Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-07-25

a B-7" she cried, stflr not
seeing one whit.
Yes; Anna Brandon he answered
sternly
She repeated his words softly and
stood moment gazing at him. In that
moment she saw it all. She sat down
suddenly on the chair beside her and
shuddered violently, as II she had laid
her hand unwittingly upon a snake.
"Oh. Richard" she whispered, lit is too
horrible!'
IT fear II is too true" he answered
gloomily.
shrank from looking at them, from
meeting her eyes or his. felt as IL
this shame had come upon US all. Tia
thought that the culprit might walk
into the room at any moment filled me
with terror. turned away and looked
through the window, leaving the hus-
band and wife together.
rs 1t only the name you are think
ing OFF," she muttered.
NO." he answered Before I left
England to go to Calais saw some
thing pass between them-between her
| and Clarence-which surprised me.
Only in the confusion of those last
days 1t slipped from my memory for
the time.
lain!"
Looking back upon the events of the
plain by the lurid light now cast upon
them. I understood how Master Lind.
strom's vase had come to be broken
when we were discussing the letter,
which. In my hands. must have been a
perpetual terror to the girl. I discerned
that she had purposely sown dissen-
sion between myself and Van Tree and
recalled how she had striven to per-
suade us not to leave the island: then
how she had induced us to take that
unlucky road, finally how on the road
her horse had Jagged and Jagged be-
hind, OBTAINING us all when every min.
ute was precious. The things all dove,
tailed into one another Each by itself
was weak. but together they formed a
strong scaffold-a scaffold strong
enough for the hanging of a man. IL
she had been man! The others ap-
pealed to me, the duchess feverishiy
anxious to be assured one way or the
other, The very suspicion of the exist
ence Of such treachery at her side
seemed to stife her. Still looking out
OF the window. I detailed the proofs I
have mentioned, not gladly, heaven
knows. or in any spirit of revenge. but
my duty was rather to my companions,
who had been true to me, than to her.
told them the truth as far as knew
1t. The whole, wretched miserable
truth was only to become known to me
| later.
Il VIII go to her." the duchess said
presently, rising from her seat.
MY dear!' her husband cried. He
stretched out his hand. and graspingi
her skirt detained her. You will not
DO not be afraid" she replied sadly.
as she stopped over him and kissed his
forehead. 1T is a thing past scolding.
Richard, past love, and even hope, and
all but past pity. I will be mercifuI
as we hope for mercy, but she can
never be a friend of ours again. and
some one must tell her. I will do so
and return. AS for that mani" she,
continued, obscuring suddenly the fair
and noble sides of her character which
she had just exhibited, and which, I
confess, had SUI prised me, for had not
thought her capable Of a generosity so
uncommon. 'As for that man." she
repeated, drawing herself to her full
height. while her eyes sparkled and
her cheeks grew red, who has
! turned her into vile scfemer and
shameless hyprocite, as he would
fain have turned better women. 7
will show him no mercy nor grace IL I
ever have him under my feet. l will,
| crush him as 1 would an adder, though
be crushed next moment myself"
(Contiaued Next Weekl