River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-25

through.
CHANGING around, gave an cxclama-
ton of pleased surprise
Gertrude,
She hal an excited, almost wild. cx-
preston
II am back, She said. .and I have
brought her
''Sit down, sit Down, / interrupted,
land tell me about il. J am So glad
so relieved al asst
II have brought her she repeated
And now / have two objects in life
60 be kind 10 Bessie and 10 hunt down
the wretch that had deceived her.
She trem) Died with excitement, and
her face grew ale as death
Ii viii not b. pleasant hour for
him when we come face 20 face, the
villain I knew, he had deceived her.
Thank God I knew that she was pure
3t heart Ny Door, crushed Bessie,
A mock marriage ] veutuued
oh worse, worse She was up
now and walked the room mpatiently
Where shall find v0u?" ] asked
presently. Il suppose ! can come aud
see you. Bessie need not know know
her trouble
'Oh. il would not matter: She +, far
100 crushed to care. Why,
she loved the -couudrel.'
Yes, | assentcd, Il supposed as
much "
Shortly after Gertrude went away.
did no, call upon her the following
dag, as | had intended. ror indeed
for several days Various cOmplica-
tiOns Of my own affairs cngrosscd and
annoyed me Then ] found had mis-
laid the street number she had giVen
me. And 50 il happened that a week
had elapsed, when one morning / set
out for her boarding house.
do not think | shall forget that DAY.
although ! have seen roany exciting
days IN my life and expect TO see many
more.
II was a clear, cool morning. with
heavenly sunligh. over all The occa-
sional late rains had washed all the
dust aud di-agTceable sickness from
the atmosphere. II was "a morning ID
inspire one, to tighten ones footsteps.
10 give one winged, buOyant scnsa-
ton.
And yet, as ! left the horse cars and
turned down the street toward Ger
trude Haskell lodgings. felt wei Chi
OF dread or pTemonition settling upon
me. ! almost paused 20 turn away
and not enter the house. But after n
moment threw of the feeling and
rang the bell.
Gertrude came down to the parlor.
Il want to tell you a thing or two
before we 20 mp stairs. she said. Bes-
sic is doing. She is very much pros
trated
She sat down close by me and touch
ed ny hand occasionally: her own |
felt to be cold Is ice Her face was
flushed and her eyes shone feyerlshly.
She was terribly excited.
Il want to tell Won, She continued,
that he is coming here this morning.
have been on his track ever since: |
have tracked him to this city He is q
travelling man, and naturally enough
has come TO this city. He does not
dream that She is here-that ! am Der
sister. She was known out West a.
Bessie Dean; Aunt Hester insisted on
it, | have thrown him of his guard
Aud now he viii come face TO face with
her and
And them / asked.
He shall make reparation. said
Gertrude, calming herself with q Won
dcrful effort. Come. let ua 90 mp
now. Remember. Bessie knows moth
ing. have kept all from her.
We climbed the many steps Of stairs
to the fourth story The house was
new and tail, one Of those Handsome
affairs that the city pushes out day BIZ
day toward the north. We went in
softly. Bessie lay by the front window
on a sofa; one little hand was under
the pretty. worn face with the frame OF
soft brown curlS. Our entrance aroused
her. She opened her ewes and smiled
family.
There was 40 evil in that smile. Nv
heart went out to her.
They had two rooms, little parlor
and still smaller connecting bed
room.
We We're hardly seated when knock
at the door and the manner in which
Gertrude started TO her feet sent
the blood leaping through my yains in
furious way.
Let him come up. / knew Ger
trude was answering quietly, and few
words in a lower tone. Then To her
sister, Lie still, Bessie, it Is nothing.
Strong rs my nerves are. much ~
have passed through, | could not help
trembling and turning pale. | left my
seat and looked implOringiy at Gertrude
who stood by the door.
She motioned to the bedroom. and
stepped quickly out of sight behind a
homely cretonnc portiere
/ held my breath as footsteps came
on the staircase. | could hear my own
heart beating loudly. Then
a mans voice in formal saluti0n.
Then plaintive, pitious, wailing
sound from Bcssie's lips, the one word
'Basil!'
The door shut with sudden force:
heard a clicking sound and knew that
some one had locked it. | pushed
aside the portiere and looked out.
At a glance | read the man who
stood there. abashed irresolute Weak.
evil. Vet perhaps not too evil for re-
clamation. Well dressed. rather good
i looking, on the whole, outwardly re-
spectacle.
Above the low sobs OF Bessie. who
had covered her face. | heard Ger
trude's voice. calm ard insistent.
You understand now. Basil Hum
+ phrey, why | sent for YOU We need
not discuss the situation There is but
one thing to be done: Won must marry
my sister nj once. / haze sent for
clergyman.
He grew white to the lips with anger.
1T is impossible, he begcn. and
made for the door as il to escape But
this was locked.
You can t trap a man
Basil, Gertrude Bessie's voice
rose 10 scream. For Gertrude had
flung herself upon him and clutched
his throat with a deathlike grip.
Il Will Kill you rather. she painted
Perhaps he was rather afraid She
might; perhaps he only meant to
frighten her.
Quick as flash, he drew pistol.
They struggled for a second.
/ sprang forward, but alas! too late
A stunning report, shrek from Bes-
sic. who fell fainting.
Then Gertrude, staggering, sank to
the floor,
Humphrey dropped the pistol
1t was not my fault. hc began.
CHASTITY with terror.
! tried to lift Gertrude
Mary. she whispered, 1.-THE key
open for the clergyman"
The minister was on the staircase
Basil Humphrey had turned to Bessie,
and the girl was rrViVino