The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-01-25
THE Man
HIGHER UP
By HENRY RUSSELL
MILLER
Copyright. 1910. by Bobbs Mss.
rill Co.
CHAPTER XVII-COntinued

| IN AAo CySo VASh LIZ Aou6hS Lag
gin fell again. He was obsessed by a
savage lust to hurt the woman before
him. to deal her a blow that she would
feel to the uttermost. His words fell
slowly, cuttingly, with cruel distinct
ness.
"Oh, for hat 1 have all the justi-
fcation / need. You're not to be trust
ed with him. You're beautiful. You're
the sort that has power over men.
You have power over me. Seeing you
sets me on fire with wild, insane long
ings. l have to keep my hate boiling
or good God, what am l saying?
It's true) OIL love you'll" He laughed
harshly, wildly. And thesweaker the
man the greater your power. I know
your history, Mrs. Gilbert. You had
one weakling under your influence and
you let him go to hell without lifting
a finger to save him."
Even In his savage anger Bob was
startled by the effect Of his cruel
words. She turned white and shrank
back as from a heavy physical blow.
She drew a long. shuddering breath.
"Oh," she gasped. II didn't believe
you could be so cruel. / didn't believe
you could be so cruel"
Slowly. unable to take her eyes from
his. she rose and started uncertainty to-
ward the door. She stumbled over a
chair and would have fallen had he
not caught her. She pushed herself
away from him. shuddering.
Don't touch me; don't touch me-"
He watched her. hardly able to com
prehend the completeness Of his bru-
tality's triumph or the startling change
in the woman who had Knocked him so
often until she passed out of the room.
And as she went from his sight the
sweetness Of his savage JOY turned to
bitterness in his mouth-left him to
face the supreme fact Of his life.
A minute later. mechanically.
ashamed and humbled by his own cru
| city, he followed her into the hall. But
she had gone upstairs to her room.
Selling his hat and coat. without
waiting to put them on or to say good
by to Dunmeade. he strobe ont into
the night.
The mansion had been some time
sunk in the midnight quiet when Mrs
Dunmeade. troubled by Eleanor's non
appearance. tiptoed softly along the
hall to her guests bedchamher. Flea
nor was in bed. her bright hair stray
ing loosely owe the pillow. She was
staring hOpelessly at the pickering gas
jet. Mrs. Dunmeade saw no traces Of
tears.
She seated herself on the bedside
MY dear" she said gently. leaning
over TO stroke the pretty hair. will
you tell me what is the NATTER"
Eleanor restively moved her head
away from the caress. "Don't pet
me-" she said bitterly. I'm not a
child. but a woman nearly twenty-sev-
en- years old. who has just been told
she is responsible for the shameful life
and death Of her husband"
"Oh." Mrs. Dunmeade cried in shock
ed surprise. did he taunt you with
that? My dear. don't take X to heart.
We all know you were the one sinned
against"
Eyes, that vas one of my pretty fan
cies. too" Eleanor said in the same
bitter tone. until tonight. when he
opened my eyes. What he said was
true. That's why it hurt. | let Leon
ard Gilbert go to hell and didn't lift q
finger to save him. Only" she added
YEARLY. II would rather have heard it
from any one but him."
ut is asking a good deal to ask you
to forgive him; but, dear, l think be
Is suffering from some cause. Some
who hasn't yet found himself" she
concluded gently. But when he does
find himself he will be a vastly differ
ent man, and he will bring happiness
to many"
Eleanor shook her head listlessly.
But not to me. He despises me. and
he will never relent. But | have no
resentment" The slow flush crept into
her cheeks, and she put her arm over
her eyes that Mrs. Dunmeade might
not look into them.
Mrs. Dunmeade bent we" impulsive-
ly and put her arms around her. MY
dear child" she whispered understand.
ingly, has it come to you at last-and
sO?"
Eleanor suffered the caress for a
minute and then gently released her
self. won't you please go away? !
would rather be by myself" she said
YEARLY.
Years before a young girl. bruised
under the ruthless heel Of Bob Nc
Adoo, had watched the night out. That
night in the governors mansion his
tory repeated itself.
IN A pTER YVIIY