Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1913-05-30

establishing the authenticity, frst. o.
the entire second gospel. and second
OF the ten doubtful verses In the nj
teenth chapter. My work is now &C
complished-for all time, believe.
From the inception OF what / con
sidered my life mission, made the re
solve to bequeath to Agatha Shaw
whatever manuscripts or other mate
rial OF value my work should lead me
20 accumulate, together with this
house, in which have spent all the
later years of my life. You are Aga
tina Shaw's only child. therefore to
M foster-child.
Another reason, four years ago. LED
me to confirm my former testament
From time to time I have informed
myself concerning your movements
and fortunes. The work you have
chosen. my dear Agatha. can but be
lieve to be fraught with unusual dan.
gers to a young woman. Therefore
l hope that this home, modest as 1t
is. may tempt you to an early retire
ment from the stage, and lead you to
more private and womanly career.
This I make only as a request. not as
condition. bid you farewell. and
give you my blessing.
Faithfully yours,
HERCULES THAYER."
Agatha Redmond folded the thin
sheets carefully. There was a mist IN
her gaze as she looked OF toward the
distant city lights.
Dear old gentleman! His whole
ove-story, and my mothers too. per-
haps!" Her quickened memory re-
called childish Impressions of q visit
to large country house and OF
solemn old mamie seemed incredibly
ancient to her-apd of feeling that IN
some way she and her mother were IN
special relationship to the house. 1t
was called 1.-THE old red house." Nd
was full OF fascinating things. The
ancient man had hidden her go about
and play as If 1t were her home, and
then had called her to him and laid
open a book, leading her mind to re-
gard its mysteries. Greek! 1t seemed
to her as If she had begun 1t there
and then. Later the mother became
the teacher. She was nursed, as 1t
were, within sight of the windy plains
of Troy and to the sound of Homeric
hymns-and all by reason Of this
ancient scholar.
There was a vivid picture in her
mind, gathered at some later visit, Of
a soft hillside, small white church
standing under its balm-of-gilead tree,
and herself sitting by stone in the
old churchyard, listening to the strains
of hymn which floated out from the
high, narrow windows. She remem-
bered how from without she had
Joined the hymn, singing with all her
small might; and suddenly the asso-
citation brought back to her more
recent event and more beautiful
strain of music. Half In reverie, half
in conscious pleasure in the exercise
of facile organ, she began to sing:
Free of my pain, free of my burden Of
| sorrow.
Az last I shall see thee"
The song floated in zone Of ST.
lence that lay above the deep-mur-
muring city. The voice was no moro
than the half-voice of flute, sweet,
gentle, beguiling. 1t told, as many
songs tell, of little earthly Love in the
grasp of mighty Fate. Still she sang
Oh softly.
Suddenly the song ceased. and the
reminiscent smile gave place to an
expression of surprise, as the singer
became conscious of deeper shadow
falling directly in front of her She
glanced up quickly, and found herself
looking into the face of man whose
gimlet-like gaze was directed upon
herself.
Quickly she rose, she could NOT
turn into the path before the gentle
man. hat in hand, with deep bow and
clearly enunciated words. arrested he,
impulse to fight.
~Pardon, Mademoiselle, I am q
stranger in the city. was directed
this way to Van Cortlandt Hall, but
find I am in error. intrigued-in con
fusion. Would mademoiselle be sc
good as to direct me?"
The tones had foreign accent
There was something, also. in thei,
bland impertinence which put Mis-.
Redmond on her guard. He was 8
gu~d- sized, blond person. carefully
; dr~ssed, and at least appeared like
gentleman.
Miss Redmond looked into tn.
; smooth, neat countenance. upon which
. nc record either of experience or o.
: th~ught was engraved. and decided
fs.tingly that he was lying. Sh,
} judged him capable of picking up &C
qusintances on the street. but though
thar more originality might be ex
. pected OF him.
/ Suddenly she wished that she hat
; returned sooner to her car, for though
she vas of an adventurous nature. he,
! hrV cry was not Of the physical order