The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-11-16

tortured me: for a dark vision danced.
before me-the vision of a girl lying
beneath h windows of the
library, with a portrait pressed close
that I could not shake it off, and L
nearly cried aloud as a light was
switched on the hall, and the door sud
denly opened. I looked up expectantly
but 1t was not Lucy Kingdom; it was
a servant whose face I did not remem-
us into the room which, when I had
seen II last, was gay with fowers:;
Then b left us. Not until she had
gone did I remember that Lucy King
don was still fighting a battle with
death.
AS moment followed moment, 1 found
myself unconsciously gripping my
hands tighter and tighter about the,
arms or my chair. There seemed to be
about h house an atmosphere of ter
ror. L could guess what agony Of
suspens Curtiss was enduring and /
saw him wipe the perspiration from his
forehead once or twice with a hand
anything but steady. Perhaps she
would not come. Perhaps she was not
yet enough, or perhaps she
could not come
There was step at the door, a
woman entered =
1t was Mrs. Lawrence. She camel
forward with a smile of welcome. One,
glance at her face told mo that she
did nc suspect-tiat her daughter had
kept the secret.
I knew you'd come" she said.
Then she is here asked Curtiss.
gripping his hands behind him, devour-!
ing her face with his eyes; feeling, per-
haps, for the first time, some instinct
of sonship stirring within him.
Yes, she's here answered Mrs.
Lawrence, still smiling al him. She
came only a few hours ago and is
very tired-too tired to talk, even to,
me. h doesn't feel strong enough to
come down to see you now"
What power was it drew my eyes
to the tapestry at the inner door? L
saw 1t swing aside, almost impercept-'
IDLY; / caught the glimpse Of a face,
white as marble, whose eyes dwelt,
upon Curtiss with a look Of love, of
longing that turned mo a little giddy.I
She loved him yet. God pity them.
both.
But she told me- Mrs. Lawrence
was saying, that If you'll come to-.
morrow morning, she'll see you. Oh, r
can see how she's suffered! Too much,
think. n you've suffered, too" she.
ADDED, and her eyes questioned his.
Thank God it's past. You see, 4
don't doubt you. I know that when
you hear the story
II have heard it." Curtiss interrupt
ed grimly, and I saw a spasn Of pain
~convulse the face at the door,.
But Mrs. Lawrence was looking up
at him, her eyes alight.
And 1t will make no d~ifference!"
she cried. 1T can make no difference
for you love her-I know tt can
see it-you love her just as you always
did"
Yes said Curtiss hoarsely. "God
help me. 1 love her just as l always
did"
Then you can't give her up-you
~won't-that would be cruel-would kill
her, I think-for it's no fault Of hers
Give her upl" echoed Curtiss, seized
suddenly with a terrible trembling.
mo, I'll never give her up!"
81 knew it." she said triumphantly.
I knew I'd not misjudged you. And
there need be no scandal. No one need
ever know"
What was she saying7 What infamy
was she proposing? But not with the
joy-illumined face! All, she did not
understand. and We should have to tell
her.
1T was wrong, I know" she went
er died. he wanted to take he child
to rear it as his OWL had not g!ver
him any-and since-since-there was
q sorrow in my own life, I could under.
stand and forgive. 1t was q kind OF
penance-an aforementioned 1 wei.
SOAiiCo ~. IOSSlOSSs liz was HOI WHOLLY
to blame. for she-but I'll speak ne
Ill of her. And / grew to love the clilt
for her own sake-I grew to forget tina
she was not really mine
Curtiss was clutching blindly at {
chair, his face CHASTITY, his eyes star
ing.
Tt don't think I quite understand,
he faltered. "You-you're speaking O
!, Marcia?'
"Of Marcia. certainly. But you sait
you new the story"
She was looking at him intently, he,
t face suddenly pale.
WAS it something else?" She added
Something else? Wa it the letter
Tell me-"
t mo, no. he protested and stopped
unable to go on.
II don't think he heard it quite cor
5 rectly, Mrs. Lawrence" l said, see
ing that he needed saving. do 1 un
2 derstand you to say Miss Lawrenc
| isn't your daughter?"
, She's Ruth Endicott's daughter. Sh
was housekeeper here n she-she-
but no matter. No one knew excep
her cousins. the Kingdoms. 1t wa
Harriet who took her away-to Florid!
and she died there. Thcy promise,
. to keep the secret-it was to their in
terest-we did everything we could 70
them-I was kinder TO them THAI the
. deserved. Blu l loved the child ha,
1 none Of my own-I wanted to protec
s my husbands memory-where was tn
sin in
i Where is she?' demanded Curtis
hoarsely. but with a great light in hi
j eyes. Where is she?'
o 'eThen you don't mind? You WON'T
e "Mind!' cried Curtiss. Mind
S Where Is she?'
The curtains at the door We're swep
aside, and a woman appeared betwee
t them-a woman regal, with CLOWN
eyes. with smiling, tremulous lips
e Fool that 1 had been not to cues
Q not to see! It was the Endicot
t strain. first and last-dark, passionat.
virile-and I had shut my eyes to i
s I saw him turf toward her, his fac
e atlane with joy
Then the hot tears blinded me, an
" I CROPPED my way from the room. fror
the house. out into the silent night
d and 1 looked up at the quiet star
with Pippa's SOM ringing in m
heart
y Gods in his heaven
o Ais right with the world"
II THE END.