The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-12-11

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| Norton knew wha5 was expected OF
him on his retw
Also that wer his uncle alive when
he reached The curt, the disclosure
of his marriage would becertainly fol-
lowed by disinheritance; were he dead,
it would deprive Helen of home and
fortune. Whichever way he looked
he saw nothing but trouble ahead.
How he cursed his weak, infatuated
folly as the train whirled him through
| the dark night, the bowling wind and
dreary, up-piled snow!
II.
Nights silence brooded over The
| Court as NOrton drew up to thefamil-
lar door. Only a watch-dOg'S baying
broke the stiffness. Brilliant moon
| beams silvered the sharpsnOw-Crystals
covering lawn and hOwer-beds; ruddy
! freight from within touched with iri-
| descent tints those clustered on win
dow-sill and pane. So hadhese the
old house wrapped inits snow mantle
Onmany a winter night. It's unchanged
beauty awakened a yearning pain as
for something unyalued before, whose
loss brought shame, remOrse, mlsglV-
ing.
The warmth rushed out to meet him
as the heavy door opened. More red
" fell the freight on the Oaken pan
elled hall than on the snow without.
1t hiCkered softly on Helen's FURNISHED
head as she greeted him with out
stretched hands, tender, shining, vel
coming eyes, cheeks carmined with
pleasure.
Her loneliness struck him like a rev.
elatiOn. The touch Ofherhands made
him shiver. Imagination placed be-
side her the figure of the woman whom
he had made his wife. He turned
aside with a gesture of d~ismay-an
inward grOan.
He is alive-he is, indeed" Helen
said eagerly, mistaking his movement,
thinkingN0rton feared her uttering the
Crim TOO late..' He heard the
wheels; you must go to him without
delay. He has watched fOryOur com
ing, oh, so anXiOusly,"
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 hisroOm 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 sensationrosein Norton's
throat as he passed to the bedside.
The gray head lay m~otionless upon
the pillow, but the dimming eyes flood
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
tons 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 a
sudden gathering together OF bis ener-
gies, Mr.. Blake reused himself, and un-
needing any reply, continued:
"You are my heir, Norton. l have
left everything to you-everything!
Even Helen have / trusted to you.
But now, lying here, | 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 chiefconsideration
of your life."
A warning pressure 'front.' the doctors
fingers and Norton promised. SINGER
ely, too; indeed he felt a sense of relief
that the pledge exacted was one he
could accept. He We Id make Helen's
well-being the study OF his life.
cit can be done but in mi way" re-
sumed the old man with dangerous ex-
element, "that is by making her
wife. You will fulfil the wish of my
heart-ratify the tacit bond between
you? Oh, Norton, say you will-do
not denyme the only thing / askl'
Again the warning pressure as the
doctor vainly tried to soothe his pa
tient. Norton hesitated. What could
he say-what do? The color mount.
ed to his brow, his lips trembled.
0by SOHlconing hOT heaven . SAKE!
whispered the doctor with Energy.
"Pacify him in some way-any way
or / cannot answer for the conse-
~quences."
Once more Norton's fatal weakness
paralyzed his viii. 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 u~nforgiven as
unknown. Disinheritance, pain, igno-
miny, were better faced than thatl
So he had told himself-and now?
Promise, Norton, promise!" The
shrill voice rang piercingly imperative,
the dying eyes looked up witha plead
ing agony, the thin hands clutched at
his as if they would ring from him
more than life itself. and Norton