River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-02-16

ly began. Il Staked III at play, lnlnk-
ing to double 1t. | boasted of having
come into fortune, and so, when /
lost, they trusted me. am in debt two
thousand dollar. You must raise it for
me. Edna. If l don't give it to them
within twenty-four hours, theg will
murder me-"
81 can't, Rodney" she cried, ringing
her hands; mot if gave up all l have
in the world. You know the principal
of our little fortune is fixed SO that we
cannot touch it. Ask them for time,
Rodney. I will work for you-with you
Ito pay this debt, if they will but give
us time"
"You reason like a woman" he said,
bitterly. 81 tell you / must have it,
and at once. Go TO your lover. Ask
him for it for yourself. He will give it
to you"
II would rather die first, she replied.
holly.
II thought so" he sneered. "Do you
think that mother would rather have
died first?'
"No, nor she answered again. "You
are right; am wrong. / will think it
over. will try to see my way clear
for the right"
you'll have to-" he said. 81 took
the law into my own hands. | lied
just now when l said they trusted me.
Oh, I've not been idle. l found out
who your lover was. l got piece of
hiswriting. l wrote it on the back of
a check. There-don't faintl AS God
is my judge, | thought | was sure to
win! The check will be presented be-
fore them tomorrow. Edna, save me!
You, he will forgive. You are not,
you cannot, be sure but that he will
give me up. He does not dream that
am in existence. You can save me
if you will. Decide. Will you send
me to prison, or will you confess your
guilt to your future husband?"
''My future husband"
Her white lips gasped the words.
MOI That dream was over. She must
make him believe her the falsest, the
vilest of women.
edna, forgive mep the boy pleaded,
with some softening, as he saw the
white look of agony upon her face. 81
was so sure, or | would not have done
it. Help me this time, and | swear to
you to be a better man."
II will do it," she said, but in voice
so changed he started. "You must go
now. In month you may return"
She was conscious that he kissed and
then left her; then for hours she knew
nothing.
Before noon next day, Dunton Dare,
with an expression in his eyes she had
never seen there before, entered her
little sitting-room.
EDNA" he began, "last night l had
forgotten something, and was about re-
turning, when | saw man rap on this
window with his cane. Instantly you
admitted him. Two hours passed be-
fore he again came out. As your fu-
ture husband, have some right to ask
YOU who it is who thus visits you"
81 cannot answer you" she replied.
''Dunton-Mr. Dare-I-"
But the trembling sentence had not
passed her lips, ere messenger de-
manding to see Mr.. Dare was an
nounced. He handed him slip of
paper from the bank.
Pardon my following you here, sir,
but your clerk thought | might find
Won here, and the bank If most anxious
to know if this is your signature"
Before he could frame his denial,
Edna caught the paper in her trem-
bling hand and hastily scanned it. :,
YES" she replied. sit is the check
you drew for me. You may not re-
member, but it is all right. l will re-
call it to your memory"
His quick glance saw that she wished
it so.
"Tell the bank to hold it for an
hour" he said. ~ will let them know
positively before closing time"
The man withdrew. Once more they
were alone.
edna |"
His voice rang out her name with
startling sternness.
Eyes" she said, but all unconscious.
ly there was the look of martyr, not
of criminal, on the pale face. Il did
it, Dunton. needed the money more
than you can dream. thought you
would not know until after we We're
married. OF course now that car
never be. You will hate and despise
me as / deserve; but oh, say once thai
you forgive me"
"You did this thing? False, treach
erous womanl For. what could you
have asked me, even to my hearts
blood, that | would not have granted
YOU? You, too, loved me but for my
wealth. Am / cursed among men
And this money you needed it2 4or
mean that your lover needed it. Fol
Yourself YOU would have asked me; fol
him YOU dared not Forgive you'll |
YOU mean that / should not prosecute
the woman who in six short weeks was
to have been my wife-yes; if you NEAR
other forgiveness-neverl
He left her there, covering on the
floor like some guilty thing.
Was there an unseen angel bending
over her in pity, as thus she fultillec
her trust to the living and to the dead
For hours, Dunton Dare was like
| mad Then be grew calm. Little
by little he recalled all she had said Il
| him-the clear look in her lovely eye'
| as they met his-the quivering of the
delicate lips. Fool that he had beer
to believe her, though self-confessed q
| hundred times. He would return tC
her once more; he would beg her t.
tell him all the truth-nay, he loved
her so we'll that he would forgive he
sll-if--if that she still loved him, anG
still were true to him.
But the maid who opened the doc
| 10 him was in tears.
Miss Edna was very i'll, she said. Sh'
feared che would not live.
They admitted him TO her room. Sh
did not know him. She lay tossing Il
brain fever; but standing there besld'
her, Dunton Dare learned all the truth
and. as he had loved, so now he wor
shipped, as before the shrine of SOM
fair saint.
She opened her eyes, after man,
weary days, at last tn consciousness
opened them to find herself supporte'
in her lovers arms.
Hush, my darling he whispered
"not a word. / know all, and hav
forgiven all. 1t is my shoulders upo
which henceforth the burden mus
lie; and see-already they have as
sumed it."
He turned, and out from the shadoV
came another form, as Rodney knel
at the bed, with broken prayer fo
forgiveness.
You see, darling" Dunton cor
| "A - a.r,. hrnth O.