Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-08-26

ah clitiASly ClIlcfelI IHlSSlOI, OuC-opoL
my soul, I've quite forgotten what It
was. Goodbye"
lie did not offer to shake hands with
the amazed. panic stricken young man,
but walked calmly out of the door and
into the street, an ominous figure that
filled their eyes until 1t was lost be-
hind the hedges-and even longer, for
they had him In mind for many min
utes.
They had followed him to the door.
Mary chung to her brothers rigid arm,
staring down the gray, wind-swept
street, a great and growing dread In
her lovely eyes.
.What are you going to do, Eric?"
He started. turned to look down
into her eyes, as If suddenly aware of
her nearness to him
"Do?" he asked blankly. "Why, he's
gone. He's in Baxter street by this
time"
Il wasn't thinking of him. she said,
! a shrill note beginning to make itself
felt in her voice. II mean about go
ing to Uncle Horace"
II can't believe that Adam has turned
against me-" went on Eric, as 1t stupe-
fed. But there was something ugly
In what he said. wasn't there? lit
was like a threat. God! 1t was a
threat"
SIG sIiVereu. Is taiS III real, ERIC
Am l having another of those terri
BILE dreams? I am 30 cold. See! My
hands are like ice. IL
He clasped her in his arms. God
forgive me. little sister! I've blighted
your whole life. Why-oh, why did I
tell o this beastly thing? Mr.. Adam
was right. He did his best to stop me.
I'm q beast. a."
Don't. Errie-don't! Oh. brother,
brother! My big, good %brother!"
He drew her back into the room, still
holding her in his arms. For a long
time they stood motionless and silent
In h middle of the little parlor, dry
eyed. dry-lipped and unseeing. She
shivered again.
"Close the door, Erie" she muir
INJURED. TITS queer how cold the air
has grown. It's off the sea. When did
the wind changer"
I'll stir up the fire in the CRATE" he
said. with nervous haste. Its the
dampness." He closed the door.
bers and pile or the chunks of wood.
I hadn't noticed the change" he
said mechanically. cit is off the sea-"
Where do you suppose he has gomez"
she asked. drawing near to h CRATE.
He did not look up. She noted the
grayish, bloodless look Of his neck
and half averted cheek.
I'VE were standing at the corner
above the M%assasoit house when Uncle
Horace somehow felt his presence. That
was not more than. 10 minutes before
l. What are you asking. Mary? Ex-
cuse me-
Where has he gomez" she repeated
shrilly.
"see here. Mary. I'm in for something
feet and running his hands into his
DOCkCtS once mora. 81 don't know
what to do. II 1 go to Uncle Horace
now. Adam Carr will urn squarely
against me. That's plain. Somehow, 1
can't find it In my heart to blame him,
either. l suppose I ought to consider
his position as we'll as my own. On the
longer. It's u~nbearable. I can't even
look at Uncle Horace and Aunt Rena
without cursing myself for a beast.
Adam Carr has never let up on them
not for an instant. He's been a devil,
so far MS they are concerned. l should
have stopped it long ago"
He threw himself into a chair and
Swapping logs. Mary stood at his ell
bow, looking down upon him, her eyes
full of love and pity. Presently she
laid a hand on his shoulder.
IT don't believe Uncle Horace can
forgive you. Eric" she said.
HE can't forgive me for letting 1t
go on in the way 1t has," he groaned.
Why; it's been hell on earth for them,
Mary
II pity them now" she said simply.
II can love them-never! But I
do pity them. II there is anything I
can do. Erie dear, to make life easier,
happier for them. I shall try my bes.
He did. not look up. but as she hes
itated he said quickly:
They. don't want you to marry Jack
Payson."
"Oh, Erie, can't they overcome"
There's a great and sufficient rea-
son for their opposition, dear. Some
thing you don't understand, but I do,
Adam Cars greatest triumph over
Uncle Horace would come the day you
married Jack Payson."
II don't understand" III cried. be-
wildered.
He checked the impulse to blurt out
the horrid truth. as he took 1t to be-
fellow. Why strike at q heart that was
already sore and bleeding? Why add
another cruel slash to the wounds that
perhaps We're marking 1t for life? And
then, up from some dark. secret recess
OF his own heart, came an astonishing
GUS revolt within himself. After all,
what wrong had John Payson done?
Why strike an innocent, unsuspecting
man in the back2 Why inflict q wound
that could never be closed?
Its something that dates back to
the time when Payson's father was
alive e~QuivOcated he.
He was lost at sea. Were they enc
mies?"
II only know that Uncle Horace
hated Jack Payson'S father"
Then why did he put Jack In the