Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-11-06
The Fatal Three
ElIss N. z. BRADDON
s-
CHAPTER vIII.--(continued.)


"Stop where you are" he said to the
~roachman, and ran back to the station
nm evil augnry in his mind.
"Did you see Mrs. Grcswold here just
nowY' he asked the station master, with
us natural an air as he could command.
Yes. sir. She got into the up-train.
sir the train by which you came. She
came out OF the waiting room. sir, the
minute after you left tue platform. You
must just have missed her.
YES. l have just missed her
He walked up and down the length OF
the platform two ~ three times in the
thickeuing dusk. l,cs, he had missed her.
She had left him. Such a departure could
mean only severance-sonie deep wound,
which it might take long to heal. 1t
would NIL come right by and by. There
could be no such thing as parting between
man and wife who loved each other as
they loved-who were incapable of false
rood or wrong.
George Greswold, once at home, went to
the bedroom. with thick walls and deep
set windows. and old window seats, and
capaci0us rccesses on each side OF the
high oak chimney piece, and richly mould
ed wainscot. and massive paneled doors,
a sober eighteenth century atmosphere in
which it is a privilege to c~xist~-a spacious
old room, with old Dutch furniture, OF
the pre%-Chippcndale era. and early Eng
lish china, Worcester simula ting Oriental,
Chelsea striving after Dresden; a glorl-
Gus old room, solemn and mysterious as n
church in the dim light of a pair of wax
candles which Louisa the maid had light
ed on the mantle piece.
There, between the candles, appeared
two letters: George Greswold, Esd
Miss Ransome."
The husbands letter was a thick one,
and the style of the ~penmanship showed
how the pen had hurried along, driven by
the electric forces of excitement and de-
spair:
MY Beloved-You asked me last night
il the photograph which you showed me
had anything to do with my ~fainting fit.
1t had everything to do with it. That
photograph is a portrait of my unhappy
sister, my cruelty used, un~acknowledged
sister md /. who have been your wife
fourteen years, know now that our mar
riage was against the law of God and
man--that l nave never been legally your
wife--that our union from the first has
been an unholy union. and for that I'M
law IL AdSe tLC huhu VI 1ou he' p'N''
laid upon Observation-Disclosures chas
tiscment, and the darling of our hearts
has been taken from us.
Whom He loyeth He cl.astaneth : He
has ch~astened us, George--perhaps to
draw MS nearer to Him. We were too
happy, it may be, in this temporal life
too much absorbed by our own happiness.
living in 4 charmed circle of love and
uIa JuoSc ~ fill HI NJ = ayvfr1 chnsfiSpmppf
came.
..There is but one course possible to
me. my dear and honored husband, and
that curse lies in lifelong separation. |
am running away from my dear home
like a criminal, because I am not strong
enough to stand face to face with you
and tell you what must be. We must do
our best to live out our lives asunder.
George; we must never meet again.
4 Il have written to Pamela. begging
her to stay with you, to take my place
In the household. and to be to you as an
adopted daughter. | shall stay tonight
in Queen Anne's Gate with Mrs, Tomkin-
sen. Please send Leaiss to ;ne to NOR
row with luggage for a considerable alb
sence from home. She will know what to
bring. You can tell her that ! an going
abroad IOr my ncaitn. My lntentlOn IL TO
go to some watering place in Germany,
where I can vegetate, away from all beat
en- tracks, and from the people who know
us. You may rely upon me to bear my
burden. and to seek sympathy and
consolation from no earthly comforter.
do not follow me, Congressional
your heart urge you to do SO. Respect
my solemn resolution. the result of many
prayers.-Your ever loving.
"MILDRED."