The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-01-10

Underclif ap1rating suddenly. Then. tura.
ing to her yon. "How Gun you measure the
world? fYu live In . little one Of your own
"a world fof forgetr and anonymous writer's:
you see 80 many OF these, you fancy they ars
as comEion a. dirt: but they are only com
mon to You because they ell come your
20, thst 10 1t. is it," said the Expert
"Yes, that is IT, Ned" said the old lady.
quietly; then otter pause she said, II want
you to do your very best for this young
lady,"
can judge without materials? And shs
brings me none"
Mrs. undsrcliff turned to Helen, and said:
Have you brought him nothing at all, no
handwritings-in your bagf"
Then Helen sighed asaip. "I have no
handwriting except NJ. Penfold's; but have
two printed rspoFta Of the trial"
Printed reports, sud the Expert, "they
are no use to me. All. here IL an outline I
took OF the prisoner during the trial, You
can read faces: tell the lady whether be was
His mother With an ironieSi look; p not that at
he donbted her. proficiency In the rival art OF
reading faces, hut that he doubted the ex.
Mrs. GndsrcIift took the profile, and, color.
ing slightly, said toAfiss liolrston: ..it isliv.
ing faces l profess 10 read: there can see
the movement of the eyes and other things
TINT my son here has not studied" Then
she srrutinixed the profile. at is q very
handsome tace. said she.
The Expert chuckled. There's woman's
Judgment" snij he Handsome! the fellow
got transportation lite down at Exeter was
an Adonis, and forged Wills, bonds, and
powers of attorney by the dozen"
There's something noble about this face, :"
snid Mrs. underclii. ignoring the Interrupt.
tion, 'and yet something simple, i think
him more likely to be IL eats paw than u IA.
lon. Having delivered this with n certain
modest dignity. she laid the profile on the
counter before Helen.
The Expert had n wonderful eye unl hand;
it was good thing for society lie had elected
to lie gamekeeper instend OF poncher, ,ietertor
0: forgery insteadot forger No photograph
wasever truer than this out line. Helen sta rtsJ.
and bowed her head over the sketch to consent
thestrong and various emotions that swclled
at sight Of the portrait of rmult tyr lnvnin;
II the eyes were hidden. tho tender bosom
hcaved, the graceful body quivcred, and the
tears fell fast upon the counter,
Mrs; tnderciif was womanly enough,
though she looked like the lnte Lord Thur.
low in petticoa Is; and she instantly aid ID
the girl to hide her ben,ing heart from the
man. though TINT nun was her son. Shs
distracted his attention. Give me oil YOUR
notes, Ned" suid she. "and let mo SEE
whether can make something of them; but
first perhaps Miss Isollrston will empty her
bag on the counter. Go bnck to your work
moment, for know you have enough to
do"
Tho Expert was secretly glad to be re-
leased from cnse in which there were no
materials: and 80 Helen escaped unObscrved
except by one of her own sex. She saw d.
rcctly what Mrs. Undercliff had done for her
and lifted her sweet eyes, thick with tears,
to thank her. Mrs. Gnlercliff smiled mater
na!Iy. aud next these two ladies did IL str0 d
of business in tho twinkling of an eye, and
without word spoken. whereof anon. Hell
Ell being once more composed, Mrs. Under
cliff took up the prnyer-book, md asked hef
with some curiosity what could he in that,
~, sud Helen, ''only some writing oil
Mr.. Penfold. Mr.. Cndcrcliff does not want
fold never wrote that wicked thing"
Yes. hut should like to see some more
Of his handwriting, for NIL that" said the
Expert, looking suddenly mp.
But it liz only in pencil"
Never mind; you need not fear l shall
alter my opinion"
Helen coloret high. "You are right; md |
should disgrace my good cause by withhold
ing anything from your, inspection. There,
laid Cooper's dying words before the Expert;
he GLANCED over them with an eye like bird,
and compared them with his notes.
Yes, snid he. that IL Robert Penfoll's
writing; and shy ngIin TINT hand never
wrote the forged note"
Lee me see that" said Mrs. Underclia.
80 yes" said Helen, rather irresolutely:
"but you look into tho things as we'll as the
writing, anl promised papa
Cant you trust mc?'' said Mrs. Under
cliff, turning suddenly cold and q little sus.
picious."
20 yes. madam; and indeed hive not hing
to rrPronch myself with. But my papa is
anxious. However, am sure you nre my
friend: and all ask Is that Won will never
mention to soul what you read there
II promise that" said the elder lady, and
instantly bent her black brows upon the
writing. And, os she did 20, Helen observed
her countenance rise, Us face is very apt
to when its owner enters on congeninl work
"iou would have made II great mistake to
keep this from me, said she gravely. Then
she pondered profoundly; then she turned to
her son and said. Why. Edward, this il tito
very young lady who was wrecked in the Pa-
cific Ocean. and cast on IL desolato island
We have all rend about you in the papers.
miss; ami felt for YOU, tor one, but, of
course. not ns do now have seen you.
You must let me 70 into this with you.''
"Ah: fyou would" snisl Helen. 90 nal.
nm, have gone through fortunes already
for want of somebody Of my own sex to keep
me in countennlce! o. If you could have seen
how have been received, with what cold
looks ami sometimes with impertinents ut ares
before could even penetrate into the region
OF thoseco'd looks and petty formnlitics! Any
miserable straw was excuse enough to stop
me on my errand ofjustice and mercy and
gratitude"
ezra titude2n
80 yes, madam. The papers have only
told you that ! was shipwrecked' and Gust
away. They don't tell you that Robert PEN
fold warned me the ship was to lip ,l,st oryc,].
and disbelieved and affrontel him in return.
md he never repronclieti me. not even by q
look. And we were in n boat with the sailors
all sturved-not hungry: starved-nnd mad
with thirst. and yet in his own agony he hid
something for me to eat. All his thought,
all his fear, was for me- Such things are not
done in those grent extremites of the moor.
vulgar, suffering: body. except by angels in
whom the soul rises above the flesh. And lie
is such IN angel. have had a knife
n ,',ed over o,' me ,ct to Kin me- mad.
saved me. owe my life to him on the islnnd
over and over again; and in return l hive
promised to give him back his honor. TINT he
vulues far more than life, as such noble spirits
do All. my poor martyr, how feebly plen.l
your cause! y help me! pray, pray, help me
All is SO dirk. md | so weak. so weak. %
Again the loving eyes streamcd: and this
time not an eye was dry in the little shop.
The Expert flung down his tracing with
something between IL yroan and a curse.
Who can do that drudgcry," he cried.
whilst the poor young Indy Mother, Won
take it in hand: find me some ma,criul.
though it is NO bigger than fy's foot rive
mo bmt clue no thicker than Il spiderp web,
and Ill followit through the whole labyrinth.
But you see I'm impotent: there's no basis
for me. 1t ID q case for you. 1t wants u
slir"wd, sagacious body that can read fncts
and faces; und- won't Jest amy more; Miss
ltol"stOn, :or you are deeply in carnest.
Well, then. she really is woman
with Il wonderful insight into fncts and
faces. She has got n why of reading them as
rea'i handwriting; and she must have TAX
en- great fancy to yon, for as n rule she
never does us the honor to meddle."
Hive you taken IL fancy to me, mntlumn,
said Helen, modestly nnd tenderly, vet half
archly. Nv ""''
That I have" said the other. "rhosc
eyes OF yours went straight through nv
heart las, night, or ] should not b. here this
morning That is partly owing to my own
eyes being dirk and yours tho iovcliest
hazel 1t is twenty years since eyes like
yours have eazetl into mine. Diamond are
not half no rare, nor q tenth part no lovely,
to my. fancy She turned her head away,
melted probably by some tender reminiscrnce..
1t was only for II moment. She turned
round agnin, and said quietly: ayes, Ned. /
should like to try what cnn do; think YOU
snid these are reports of his trial. Ill begin
by reading Them
She reud them both very slowly and cure.
fully. nni i's,- sre grew ike a Judges, and
Helen WATCHED each shade of expression with
deep anxiety.
Tint powerful countenance showed alacrity