Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-08-19

she would be . success, ana tnst ens
play would be success.
On its success good deal nuns
for him. Bonholt Hume had Deen
down at Lendal, and from his report
it seemed evident that his cousin
Ralph was very much alive; that ne
had every prospect OF living long al.
ter the big race he had set his neart
on winning, and in that case Prioe Q
Life would run and would win. An
thongs own filly, Lady Olive, which
was entered, was not quite gooo
enough, he was afraid, to defeat Pride
o. Life.
Yes, Anthony Strangways devoutly
wished that this parson had not
turned up to exercise a disturbing IN
fiuence over Olive Vanstone. And
what did that odd, yelled reference to
the police signify?
1.-THE act will be over in few min
utes, now" he said.
He crossed the stage. spoke to the
stage manager-an irritable, red-faced
man with the vocabulary OF a ships
bo'sun-who seemed to be unable to
conduct the rehearsal without great
deal Of explosive language. then spoke
to Olive Vanstone.
Presently he returned to Ruthen.
I'm take you to the managers
room. She'll see you there"
In the room Stephen waited several
minutes; then the door opened, and
Olive faced him.
1t was a moment that held a sense
of constraint both for the woman, who
had paused on the threshold with a
half-defiant challenge in her dark
eyes, and the man facing her in
silence across the dividing gulf OF q
love outworn-the man, whose clerical
dress struck an odd note of incon-
gruity against the room, with its med
ley of framed theaterical photographs
with famboyant signatures and the
sketches for posters and stage-cos-
tunes pinned against the walls.
Olive Vanstone was the frst to
break the waiting pause. She closed
the door, but still stood just inside tho
room, her hand resting on the knob.
why have you comet" she broke
out suddenly. "Oh, know ! treated
you badly, that deserve any re-
proaches you may heap upon me, but
-
II have NO wish to utter one word
that is q reproach," he said, quietly;
h,,t hsc vo;co MOS mt r,,afo c<nodv
The sight Of this woman he had once
loved had touched so many buried
dreams and memories, and they
stirred within him like an imprisoned
pain.
THE reproach that your silence Inn
plies, them" she said. quickly, half
defiantly.
She paused. looking at him, then the
lines OF her face suddenly softened |;
she made a step forward towards him.
and the hard note went out Of her
voice.
Stephen, don't think too hardly OF
me-" she went on, In low tone. "You
were always kind, far kinder than
deserved-such a wild, hayward ere a.
ture Of moods! And l treated you SO
badly. The thought of your kindness
that night came to you in the
church. Ill and almost beside myself,
makes me feel ashamed; made me
shrink from the thought of meeting
you again. Only"-she drew deep
BREATH had to do what did; !
couldn't stay In the rectory, where
everything reminded me Of the hor.
ror Of Philips death. / knew that you
and your sister had conspired to help
his murderer to evade Justice; and
that made me angry and bitter-it
seemed a though you were siding
with my enemies made me more de.
ternfned than ever to 90 away from
WfAfeIl, free and unQuestioned. Cant
ron understand how / felt-that
must snap every link that fettered me
to the place associated with that hor.
rorr And . little shudder ran
through her - she spoke. Then the
OlBer Of . stage career came to me;
| knew that Il ! told you. you would
Try to dissuade me. II seemed q
chance Of finding new interests, Of
living Tor the present and future:
wanted % much to shut the door on
the past and it, sorrow"
He had listened to the woman's de
tense % far In silence: now he broke
In with sudden yehemeEce:
but there's no key that will lock
that door, or keep 1t fast shut! We
don't leave the past behind; 1t fol
lows us-it always follows Us! Its
shout that very crime. Philip Hume'a
murder, that have sought you out
now. be cried because / felt that
after keeping silence 30 long 1t would
be less OF shock to you to hear the
truth from me rather than from the
police"
olivs shrank back. startled at the
words.
What do you mean?" she cried
What have to do with the police?"
More than you realize. On the
night Philip Hume died came upor
you and the dead man t0rethAr yor