at times.
II think he has gone.' I said family.
(Contiaued Next Weekly