Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-08-21
cHApTER xrx--contlnued.

his advice, though the unknown had
enjoined me not 70 do so. But for the
time / refrained. and explaining my abb
serce OF mind as well as l could !
presently stole ava on some excuse or
other and started In good time and or
foot into the city. / reached the rem
dezvous a quarter OF an hour before
the time named, and strolling between
the church and the bakers shop tried
10 look as much like a chance passerby
as / could. keeping the while a wary
lookout for any who might turn out TO
be my correspondent.
The morning was cold and gray. A
drizzling rain was falling. The passers
were few, and the appearance OF the
streets dirty and, with Uttered kennels,
was dreary indeed. l found Ii hard at
once TO keep myself warm and to avoid
observation as l hung about. Ten
o'clock had rung from more than one
steeple, and i was beginning to think
myself a fool for my pains when a
woman Of middle height, slender and
young in figure, but wearing a shabby
o cloak, and with her head muffied
In a hood, as though She had the tooth
ache or dreaded the weather more than
ordinary, turned the corner of the bel
fry and made straight toward me She
drew near and seemed about to pass
me without notice. But When abreast
of INC she glanced up suddenly her
eyes the only features l could see.
Follow me to the church!" she MUIR
INJURED gently, and she swept on TO the
porch.
1 obeyed reluctantiy-very reluctant
ly, my feet seeming like lead, for l
knew who she was. Though l had only
seen her eyes. / had recognized them
n guessed already what her business
with me was. She led the way reso-
lutely 10 q quiet corner. The church
was empty and still, with only the
scent OF Incense In the air to tell OF a
recent service. 1t was no surprise TO
me when she turned abruptly, and re-
moving her hood looked me I'm the
face.
What have you done with him."
She painted, laying her hand on my
arm. Speak! Tell me what you have
done with him?"
The question, the very question 1
had f%oreseen! Yet ! tried to fence
with her. / said, with whom?"
with whom 2" she repeated bitterly.
you know mel | am not so changed
In three years that you do not recog
nize me?.
no; / know you I said.
There was a hectic flush on her
cheeks, and ii seemed to me that the
dark hair was thinner or her thin tenn
pies han when / had seen her last,
80 ~ - 80 ~ "a va
Then why ask with whom?' she
cried pa~ssionately. What have you
done with the mar Q called CLAIR
cnce?'
Done with him?p | said feebly.
Aye, done with him? Come, speak
and tell mel" she repeated Ia fierce ac-
cents her hand clutching my wrist,
her eyes probing my face with merci-
less glances. Have you killed him?
Tell nj %
Killed him, Mistress Amer" | said
sullcnly. No; / have not killed him"
He is alive? z" she cried.
Htior all / know, he Is alive"
She giared at me for some seconds to
assure herself that l was telling the
truth, Then she heaved a great sigh,
aer n fell from my wrists, the coll
or faded out OF her face, and she low
cred her eyes. I glanced round with
n monetary Idea OF escape, l so
Shrank from that which was to come.
But before ] had well entertained the
notion h looked up, her face grown
calm.
Then what have you done with
him2' she asked.
Il have done nothing with him. /
answered.
she Iaughed-a mirthless laugh,
@sBah,s she said, do not tell me lies!
That Is you honor, / suppose-your
honor to your friends down In the cell
lar therei Do you think thai I do not
know all about them? Shall I give you
the list? He la d very dangerous con-
S~pifator, Is Sir Thomas P~enruddocke.
is he not? And that scented dandy,
Master Kingstong Or Master Crewd-
xon~-tell me OF him, Tell me OF him.
I saytn she exclaimed. with a sudden
return from irony to a fierce eagerness.
4 breathless Impotence. why did he
4trf ~ IN last nfmHf . lNh.f fa tya
you done with hlm?'
shook my head, sick and trembling.
How could / tell herr
See" she said. you will not tell
INC. But you swear he Is yet alive,
Master Cludde? Good. Then YOU are
holding him for d hostage2 Is that
it, with d piercing glance at my face,
sor you have condemned him. but for
some reason the sentence has not been
executed2" She drew a long, deep
breath, for l fear my face betrayed me.
That Is II, Is II? Then there Is still
time
She turned from me and looked to-
ward the end Of the aisle. where a dull
red lamp hanging before the altar
glowed feebly IN the warm, scented air
She seemed so 70 turn and so to look
IN thankfulncss as if the news she had
learned were GOOD Instead or what II
was. What Is the hour flxed?" she
asked suddenly.
] shook my head.
You Will not tell me- Well, IL mat
tefs not she answered briskly. sHe
must be saved. DO you hear? He mus,
be saved, Master Ciudde. That is you,
business
/ shook my head.
Yet thinltit Is not ?? M said. We'll
4 xa~ show you ii Isl L~istenir
She raised herself on d step OF thu
f0unt and looked. me harshly IN The
face. III he be not given up to ME safs
and Sound hy sunset this evening.
viii betrnv you all, All I have thu
list mere She muttercdN sternly. touch.
ing her bosoen. You. Master BERTHE
rcnrucGockes Fleming. Barnes-ail
Al! DO YOU heare Give him up, Of
SFnllflaang.m
You wonld not do III" L criet
arhast. peeripg into her burning eyes
Would not do n? Foolis she Kissed
'If al the world but he had but ons
head, ] would cut It on 10 save his
He IS ing husbandt DO you hear? HI
IS my hnsbana-my alIt DO you thinl
4 have given up everything. friends am
hnfaor and safety. for him to- lose hin
row Mol YGu say I would not do Ii
DO you know what I hcve done? 70,
have q scar *here.r
she touched me lightly on the breast
Old ~ shN said.
You Fl + p}uttercd.
fsYfa< 1, YOU biind fool 4 did Ii" sh
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