The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-20

uHu VIII puhts"cu oT w HuPu, " - yOur
Helen" sni, the General, "you ladies are
too fond of hitting II man when he ia down.
And you speak dnggers, as the saying IA: and
then Wish yoM had hit your tongue OF soon.
or. fun nrc my rhlt, but you ore also n
british subject; and If tou churgc me on
my duty to take this tttah to England md
havn him imprisoned, | must. But. before
yau 20 that length you lnd better hear tho
Whole story"
Sir" said Robert Penro,d, quietly, II will
go back to prison this minute. j. she wishes
How dare you interrupt papa" said Hell.
Ell, hauGhtiy, but with n grrnl sob.
Come. come, said the General, be quiet,
both of you. md let me say my say" ITO
Robert.) You had better turn your hcnd
away, for am Straightforward man. aud
I'm going to show her yon are not vilnin.
hut n mailman. This l.ubert Penfold wrote
M" lette implUring me to find him some
honest employment, however mclial. That
looked well. aud | made him my gardener.
He was N capital gardener. but one day he
caught sight of you. You are very lovely
girl though you uon't seem tn know it: and
be IN II mailman, and he :rllinlovewi thyon."
Helen uttered an ejaculation of great sur.
prise The General resumed: "licr can only
have seen you ut II distance. or you would
recognize him: hut (iealy it is laughablc) h.
saw you somehow, though you did not SIZE
lin. and Well, his insanity hurt himscl
and li, not hurt you. ion remember how
he suspected burglars, aud watched night
after night und'r yonr window. That was
out of love for you. His insanity took the
form OF fidelity ami lumb,e devotion. lie
got II wound for his pains, poor fellow! and
you made Arthur Wardlaw get him clerk $
place"
arthur wardlaw!' cried Seaton WAS it
N<,1 liz L.,.
"Suid Helen; ''lIe hates poor Arthur his
heurfnctor." Then to Pcn'od: iii you are
that James Scaton, you received Il letter
from mo.
Il did," said Penfoll: and, putting his
hand in his bosom. he drew out u letter and
showed II ner.
Let mo see it" said Helen.
said lie, piteuusly.
General Rolleston continued. The day
you smiled he disappeared: and 'am AFRAID
not without some wild idea of being in he
same ship with you. This was very repre-.
lensih". Do you hear. young man: But
what is the consequence. You get ship
wrecked together. and til" young mail
man takes surll care oi you that ! find
you well and hearty. nn, calling him your
guardian angel. Anl--nnotiier thing to his
crait-hc has SIT his wits to work to rpstorc
you to the world. These ducks. one of which
brings me here. OF course it was he who
contriNcd that. not YOU. Young man, you
must learn to look things in HE face: this
young lady is not OF your sphere, to begin,
and, in the next place, she is engaged to Mr..
Arthur War'llaw; aud | am come out in his
steamboat tn take her to him. And ms for
you, Helen. take my ndvire think what most
convirts are. compared to this one. Shut
your eyes entirely to his folly ns shall: and
let you aud think only of his COOL deeds.
aud so make him all the return we ran. You
and | will 20 on board the steamboat direct
~: aud, when we are there, we cal, tell More.
land there is somebody else on the island
He then turned TO Pcnfnhl. aud said: My
daughter and will Keep in the nftcr-pnrt of
the vrsssl and anybody that likes tan leave
the ship at Valparaiso. Helen know it liz
wrong; but what can dol am so happy
inn are alive and w"l how can punish or
aiiGt II human creature today: and above
ALL how can crush this unhappy young
man, without whom should never have
seen YOU again in this world? My daughter.
my dear lost chiId!' And he held her Mt
arms length nnd gazcd at her. and then
drew her to his bosom; and for him Robert
Penfold censcd to exist, except us Il man that
had saved his daughter.
Papa said Helen. after long pause,
just make him tell why lie could not trust
to me. Why he passed himself off to me for
II clergyman.
Il am II clergyman" said Robest Pcntold
"Oi' said Helen. shocked to find him so
hardened. az she Thought. She lifted her
hands to heaven. and the tears strenme,l
II sre cannot reach your conscience. One
question more and then have done with
you forever. Why in all these months that
We have been alone. and that you have shown
me the nature, don't say of an honest man
but ofyou an angel-yes, papa, of an nngel-
why could YOU not show mo one humble
virtue sincerity! 1t belongs to man. Why
crime in my life, hut rpen,ed
forever; judge by this confession, and by
whnt you have seen of ME, whether | shall
ever commit another Take me as am. an,
esteem me as IL penitent and moie worthy
mni,; but will not dercive you and p,iss fol
n pnraeon" Whycould you not say us much
ms this to me? Ifyou loved me, why deceive
me so cruelly?"
These works. uttered no longer harshly
but in II mournful, faint. despniring voice
produced an effect the speaker little expected
Robert Ien:old made two attempts to speak
but though lie opened his mouth. and his
Ps quivere,l. lie could get NJ word out. liz
began to choke with emoi ion: aud though he
shed no tears, the convnlson that goes with
weeping in weaker natures ovcrpowcrcd him
, in II way that was almost terrible.
''COnoupd it!S said General Rolleston
this is monstrous OF you. Helen. il is bar.
bnrous You are not Ikeyourroormotl,cr =
| 'She WINS pale and trembling, and the tears
flowing; but she showed hernntive obstinncy
must answer me- lie knows he must.''
II must" said Robert Penfoll, gasring
still Then he manned himself by a mighty
stIort, and repeated with dignity, II will. =
There was n pause while the young man still
struggled fnr composure and selfcommilnd.
WAS not often on thu point nj telling
Won my sad story? Then is it fur to say
| that should never have told it you: But
. Miss llolleston, you don't know what ago.
ny it may be to an unfortunate man to tell
the truth. There are accusations so terrible,
NO defling, that. when II man has proved
them false. they still stick to him aud soil
him. Such an accusation labor under. and
IL Judge aud II jury have branded me. lfthrv
had called me IL murderer would hare told
the prejudices of the world. dreaded to sea
your fnce alter to me- Yes. trcmblctl. and
hesituted, md asked myself whether IL mai,
is hound TO repeat II foul slan,ler against
himself. even when thirteen shallow men
have sni,l it. and made The the lilo law
There. said General ltolloston, Il thought
how it would he. Helen; you have tormcnici
him into defending himself. tooth and nail;
so now we shall have the old story; hs is in.
nOcent: ! never Knew Il convict that wasn't
ii he found IL fool to listen to Inn. decline
TO hear another word. You needn't excuse
yourself for changing your Nance excuse it,
and that IN enough. But the boat. is waiting
and we can't stay to hear you justly frl-
ony."
Il AN NOT y FELON. lam a MAnTyR."
CHAPTER Ill.
Robert Pen:ol.l drew himself; up to his full
height, and uttered these strange words wi h
II sud majesty that was very imposing But
General Kollcsto on, steelrd by experience of
convicts. their pluusibility. aud their histri.
onic powers w'ls staggered only Tor II mo.
ment. He deigned no reply; but told Helen
Captain Morcland was Whiting for her, AMI
she had better 80 on board ut onca.
She stood like statue.
No, Pnpn, III not turn my bnck on him
till know whether no is IL fclon or Martyr
with II clever phrase 4 judge md jury
have settled that
They settled it as you would settle it. hy
refusing to hear me.
"liave refused to lrnr you?" snid Helen
What do ] care for steamboats, and cap
tains? II stay here to I'LL eternity, Ill
know from your own lips and your own fac.
whet her you IRE II frlOn or u martyr. III il
no phrase papa. He in n fron or a martyr
md ] nm q most VII 'ortuna:e girl or else {,
bnse. lislnynl one"
"Fidlie.tlur," said General Rollrst OH, an
giiiy. Then looking nj his witch: II give
you five minutes to humbuI us in-ifyou
cun."
Robert Penfold sighed pat cntly But from
TINT moment he ignored General Rollpst on
und looked to Helen only. And she fixed hel
eyes upon his fnce with IL tenncity and IN in
| >f