Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-10

speak so falsely?" Evelyn exclaimed,
a scarlet stain of anger rising to her
cheek.
"And / am also-shut the door, if
you please; one doesn't want ones
family affairs gossiped aboutfrom gar
ret to cellar, in Il house like this, my
dear-an escaped convict"
MIR. Ashburton is my father" gasp
ed Evelyn, almost beginning to believe
that she WAS the victim of some hid
eous nightmare.
"By adoptlon-yes, but not other
wise. Sit down, my girl; really you're
resemblance TO myself as used to be
In my more palmy days. Sit down, l
say ana lets have a quiet little ex-
plahatlon. Mi. and Mrs. Asl,burtou
know am here; they have, rather UNI
willingly, must confess, granted their
PERMISSION to this interview; and they
are ready to bear testimony to the
truth of what l am about t O tell you"
Ito on" gasped Evelyn, sinking in
to the nearest chair, while her face
had grown as pale as alabaster.
Don't be appre" ensive of being
bored, my crild." went on the seedy.
looking individual. "I'l cut it ms
short as l can. You are Evelyn Durk-
man, my daughter. and only child.
You were just two years old when |
was obliged 70 give up my nice little
beer-house on the corner of j
street, in London, in consequence of
a slight misunderstanding with the
law; in fact, l vas detected in a for
gerry, and imprisoned for u long term
OF years. Your mother, an industrious
soul, who did up fine linen, was dying
OF consumption at the time. Mrs.
Ashburton, one of her p~atronesses, saw
you. and took a fancy to your blue
eyes-like mine, as l have before re-
~marked-and adopted you. In the
meanwhile you have Jared we'll, but 1
have had but a sorry time of it.. One
thing. however, is in r0y favor. have
managed to escape, and here l am to
see what my dutiful daughter will do
for me-"
"ls this true?" groancd Evelyn, let
ting her head drop into her white Jew
elled hands.
"As r as gospel. my dear, and
here comes your adopted mother to
voucn for it,"
mammal" broke in q sort of ago.
nized cry from Evelyn's lips. as she
looked up into Mrs. Ashburton's pale
troubled face.
"My poor darling" was all that Mrs.
Ashburton could reply, and in the
TREMENDOUSLY whispered accents of her
voice Evelyn read a too certain con-
tirmation Of the unwelcome visitant's
words. "But you need not fear; papa
will never spare you. though your ram
SON were to be told in diamonds!"
Evelyn chung mutely to her adopted
mothers bosom.
'Well," mentally quoted the stran-
ger. show is it to be, MADAME Ash
burton? A thousand pounds down, or
my daughterP She's pretty enough to
make any mans fortune, and I con-
slider the terms l have proposed as re-
markedly reasonable"
Evelyn looked imploringly into the
face of her adopted father, who had
just entered.
Don't let him take me away from
you, dear-dear papa!"
''Humph!" growled the returned con-
vict under his breath, they talk of
natural affection, but this is rather a
curious manifestation of it. She could
not look at me any more scornfully if
l was adog!'
81 nceede to your terms" Mr.. Ash
burton said quietly. land ii only re-
mains for you to rid us OF your pres
ence as speedily as possible. And re-
member that it is always in our power
to punish any transgression of the
compact by reporting you to the police
authorities"
Godfrey Durkman shrugged his
shoulders, thinking to himself:
"As if | didn't know that, sooner
thar hurt my pretty lady's pride, they
would submit to anything. However"
he said aloud, as he was about to de-
part, ''its only necessary to draw the
check payable to bearer, and Pm OFF,
without so much as asking a kiss from
my daughters cherry lips"
He grinned tiendishly as Evelyn
chung closer to her adopted mother,
with a shudder which she could not
repress.
There was q moment or two's sill
ence and then Mrs. Ashburton spoke
softly:
Look up. Evclyn-we are alone"
Profound secrecy was observed upon
the subject of the midnight visitor at
the Ashburton mansion, but these un-
pleasant matters leak out-nobody
knows how nor wllen-and the secret
was whispered round ere Evelyn her
self had come fully to realize it.
People turned coldly from her; her
fashionable friends gave her q frigid
nod in place of the kiss and caress
that had been their won't. invitations
had become few and far between, and
Mr.. Cheswick, meeting her in the
street. grew conveniently near-sighted,
and failed to recognize her. Alas!
poor Evelyn.
And when, a second time, Edward
ST. Markham asked her to become his
wife, she told him frankly the whole
of her birth aud p%arentage.
II knew all this" he answered quiet
ly. .lt is no secret in society,"
And you still ask mt to share your
futnrep"
Dearest Evelyn, l love you. not
Your lineage or family ties; be assured.
as my wife. no M will ever dare slight
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