The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-02-10

atoiCN NAiL ~ olOlNSI HaS
paid for aught in his selfish life. Blu,
it had 10 be said, and after a pause
and wit. eyes averted. My brother Is
ILL.," she faltered. He cannot NEE
that man this morning. 1t is-a.
you feared. And-what can We doo'
In another case Luke Asgill woulc
nave blessed h chance that linked
him with her, cast her on his help
He had guessed. before she opened he,
mouth. what she had to ay-na 70,
hours he had ain sleepless on his bed
anticipating it. He had been certain
of the issue-he knew James McNIur-
rough: and. being a man who loved
Flavia indeed. but loved life also. he
had foreseen. with the old sweat or
his brow, what he would be driven to
do,
He made no haste to answer, there
fore, and his tone, when he did answer
was dull and l~ifeless. rs it Ill he is?
he asked. It's a bad morning to be
i'll and a meeting or hand"
She did not answer.
rs he too bad to stand?" he con-
tinued. He made nj attempt to hide
his comprehension or his scorn.
:" don't say that" she faltered.
Perhaps he told you" Asgill said
and there was nothing Of the lover in
his tOne-'to speak to me?"
She nodded. ~.
1T is am to-put 1t off, I suppose? ?"
poseo"
III it be possible" she cried. ooh, il
it be possible. Is it."
He stood. thinking, with a gloomy
face. From the first he had seen that
shere- We're w a out OF extricating
The McMurrough. The one by a mild
explanation. which would leave his
honor in the mud. The other by an ex-
roarofinr n ~ or n N;rfaropt
the word liar" ready to answer to
the word coward" But he who gave
his last explanation must be- willing
to back the word with the deed. and
stop cavilling with the sword point.
NOW. Asgill knew the Majors skill
with he sword: non better. And UNI
der other circumstances, the Justice
cold, selfish. scheming-would have
gone many a mile about before he en-
tered upon a quarrel with him. None
the less. love had drawn him to con-
template this very thing. For surely
If he did this and lived, Flayia would
smile on him. Surely. if he saved her
brothers honor. she would be won. 1t
was a forlorn. it vas a desperate expe-
dent. For no other advantage would
Luke Asgill have faced the Majors
sword point. But. whatever he was. he
owed. He loved! And for the face and
form beside him, and for the quality Of
soul hat shone from the girls eyes,
made her what she was, and to him
dlt1erent from all other women. he had
made up his mind to run the risk.
1t went for something that he be-
lived that Flavia, IL he failed her, would
go to Colonel Sullivan. II she did that.
Asglll was sure that his own chance
was at an end. This was his chance.
1t lay with him now. today, at this mo-
ment-to dare Or to retire. to win her
ia y-nr at tho wish 0F hi. 1iA1L--nA- .-,-,,
to another. In the chill morning
nour he had discovered that he must
risk all or lose all; and he had decided.
Il will make it possible" he said.
slowly, questioning in his mind whether
dared make terms with her. IT will
make it possible" he repeated, still
more slowly. and with his eyes fixed on
IF you could!" she cried, clasping
7 win" he said. a .ul1en undertone
in his voice. His eyes still dwelt darkly
her. IF he raises an objection. I
will fight him-myself!!"
can't ask that" she cried, trembling.
1T is that or nothing"
There Is no other way" he said.
He spoke with the same ungracious-
ness: for, try as he would. and though
the habit and the education of a life
cried to him to treat with her and
was enraged that he could not.
The more as her wet eyes, her quick,
mounting color, told of her gratitude.
IN another moment she might have said
4 word fit to unlock his lips. And fHa
would have spoken; and she would
have pledged herself. But Fate, in the
person of:old Darby, interviewed. Time
|y or 1lntfpoo1v tho h,,k1or t.
distant doorway, cried Hist" and.
by a backward gesture warned them
Of some approaching peril.
Yes, co." Asgill replied, almost
roughly, He is coming, and he must
not find us together"
on her skirts before Payton issued
from the courtyard. The Englishman
paused an instant in the gateway, his
sword under his arm and a handker-
chief in his hand. Thence he looked
up and down the road with an air Of
confidence that provoked Asgill beyond
The sun lie not seem bright
enough for him. nor the air scented to
his liking. Hastily he approached the
[rishman, who. affecting to be engaged
with his own thoughts, had kept his
distance.
rs he ready?" he asked, with q sheer.
With an effort Asgill controlled him
He is not" he said.
need thin"
He is not. to my knowledge" Aseill
But he is ILL.,"
"Payton's face lightened with a 10Y
not pleasant to see. "a coward!" he
said coolly. IT am not surprised. Ill.
Is he? Ay. I know that illness. It's not
the first time I've met it!"
~ a
Continued Next Weekly
Stick to the Farm,
Stick to the farm" says the President
To the wide-eyed farmer boy,
Then he hies him back to his White