Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-13

I1U4ulCAeEOu SOIIiy Oh I16!en HDuENlRleQ
head as she greeted him with out
stretched hands, tender, shining, well
coming eyes, cheeks carmined with
| pleasure. l$ Il:
| Her loneliness struck him like rev.
elation. The touch ofher hands made
him shiver. Imagination placed be-
side her the figure Of the woman whom
be had made his wife. He turned
aside with !. gesture of dismay AN
inward groan. H.'S #t .i'ag
"He is alive--he is, indeed!'' Helen
said eagerly, lnistaking his movement,
thinking Norton feared her uttering the
grim Too late!' "He heard the
wheels; you must 20 to him without
delay. He has watched for your COM
ing, oh, SO anxiously!' @sG. I
The doctor came out of the sick
room as Norton approached it. He
had known Norton from boyhood, so
understood somewhat of the anxiety
he had caused Mr.. Blake.
"Your uncle longs to see you," he
said, laying his hand impressively up.
ON the young mans arm: "but can
not allow you to enter his room unless
you are sure you can control your
feelings. Remember the least excite
ment may-nay must-be fatal. Gain
say him in nothing. Let him die in
peace"
A choking sensation rose in Norton's
throat as he passed to the bedside
The gray head lay motionless upon
the pillow, but the dimming eyes food
| ed with affection, fastened on his face
the feeble fingers enclosed his lovingly.
"You have come at last!'' he muir
INJURED, trying to lay his hand on Nor
toms bowed head, as he knelt beside
the bed. "What has kept you from
me so long-my boy, my SOM"
Norton muttered something unin-
telligible, the realization OF his deceit
bowling his head yet lower. With g.
sudden gathering together of his ener-
gies, Mr.. Blake reused himself, and I'M
needing any reply, continued:
| "You are my heir, Norton. I have
left everything to you-everything
Even Helen have / trusted to you.
But now, lying here, l misdoubt if
have acted wisely by her.
Promise, by all you hold most sacred,
that you will make Helen and her in
terest the first and chief reconsideration
OF your life"
A warningpressure from the doctors
fingers and Norton promised. SINGER
ely, too; indeed he felt sense of relief
that the pledge exacted was one he
could accept. He would make Helen 8
well-being the study OF his life.
ut can be done but III one way" re
summed the old man with dangerous ex-
element, :'that is by making her your
wife. You will fulfil the wish of my
heart-ratify the .tacit bond between
you? Oh, Norton, say you will-do
not deny me the only thing ask!'
Again the warning pressure as the
doctor vainly tried to soothe his pa
tient. onhesitated. What could
he say-what do? The color mount
ed to his brow. his lips trembled. d..
,"'Say something for heavens sake!"
whispered the doctor with Energy
opacity him in some way-any way
or cannot answer for the conse-
quences."
Once more Norton's fatal weakness
paralyzed his will. Through his home
ward journey he had persuaded him.
self that nothing should induce him to
let his uncle die in ignorance Of his
true position, his offense unforgiven as
unknown. Disinheritance, pain, igno-
miny, were better faced than that!
So he had told himself-and now?
Promise, Norton, promise"! The
shrill voice rang piercingly imperative,
the dying eyes looked up with plead
ing agony, the thin hands clutched at
his as if they would ring from him
more than life itself, and Norton
promised.
"Bring Helen! Where is Helen?"
Mr., Blake cried in feverish Impotence.
"Let me hear her promise too. Only
then can rest in peace"
Helen came. She drew near to the
bed with an expression ofcalm repose,
OF trustful strength, on her beautiful
face. Quickly this changed to one of
shrinking awstr,,ck reserve, as she
glanced from the gray, imperious feat
ures OF the dying man to those of her
as she believed-lover set in a white
look of pain and fear. Looking Won
deringly from one to the other, the
poor girl faltered out the promise re-
| quired OF her, Mr.. Blake holding in his
q hand OF each as the words were spok-
| en-.
It was to Helen but the sealing of q
vow-unuttered, indeed, but long ex-
istent. No doubt Of Norton's truth
| or honor assaulted her. Yet, looking
up into his pale, drawn face, vague
panic struck coldly to her heart, so
| joyless, 50 despairing, were the eyes
that met her own.
IiN,,r,o Iiv,,;% ~ -: ~ $4,000.
INJURED, and sank back upon his pillows
! faint and exhausted.
- III
| To the amazement alike of doctor
and friends, Mr.. Blake rallied from the
stuporsinto which he fell after his in
terview with Norton, drank the
draught prescribed for him, sank into
q calm slumber, and awoke so much
improved that hope whispered anew
that recovery was possible. Time
proved hope right. After many .fluct
uations between Life and death, dan
ger gradually retreated; health dawn
ed once more. 70 S re- t,'...r s r W.
Through the week of convalescencee
the same imperious mandate WELD
ed it's iron sway. No excitement, no
thwarting was on any account to be
permitted. s .:,.,..s, -" .','-. J.;
Morning by morning Norton Blake
Prose from his bed, vowing that, at all
risks, he would before night disclose
the fact OF his marriage to Helen and
his uncle. Evening always found him
forsworn. Gradually the stifled con-
science yielded to the fascination III
the hourallowed himself to driftailn-
lessly down the stream of circ,,Il,-
stancesx !. a243.g. 4 Ss, ~ ! .,.s E
Alasl the seduct ions Of the moment
were all too sweet, the fowery path