The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-24
CHAPTER xxxIx-tcontinued.,

Gradually Louisa's eyes BECAME Eac-
:ustomed to- the semi-darkness. She
liked them on the sick man who lay
quite still against the pillows, his face
no less white than the linen against
which IL rested. Louisa had no idea
that any man could alter so in such
1rief while. 1t almost seemed difftcult
60 recognize In the white emaciated
igure that lay there with the stiffness
Of death, the vigorous man. OF o few
lonths ago. Ky -
? The face had the appearance, Of wax,
leep Ines from the nostrils to the cor
fers OF the mouta accentuating its hol-
.ow appearances; the hair was almost
,now-White now and chung matted and
ramp to the forehead and sunken tenn
les.
Lord Radciy .fe EN- unconscious OF
aOuisa's presence In the room, but his
Eyes We're wide open and liked or q
spot high upon the wall Immediately
opposite TO the bed. Louisa looked 70
Zee on what those eyes were gazing
50 intently, and turning she saw the
splendid portrait Of Luke de Mount
ord painted by the greatest living
master of p~ortraiture, which we all
.dmirad IN the rooms of h Royal
Academy a few years ago It had been
taken away from the boudoir, and
,rought in here SO that the sick man
night have the semhlance now that
ne was parted from the reality.
Only a feeble breath escaped Lord
aadclyffe's parted lips: there was no
distortion In the face, and the hands
,ay still, waxen-white, against the
quilt. Louisa looked down on the sick
nan without, at first, attempting to
speak. She looked down on this and
the last cord OF hopes broken lutte, the
trail thread on which hung Luke's one
chance OF safety; this feeble life al
most ended. this weak breath which
4lonel could convey words OF hope! For
The moment Louisa's heart almost mis-
ave her, when she thought Of what
she meant to do: to bring. namely, this
wandering spirit back to earth, In order
to make II conscious of such misery as
no heart OF man could endure and not
break. 1t seemed like purposeless, in
aumRn crueltyI
Even IL she could call that enfebled
mind back to the hideous realities of
Joday. what chance was there that the
lew words which this dying man could
liter would be those that could save
luke from the gallows?
Was Il not better to let the broken
leart sink to rest in peace, the weak
sned mind 80 back TO the land OF
,hadows unconscious of further sor-
sow?
Uncertain now, ana vaguely fearful
she Ioked up OF the portrait OF Luke.
rhe eyes In the magnificently painted
Jortrait seemed endowed with amazing
sitality. To the loving, heart broken
women It seemed as II they made a d.
ect appeal TO her. Yet, what appeal
lid they maker
To let the old man-"Uncle Rad
lie In peace, ignorant OF the awful fate
which must Inevitably befail the man
whom he loved with such strange. such
enduring affection2
Or did those eyes ask for help there
where no other human being could lend
assistance now2
Lord Radclyffe!"
The words escaped .Ier suddenly, al
most frightening her, though all alons
she knew that she had meant to speak
nDo you know me, Lord Radclyffe e.
she said again, cit Is Louisa Harris"
No reply. The great eyes with the
shadow OF death over them were gaz-
ng on the face on which they had al
ways loved to dwell.
Lord Radcliffe she reiterated, and
the deep notes OF her c~ontralto voics
qufvered with the poignancy OF heI
emotion, Luke In In very grave danger
LL AEL - no .M EaHa