Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-07
X.

lie is still staring, as if fascinated,
as if dIsbelieving the sight Of his own
eyes, at her hand. On it shine two rings;
one is a magnificent sapphire, the other
n circiet of opais with n diamond OF
great value in its center. Adare knows
them. The old descriptive list Of the miss
ing jewels, lent, under certain conditions.
to Amber's mother, is well known to him.
These two rings, amongst many other far
more important possessions, assuredly be-
long to the lost collection.
'These?' Amber spreads out her small,
loveable, brown little hands before her,
and let's the rings-the wonderful rings
that shine upon them make full play in
the fitful light. Aren't they pretty? l
only wear them sometimes. I don't know
why l put them on to-day. But I'm glad
now, because you can see them. Mother
gave them to me. They are pretty, aren't
they?" She pauses, but is 80 taken up
with her delight in her jewelled toys that
she does not notice how he lifts his head,
that has been lowered, and makes an
effort as if to spcak-an effort beyond
him for the moment.
I'm afraid" says Adare slowly, and
with his very heart dying within him at
having to say this awful thing, that
yohi Iot lo iiHAt W ~ -
to you"
Her eyes now fill with surprise. There
is no anger yet, only surprise.
M right?" .
'"Think what you will Of me-" says he
desperately, Il must tell you the truth.
Those rings belong to the jewels that your
that Sir Lucien is looking for"
"Oh, no, no, no! !" cries she eagerly,
~passionately, as if with intent of staying
his next words. You are wrong, quite
wrong-my mother gave them to me.
They could not belong to the jewels that
are lost. She gave them to me the very
night before she died. Would she give
them to me then-and to me-a Iaere
child-if they were not honestly her
own"
He is silent. 1t is perhaps the most
dreadful moment of his life. How can
he speak?-how reassure her? His 81
lence strikes to her very heart. .
you don't believer cries she, in a
low but vehement tone. Take them.
then. Take them!' She pulls them from
her fingers, and dashes them with a SUI
perb gesture of scorn, and righteous an
ger, and conscious innocence, at his feet.
They roll round and round, but by a
most marvellous chance do not reach any
of the many c~revices in the old and brok-
en- flooring.
LET me speak! !"
mo. Not one word! Co! Dc you
hear? Col"
mot till you hear me He stands
doggedly before her. He is fighting. as
he knows, for his life.
II will not hear you. why should I?
What are you to me? A month ago l
never even heard Of you! I care nothing
at all about you. Indeed, you are less
than nothing to me y"
us that true says he; and then
suddenly catching her hands, 81 don't be-
lieve it."
mop" she laughs aloud. Such a mis-
cradle laugh. what do you believe?
Neither in me, nor in my father, nor my
mother. Not even in your uncle. Sir
Lucien, who has been the cause of this
last insult. Did he employ you? Did
he send you here? Are you a spy?'' The
smile, now dreadful as her words, is still
upon her lips, and she is facing him
bravely, defying him, with all the cour-
age of the good old race from which
she has sprung, her small head tilted
backwards, when suddenly something hap
pens.
The small and slender frame falls a
trembling. She raises two shaking hands
to her eyes, and turning sharply aside.
ashamed-crushed to the very soul, that
he should see her humiliation, she bursts
into a passion Of tears. A silence, with
nothing but that most heart-broken sob
bling.
Amber" e1claims he hoarsely. He
goes to her and ventures to touch one
n 1891 L~-l~# ~r.u-al - H.~.1 II
against the bursting lids.
But she shrinks away from MN. Don't
touch me. Don't. I could not bear it."
Don't cry like that, them says he
s~avagely. st drives me mad. I wish
I had never said . word about those curs-
Cd rings. Even now, if you wish It, you
can keep them. No one knows Of them
| but you and"
It's this another insult?' sxclaims she.
do you think I would have you keep
back your knowledge of those rings? Do
you think I want to keep them? I sup
pose my manner is ungracious, but
please pick them up, and"-with . light
| ming glance at him that very nearly kills
him-"go away
at shall be as you will, of course
says he, with regard to my going. But
l have nothing whatever to do with those
| rings they are yours SO far. Sir Lu-
| Glen may lay claim to them, but how does
that concern me? They are his"
"They are nothing to me-" says the
girl coldly. Let us make ar end of the
matter. 1t is very distasteful to me-"
She moves towards the opening in the
wall.
You mean by that"-he follows her
THAT you will not accept Sir Lucien's
invitation" He stops, looking at her,
trying to read her face, his own very pale.
rs this to be the end-?"
She gives a little curt glance, half, only
half, turning her head.
You do not understand me! II ! ever
hesitated about accepting it, you may be
sure all such hesitation is now at an end"
says she, smiling at him, but oh what a
cold, repellent smile. II shall go to Car
rig whenever your sister chooses to ask
finding those rings upon my fingers. 1"
with her small head thrown backwards
and the brilliant light of battle in her
dark blue eyes-"I defy you ALI
"Why should you speak to me like
that?" says the young man, a little pale.
but with a firm expression round his lips.
rs it fair? Defy Sir Lncien, If you will,
but why iook upon me as "a eae.ay :.
Would you have had me act differently !?
Would you have had me-knowing those
rings were not really yours-keep 81
lence
What are you going TO 10 with