The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-02-24

Their paths had recrOssed. 1t was deS-
tiny.
The leaving Of the guests had been
hurried and noisy. In truth, 1t resem-
bled a disorderly retreat uQDre than
anything else. The denouement was
evidently sufficient. They had no de-
sire to witness the anticlimax, how
sver interesting and instructive It
might be. His highness the Principi
di Monte Blanca, Enrico by name,
strobe up and down the floor, his spurs
tinkling and his saber rafting harsh
ly. Occasionally he glanced at the
group on the opposite side Of the
room. He laughed silently. Oh, he
would enjoy himself tonight. He
would extract every drop OF pleasure
from this unexpected moment. Had
she been mad, he wondered, to give
him this longed for opportunity? A
month longer and this scene would
have been impossible. At last he came
to a stand in front Of La S%ignorina.
who was white and weary.
80" he said, latter FIVE years l
6nd you, my beautiful wife! What a
devil Of a time you have given me
across ocean and continents! A hun
dred times 1 have passed you without
knowing it till too late. And here, at
the very moment when / believed 1t
was all over, you fling yourself into the
loving arms Of your adoring husband.
l do not understand"
BE brief" she replied, the chill of
SHOWS in her voice. Her hate for this
man had no empty corners. Say wha'
you will and be gone"
II shall telegraph the attorneys in
Rome to partition the estates. my
hearth he Knocked her. THE king
will not add to his private purse the
| riches of Colonel Grosvenor and the
and mine-old fools! To tell the truth,
/ an badly in need Of money. and,
head Of Bacchus. your appearance
here is life to me. my dear Sonia.
Life! / nm a rich man. But" with a
sudden scowl, what position in my
household does this gentleman occu-
py?" indicating Hillard and smiling
evilly.
$50 it is all true, then?" Hillard
exclaimed. You are his wife,"
"Well?" cried the prince impatient
ly. ~ inquire again, what position
does he hold?"
"This villa Is mine," she answered,
her tone giving hint to the volcano
burning in her heart. However the
estates may be partitioned, this will
be mine, l command you to leave it
at once. I loathe you"
The prince laughed. She was simply
a sack of gold. But this was his hour
Of triumph, and he proposed to make
the most Of it.
II could have let the carabinieri
take you to prison." he said urbanely
"a night in a damp cell would have
chastened your spirit"
as it possible" returned Hillard.
"Your highness has but to say the
word and l will undertake the pleas
ure Of relieving you of this mans
presence"
"Be STILL" she said. "Will you go?'
to the prince.
presently. First 1 wish to add that
your dear friend is both thick skulled
and cowardly. I offered to slap his
face a few nights ago. but he discreet.
ly declined"
81 am calm" replied Hillard, gently
releasing his arm from her grasp. He
approached the prince, smiling, but
there were murder and despair in
his heart. Had 1 known you that
night one Of us would not be here
now"
at ia not too late" suggested the
prince. Come, are you in love with
my wife,"
Eyes"
The bluntness of this assertion rath-
er staggered the prince. you admit
it, then?" his throat swelling with rage
"There Is no reason to deny it."
"She is your
But the word died with a cough
Hillard. a wild joy in his heart, caught
the prince by the throat and jammed
him back against the rose satin panel
Hillard seized his sword arm and pin
ned it to the panel above his head
Again and again the prince made DIES.
perate attempts to free himself. He
was oon falling in a bad way. He
gasped, his lips grew blue and the
whites Of his eyes bloodshot. This
man was killing him. And so he was,
for Hillard, realizing that he had lost
everything in the world worth living
for, was mad for killing.
La Signorina was first to recover
She sprang toward the combatants
and grasped Hillard's hand, the one
buried in the princes throat, and
pulled. She was not strong enough.
"Merrihew! O'Mally! Quick! He
Is killing him. she cried wildly.
The two finally succeeded in separat.
ing the men, and non toe soon. A
moment more and the prince had been
q dead
La Signorina turned upon Hillard
Sand you would have done this thing