The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-01-03
FOULPLAY,
A NOVEL.


BYcHARLEs REApD.
CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.
They met at one O'Clock; he radiant a. the
sun, and Q rose in his button-hols; she sad
and somber. and With hervsry skin twitching
at the thought ofths explanation she had to
go through.
He began With amorous commonplace;
she stopped him. graysly. ARTHUR" said she,
you and ass alons now, and have con.
fssson to make Unfortunately, must
cause you paan-tef,ible pain. o. my heart
6inches at the wound am going to give you;
but it 10 my fate either to wound you or to
deceive you.'
During this preamble, Arthur sat amazed,
rather than alarmed. He did not interrupt
her, though she paused, and would gladly
have been interrupted, since On interruption
10 an assistance in rerplexities.
"Arthur, We suffered great hardships on
the boat, and you would have lost me but
for one person. He saved my life again and
again; saved his upon the island. My con
stancy was subject to trials-O, such trials
So great an example Of every manly virtue
forever before my eyesl Ny gratitude and
my pity eternally pleading! England and
you seemed gone forever. Make excuses fol
me you can. Arthur-I-I have formed an
attachment"
In making this strange avowal she hung
her head and blushed, and the tears run
down her cheeks. But We suspect they rau
for him. and not for Arthur.
Arthur turned deadly sick at this tremen.
doue blow, dealt with so soft hand. AT
last he gasped out, "Ifyou marry him, you
will bury me-"
mo. Arthur" saii Helen gensly;"I could
not marry him. even il you were to permit
OF rs three unhappy ones, you are the leasl
unhappy. But. since this is 40, am wrong
to tell you the truth, and leave you to decide
whether our engagement ought to continued
OF course, what have owned to you releases
you"
"Releases me! but it does not unbind my
healt from yours" cried Arthur, In despair,
Then his hysterical nature came out, and
no was SO near fainting away that Helen
sprinkled water on his temples, and applied
eau-de-colonget to his nostrils and murmured
Poor, poor Arthur! o, was born only to
afflict those esteem?"
He saw her with the tears Of pity in her
were always the soul of honor: keep filth with
me. and will cure you OF that unhappy ut.
tachment"
"whatl Do you hold me to my engage.
ment after what have told your"
Cruel Helenl you know have not the
power to hold you"
II nm not cruel and you have tho power.
hut u, think! FOryour own sake, not mine. u
II have thought, and this attachment to a
nun you cannot marry is mere misfortune
yours as well Us mine. Give mo your cs
TEEN until your love comes back, and lot our
engagement continue"
at was foryou to decide. said Helen, cold.
", land you have decided. There is one con.
II submit to it,
What, before you hear it,"
"Heen, you don't know what year ol
misery have endured, ever since the repor,
came OF your death. My happiness ia cruelty
dashed now, but still it is great happiness by
comparison. Make your conditions. You
are my queen, as well as my love and my
life."
Helen hesitate. 1t shocked her delcacy
to lower the man she had consented to
marry.
80 Helen" sold Arthur, "anything but
secrets between you and me. Go on as you
hive begun, and let me know the worst nj
once"
Can you be very generous, Arthur
generous to him who ascaused you SO much
pain?"
I'm try" said Arthur, with n groan
II would not marry him. unless you gave
me up; for am your betrothed. nnd you
are true to me. lcould not marry him. ever
if were not pledged to you; but it so hap.
pens, can do him one great service without
injustice to you; and this service | have
vowed to do before ! marry. shall keep
that vow, as keep faith with you. He has
been driven from society by foul Islander
that Islander ON to sift md confute. II
vii! be long and difficult; but shall do it,
and you could help me il you chose. But
that will not be SO cruel as to ask."
Arthur bit his lip with jealous rage: but he
was naturally cunning, and his cunning
showed him there was at present one road Ia
Helen's heart. He quelled his torture ae
he could, and resolved to take that road
He reflected moment, and then he sad,-
"Ifyou succeed in that. will you marry
me next day."
y II will, upon my honor"
"Then will help YOU"
arthur, think what you say. Women
n lie loved as unsetishly as this, but no man
TN ever heard of"
10 man ever did 10. \ n woman as I love
YOU Yes, would ratiA help you, though
MitSa sore -heart, thnn L6ll aloof from you,
Wha& have We to do together"
NldI not tell you?-to cl.nr his character
Of th, stigma. and restore him 10 England,
andI' Np,he world which he is so fitted to
Yes b." said Arthur; bnt who is it?
why deS ask, though? lie must be a
"No str,Nger ut oil" said Helen; but one
who Is almNt MS unjust to You as the world
Inns been to Sm;' then. fixing her eyes full
friend and t, r. Robert Pensold." YOUR gu
HcHAprER Lv.
Arthur Ward. w was thunderstruck; and
And to this blai gaze sIcce ssg 10 look e q;
abject terror. whsh seemed to her strange
and beyond the Gyuson. But this was not
all; for. after glarS at her with scared eyes
and ashy cheeks ,ment or two, he rot
up and literally staA cred out Of the room
without word.
od He had .' - been surprse and for
Helen, whose eyes had, never left his face.
and had followed his retiring figure, was
frightened at the weight II the blow she had
struck: and strange thoughts and con &c.
lures filled her mind. lfitS.rto, she had felt
sure Robert Penfold was under o delusion ma
to Arthur Wardlaw, and that his suspicions
we're ms unjust as they certa My were vague.
Yet now, Mt the name Of ebert Penfold,
Arthur turned pale, and fel like guilty
thing: This WINS q coincidence that con.
firmed her good opinion of Robert Penfol,l.
and gave her ugly thoughts ofsArther. Still,
she was very slow to condemn on suspicion;
80 abe resolved as far as possible to- suspend
her unfayorable judgement Of Ar.hur until
emotion, and heard his reply.
Arthur never came near her for two whole
days. This looked grave On the third div
she said to General Rolleston-
Papa, you will help me in the good cause
lie replied that he would do what he
could. but feared that would be little.
"Will you take me down to Elm.trees this
morning."
with oil my heart"
He took her down to Elm-trees On The
way she said: papa, you must let me get q
word with Mr.. Warllaw alone''
20, certainly. But. of course, you will not
shy word to hurt his feelings"
20 papn!'
Excuse me: but, when person of Won,
age is absorbed with one idea, she sometimct
forgets that other people have any feeling.
at all " e'
Helen kissed him meekly, and said thu,
was too true; and she would be upon he,
guard.
To General Rolleston's surprise his dauch
ter no sooner saw old Wardlaw than sht
wellt-or seemed to go-into high spirits
and was infinitely agreeable.
But at last she got him all to herself, and
then she turned suddenly grave, md sail:-
"Mr. Wardlaw, want to ask you u ques
tion; 1t is something about Robert Pen
fold"
Wardlaw shook his bend. "That Isl pain
full subject, my dear. But what do you wish
to know about that unhappy young man?'
Can you tell me the mime Of the couns;.
who defended him at the trial?"
mo, indeed, | cannot"
But perhaps you can tell me where
could learn that"