The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-17

but, she asked ahXlously, L shal
be allowed TO see him, shan't II"
Il think So" he replied evaslvely
But even If you DO not see him, yol
can me. Oh, yes. you can" h
added insistently, seeing the deeply
troubled look that had crept into hel
face at his words. Il am going L
do tonight what I often have to dc
In the course OF my work. 1 am COINS
to borrow your soul and your MIND
and allow them to speak through my
lips. When L go upstairs, I shall only
outwardly be the police officer search
Ing for proofs OF a crime; inwardly ]
shall be q noble hearted woman try
ing to discover proofs of her fiancee's
innocence. That will be right, dear,
won't it?"
She nodded acqaiescence, trying tc
appear content Then she pleaded once
again, dry eyed and broken voiced:
You will try and get permission for
me to see Lord Radcliffe, won't your
II give you my word" he said SOL
EMMY.
Then he went upstairs.
Mr.. Warren, quiet and sympathetic,
persuaded Louisa to sit down again
by the hearth. He took her muff and
fur stole from her. and threw a log
on the fire. The flames spurted off,
giving a cheerful cackle. But Louisa
49, AA AAAAo tkS AGA All41lu
was upstairs in Lore Radclyffe's room,
wondering what was happening.
Mr.. Warren spoke OF the murdered
man. He had not been present at
the inquest, and the news that the
tyrant who had ruled owe Lord Rad
clyne for SO long was nothing but an
impostor came as a fearful shock to
him.
There was the pitifulness of the
whole thing Tho utter acknowledgements
Of q hideous crime. So many lives
wrecked. such awful calamity, such ap-
paling humiliation, such ignominy,
and all just for nothing. A very little
trouble, almost superficial inquiry,
would have revealed the imposture,
humiliation and prevented the crime
for which the law of men DEGREES that
there shall be no pardon.
The man who lay i'll upstairs-and he
who was lying in the public mortuary,
surrounded by all the pomp and luxury
which he had filched by his lies-alone
could tell the secret of the extraordi-
nary uoces of the imposture. Lord
Radcliffe had accepted the bricklayer's
son almost as his own, with hat same
obstinate reserve with which he had
at first fiouted the very thought of the
mans pretentions. Who could tell
what persuasion was used, what ar
NAV Al ColS r
And the man was an impostor after
all! And he had been murdered, when
n word perhaps would have effaced
him from the world as completely and
less majestfcally than had been done
by death.
Mr.. Warren talked Of it all, and
Louisa listened with half an ear even
whilst every sense of hearing in her was
concentrated on the floor above, in a
vain endeayor to get a faint inkIing of
went on in Lord Racldffe's room.
She had heard her uncle's step on the
landing. the few hurried sentences TX
changed with the doctor before enter
ing the sick chamber. the opening and
shutting of a door. Then again the
lighter footsteps Of the nurse, who had
evidently been sent out of the room,
when Sir Thomas went in. Louisa
heard the faint hum of their voices as
they descended the stairs, even a sup
giggle now and then; they were
happy, no doubt, at the few moments
OF respite from constant watching,
had apparently been accorded
them.
They ran quickly down the last flight
Of stairs and across the hall toward the
servants quarters. Their chattering
was heard family echoing through the
baize doors. Then nothing more.
Less than a quarter of an hour went
by, and again she heard the opening |
and shutting Of a door, and mems foot
on the landing.
Louisa could not believe either her
yes, which were gazing on the clock,
tinctly the voice Of Sir Thomas de-
scending the stairs, and Doctor New
lngton's more pompous tones in reply. |
The interview" remarked Mr.. War
rem. did not last very long"
But already she had risen from her
hair. desperately anxious. wondering
What the meaning could be Of the |
of the interview. She was
lot kept long in suspense, for a moment
two later Sir Thomas RYDER came
IN, followed by Doctor Newington. One |
glance at her uncle's face told her the
whole disappointing truth, even before
he spoke.
1T was useless, my dear" he said.
Doctor Newington was quite
right. Lord Radcliffe, I am very sorry
to say, is hardly conscious. He is. evil
iently, unable to understand what is
said, and certainly quite incapable of
making any effort to reply"
] was afraid So" added Doctor New
Ington in his usual conventional tones.
,tne patient, you see, is hardly con-
scious. His mind is dormant, He inst |
knoWs me n his nurses, but he did
not recognize Sir Thomas"
Louisa said nothing; the blank, hope
IOllOWlnR on the /
excitement of the past two hours was
exceedingly difficult to bear. The ruI-
ing passion-strong ever In the midst
u despair-the pride that was In her.
alone kept her from an utter break.
own She was grateful to her uncle.
very tactfully interposed his tall
ngure between her and the Indifferent |
OF the doctor. MI. Warren looked |
more sympathetic than ever. ana that
was just as trying to bear as the
Of Doctor Newinpton.
AS q matter Of fact, Louisa had all
soiutely ceased to think. The whole
future from this moment appeared as
an absolute blank. She had not begun
enyisage the possibility Of going
back to the hotel, having utterly failed
"a accomplishing that which she had |
SET mind and heart to do; the throwing
p y first feeble ray of light On the |
lmpenetrable darkness Of Luke.s sun
posed guilt. She certainly had not en-
lsaged the going to bed tonight. the |
ge.ung up tomorrow, the be-
ginning OF another day with
Us and one trivial tasks and
all the while that she had
Ialled IN doing that which alone could
prevent b awful catastrophe OF o.
Luke standing In the dock, like q
common criminal!
~ tsHfIN 1y-A ~ &E.A