Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-04
CHAPTER VIII.

and barbaric women seem to be out of
place when set in the sober framework
of Il provincial town. lalt romance is
not dependent upon landscape or IN
| surroundings for it's occurrence; it is
to be fOund everywhere, and very Of
ten in the most unlikely places. Here,
for instance, by some trick of fate, GER
tain people had come together, certain
passions had been aroused. and now
that the drama had been set in motion,
it seemed likely that it would play it
self out to a tragical conclusion.
Fol- a whole week after the events
already related, nothing new took place
likely to alter the situation. Maurice
and David remained coldIy polite, and
very watchful of one another; neither
mentioned the name of Isabella nor
did the one or the other see the girl.
Mrs. Dallas took care of that. Acting,
no doubt, under the advice of Dido,
she kept Isabella within doors and re-
fused to allow her to communicate
with Maurice. But, on the other hand,
she did not force her to see David;
and Isabella was thankful for the con-
Sideration.
But there was one visitor to The
Wigwam whom Isabella would gladly
have avoided-no less an individual
than DR.. Etwald. After the violent
scene with Maurice, the widow so
overtaxed her strength that she be-
came i'll, and the doctor was sent for.
His mere presence appeared to sooth
Mrs. Dallas, and he came frequently.
When she could, Isabella absented her
self; but this she was not able to do
on all occasions, and so she had to
endure his complimentary speeches
and the mesmeric quality of his gaze.
This last, especially, was a trial to one
of her sensitive organization, and one
day she felt so uncomfortable that she
demonstrated with Etwald.
You make me afraid, DOCTOR" she
said, impetuously. Your gaze is dis
agreeable to me-
My e young lady, replied the
man, blankly, Il must look al you
when / address YOU"
Then don't address me-"
Isabella, do not be rude!" cried
Mrs. Dallas, who had overheard this
passage Of arms; w%hereupon the girl,
with a defiant glance at her tormentor,
left the room.
Tn sure I don't know what I'll do
with Isabella" sighed Mrs. Dallas;
she is getting so ~disobedient."
Perhaps I can assist YOU"
Mrs. Dallas looked uneasily al her
medical attendant.
No" she said, quietly. Il may per-
suade her into doing what I want"
(Which is to marry Mr.. David Sar-
by said Etwald, coolly. In that case
1 can only hope that the young lady
will continue obstinate. as l wish to
marry her myself
Il know know! But 1 don't want
her to marry you. doctor. MI. Sarby
is the man for my daughter. He is
g~ood-looking and clever and"
And poor!" finished Etwald.
We'll, yes" assented Mrs. Dallas.
there is that objection. But it is not
much of an obstacle, as Isabella has
money. The u couple can live on
three thousand a year
DIR. Etwald went home with this sum
running in his head, and more than
ever he resolved to marry Isabella. He
was in love with her, and would have
taken her without a penny: all the
same. if h was an heiress in a small
way. it was all the better. The doc
tor was clever but poor. and with an
income like that he could move to the
metropolis and do great things. There
were many schemes in Etwald's head,
and certain of these he determined to
put into execution at once in order
to secure Isabella for his wife.
Some time previously Major Jen had
asked Etwa1d about the devi1-stick.
but only to be informed that the doc
tor knew nothing of the missing ar
ticle.
II have not set Eyes on 1t since that
night you showed it to me-" declared
Etwald. coolly. You refused to sell
it to me, 81 of course l gave up all
idea of possessing it. All the same"
finished he, politely. Il am sorry that
it is lost"
Lost! Stolen. you mean" growled
Jen, tartly. That negress-'
Dido! Well. I admit that such a
barbaric treasure would tempt her, the
more particularly as she knows about
such wizard instruments. Ask her IL
she took it."
Il have done SC. and I have asked
Mrs. Dallas ALSO" replied Jen; but it
seems hat Dido wasn't out Of the
house that night. She was ill-and.
oddly enough. l hear. Etwald. that it
was you who made her ILL.,"
Really" said Etwald. quite <elf-
possessed. Il suppose Mr.. Aylmer old
you So. I thought as much," he con-
tinued, as Jen nodded. He saw me
calming Dido's agitation when l ar
rived to ask Mrs. Dallas for her
daughters and. This negress is hys-
t%erical, and on that day she happened
to be so. I quieted her, yet Mr.. Ayl-
mer accuses me of having caused her
Illness"
Il don't know anything about it, Ell
valid; but truth to tell, Maurice does
not like you!"
"BecausesI prophesied i'll concerning
him!'
'Oh, that was rubbish" said Jen,
contemptuously. You didn't mean it.
Didn't !. Wait and see!"
After which Etwald bowed his Wis
itor politely to the door of the gloomy
old house which he occupied in Dean
minister, n Jen returned home. quite
bafied ~ to what could have become
OF the devil-stick. Maurice still held
to his idea that Dido had taken the
wand. but Jen's inquiries proved thai
III negress had not been out's6f the
house on h night in-questtonsy,zss ,gs
Thensit must have 'been Battsrseass
said Maurice. decidedly. HE 10 :
friep0s sSeS Dido's Ind . spensione4 eoi
lsa6saAaasxE li1aoas out x ~ stess u