The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-19
CHAPTER xxi.
LIGHT AT LASTi

LIGHT AT LAST!
sank back into my chair, overcome
10y such flood OF relief and thankful
mess that 1 could not speak. But DR..
Schuyler laboured under no such dis
liability.
& Il cannot understand" he said. and
saw by his flushed face that he was
genuinely angry, how you could have
BOT the preposterous idea that Marcia
Lawrence was connected in any way
with this affair. Any sane man would
have seen the utter absurdity of such
- theory"
M Il see 1t now" assented hoarsely.
why. Marcia Lawrence could no
more he concerned in thing like that"
he went on holly, 'than-than a babe
Unborn She could not be concerned
Ia anything wrong, or mean, or GRIM
NAL want you to understand, Mr..
ester. that she's absolutely spotless.
You knew her. I shouldn't need to
tell you
I've always believed IT," protested.
In my heart of hearts, I've always be-
ieved II. We've been fools--we've
been trying to make two things fit
(which didn't fit We imagined they
nust mt because they happened SO close
ogether. see now that ii was merely
coincidence. and I'm glad from the
%Fery bottom OF my heart"
M icu peicVeu, IMAM, tnat MISS Law
renee was really concerned in this muir
Herr
I'VE thought her the active party in
The active party! But on what
Erounds? ?"
We thought the dead man was her
pusbanc-an adventurer who'd lured
Der into marriage while she was
lbroad. You'll remember l mentioned
Ills theory to you the other night"
Yes, and told you at the time how
Ridiculous ] thought It,"
I've never wholly believed it," re-
peated. 1T wasn't mine. But II
eemed TO fit the facts so perfectly, and
Ghen you intimated this afternoon. 90
thought, that Miss Lawrence was sub
ect to spells of insanity I imagined
nat ! understood the whole story"
ne sat ror momenty silent regard
ng me from half closed eyes; / saw
hat ne was considering whether he
hould speak or remain silent.
4 hope this mistake has gone no
Rrther:" he said. at last
NO, answered. and genuinely
a KENT Il a %as anat i ! could say TO-
he breatned sigh Of relief
Ihen no harm has been done. I'm
lad or that. l see that you're glad
Yes" said; 7 ANYMORE glad than
can say"
And now that you understand, the
patter" he continued, II suppose YOU
Pc II I'm different light?"
In different light" T.
AT least, you'll hardly advise now
lat Keep silent?"
BY no MEANS" i asserted heartily.
think 1t is clearly your duty to tell
you Know. You will absolve Har-
et kingdom from responsibility for
er act--as you said, change loathing
pity. Besides, IL the dead man de-
rived death, let the world know it.,'
don't know that he did," cor
cted my companion: II know moth
g about him."
But you suspect" / prompted.
perhaps l do" he admitted, but
pspicion uttered is such a deadly
ing! What i do know came to me
the way so many things come to a
mister. | was asked for advice
ceived a confidence"
He stopped and pondered for mo-
emit
Il came very near telling you night
fore last he continued when you
ERE asking me about the Kingdoms
ling you, at least, as much as l
uid without violating that con-
ence. But on second thought, did
4 see that any good would come of
and SO kept silent. Now, circum-
ances absolve Inc from any obliga-
Pt VI scSiSCy anu i can speak Freely.
told you the other evening that
hn Kingdom had died in an asylum
the insane, and that his family
Ia hard struggle for existence.
ter the mothers death, they had no
pans to maintain home, and Lucy,
ho was only girl went to the
lawrence house to help her cousin,
hth Endicott, who was housekeeper
ere. as ! have said. The elder
tighter, Harriet. secured a position
New York; think as governess in
private family. She was called
me some time later, by the illness
her cousin Ruth, whom she took
Florida, where Ruth died. Mr.
wrence was married soon after
hrds. and Lucy Kingdom remained
his house as maid, first to his wife
ID afterwards to his daughter.
Harriet Kingdom returned to New
rk and took up again her work of
aching. About six months later,
ere was quarrel OF some sort be-
een her and her sister Lucy-a vio-
: ut quarrel-and they ceased to corr
n epond or hold communication of any
nd. Just how long a time elapsed
don't know, but 1 should Judge 1t
Us at least three years, when q let
came to Lucy Kingdom from
Oomingdale hospital, stating that
| sister had been brought there a
I ar before, violently insane, that she
Il 20 prdctlcaily well again anu WlSneu
be taken away. Lucy went after
at once and brought here BONE"
Homer" / repeated.
Yes: 1T was at that time that Mrs.
wrence gave them the cottage in
lich they still live. She virtually
] Exported them for ssme time. until
I rriet was able to attend to the
seiold duties. and Lucy to resume
\ Lace as maid"
Ill V Mr. Lawrence living at the