Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-04-02

Hidden
Perils
, ny MARY CECIL HAY
CHAPTER X1x.-tcontinued.)
b, MARY CECIL HAY
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you not afraidi 1t would be easier for
ne to burn this than to offer you the
cup or dagger"
II don't know what to do now,' said
Lucilla, a little nervously, though with
much effort to suppress her JOY. ME-.
Surle said 1t was to be read in your pres
sace, and Mr.. Gavcston's, and Athol's,
and now here we are. Lorraine, don't
CO. she cried. Us Miss Galveston moved
toward the door; "stay with me. Mr..
Surle meant the two families. yours and
mine, and we are all here now
Kourke had raised his eyes from the
parchment to the two girls, and waited
till Lorraine had retaken her seat. Then
he smiled into her eyes with a look OF
quiet content, and opened the will.
"Shall / read itI' inquired Mr.. Cav
eston, feeling how Rourke was the last
to whom the task should be assigned.
But il was Itourke's very conscious
ness OF this which made him wish to do
30, IL only to prove to Athol how little
1t moved him. The will was folded SO
that he needed only gradually to open it
ms he read and he went, without falter-
ing, through the long. circumstantial deed
which took his uncle's property from him
and gave it unrescrvedly to Lucilla We're.
That is ALL" he said, laughing, as he
turned the last fold in the parchment,
"except- What does this meanT'
He passed the will on to Mr.. Caves
ton, MS If it's touch burnt him; then
stretched out both of his hands to Athol.
oh! my poor fellow, he has been
crnclest Of all to You
a"Whatf is itY' exclaimed Lucilla, com.
ing eagerly up to Mr.. Gavesron. 'TNhc
will is all right and straightforward and
legal. What is it that astonishes Rourke,
and makes you so--silent!"
"Thc vii! is all right-yes, and legal,
az you say" returned Mr.. Galveston, un-
willingly but, look, the signature and
seal are cut away neatly and carefully
cut away! My poor girl, what a revolt
Ing vent for the old mans grim humor :"
What do you mean" cried Lucilla,
bending her hot eyes over the document.
you are-joking =
He turned the parchment toward her,
and she saw the oblong and the round
cut with deliberate exactness, as no one
would have cared to cut them but in the
enjoyment Of a keen malice. In the silence
which she kept, her eyes seemed fastened
to the paper, her thoughts gone beyond
her CONTROL No one broke the pause, for
what could they say?
"Athol" she cried. gazing long and
earnestly into his worn face, .'oh, Athol !"
He was close beside her now, and caught
her in his arms. "You told me so you
told me he was laughing at me all the
time and I ridiculed the idea, and-and
went on TIT Try SIT way. Now, we arc
both-ruined -
In the presence of them all Athol bent
and kissed hts sistcr,s shaking lips.
1T will be all right he said, no
shadow Of rebuke falling across his tone
or face don't grieve, my dear; we shall
soon be as---rwes wire BEFORE
"Never,' shes cried, again. I'VE never
can. l nave destroyed it nil. Oh. Athoi.
you don't know-you don't know half.
For years ! have been dragging heavy
debts about us both, and STAYING them off
through this. Yes. though you prayed
me not--though you were never tired of
warning me. We can never pay now.
Never, though | should work as hard as
you are always doing. oh. Athol. you
can never forgive me. My dear, my dear.
l cannot bear to look into your face !"
Her own face was so drawn and quiv-
ering with pain that he gently turned it,
and hid it on his shoulder.
CHAPTER XX.
It was on March %, 1871. At the
very window where he first saw Lorraine
Gayeston looking in upon her sisters
firelit sitting room, she now stood look
ing out into the chill sunlight, but seeing
nothing of the snowdrops or the ~violets.
seeing only, far of among the hills, her
pictured thoughts. The beautiful young
face was raised a little, and the slight,
rounded form was leaning YEARLY against
the glass, when Rourke Trcnham came
through the door behind her.
lorraine. Lorraine"
That call took from her in a moment
oil power of resistance, and she turned
to face him her slender figure still wear
lily resting against the window. and the
soft light enfolding her making her beau
tiful beyond all words.
Lorraine. his is the twenty-eighth.
said I would come then. Did you
read what was done in Parliament yes
terdayg'
mo; I have not seen the papers. They
are in the library now"
1.-THE bill was thrown out by a major
itysof twenty-six."
with such . dangerous calm the words
were nttered-and so strongly developed
On Rourke's face was that one line of
Min between his brows-that a great fear
fellsapcn the girl that her courage would
break down at last.
.Rourke.' she faltcred, her whole heart
pleading in her eyes, why can We not
be brother and sister-always. l mean,
~ we have beer? p
Because he said, his short, passion
ate laugh grating upon her. lit is simply
M utterly impossible.
Anything else is more impossible" the
girl said. bravely. And not more impos-
sible now, Rourke, than it would have
been il that bill had passed. No words
said in Parliament could make me think
differently in my " heart, and what
ever law istpassed you and I can be only
That we-have been"
".Why2'
Because of Una"
do you think" he asked. while scald-
Ing tears rose fast in his eyes. that
Una, from heaven, would tell us it was
sin r. a1
annot Judge of that said Lor-
,raine. with rad earnestncss I'VE can only
do what We think right, seeing but cne
step at 4 time
Looking at her in her wonderful plead
Ing beauty, an old longing came over him
and mAstered him..
Tenderly. but with impassioned
strength, he folded his arms about her
and strained her 70 his painting heart.