The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-08


and at the sight OF this reptile who owned
that he had destroyed Robert Penfold in fear
and cowardice For long time her wrath
90 overpowered ali sense OF pty, rnar sue
sat trembling: and. e e-ss could kill Mr..
Hand would not have OutIived his confession.
At last she contrived TO speak. She turned
her head away not to see the wretch, and
said, sternly-
Are you prepared to make this st statement
on paper if called on?"
Mr.. Hand hesitated. but said. Yes"
Then write down that Robert Penfold was
innocent, and you are ready TO prove 1t
whenever you may be called upon"
Write that down." snid Hand.
Unless your patience is feigned, you will. y
Sooner than that should be added to my
crime. | will avow all" He wrote the few
lines she required.
Now your address that may know whore
TO find you at n moment'snotics" he wrote,
-. Hand, IL Warwick Street, Pimlico."
Helen than dismissed him and wept bitterly.
In that condition she WAS found by Arthur
Wardlaw who comforted her, aud on hear
iRg her report of Hands confession, burst
out into triumph, and reminded her lie had
always said Robert Penfold was innocent.
My father said he. must yield TO this
evidence, aud we will lay it before the Ser
etary of the State, and, get his pardon"
His pardon! when he 10 iunocentH'
20, that it the form-the only form. The
rest may be done by the WARM reception Of
his friends l. for one, who all these years
have maintained his innocence, will be the
first to welcome him to my house an honored
guest. What am | saying? Can II dare II
ought II when my wife Ali am moro to
be pitied than my poor friend is: my friend,
my rival Well, leave it TO you whether he
can come into your husbands house"
Never"
But. at least, I can send the sprinbok out.
and bring him home; ana that will do with.
out one days delay"
20 Arthur" cried Helen, you set me M
example OF unselHshness."
II do what l can" said Arthur. II am no
saint. hope for q reward"
Helen sighed: What shall dor"
Have pity on mel your faithful lover, aud
to whom your faith was plighted before ever
you saw or knew my unhappy friend. What
can do or suffer more than have done and
suffered for your NY sweet Helen. have pity
on me, and be my wife"
u will; some day"
Bless you bless you. Ono effort more
what day."
II can't. can't My heart Ia dead"
This day fortnight. Let me speak to your
father; let him name the day"
As she made no reply, he kissed her hand
devotedly, and did speGs to her father. Sir
Edward, meaning all for the best. said, This
day fortnight"
CHAPTER LAh.
TIE NEXT morning came the first wedding
presents from the jubilant bridegroom, who
was determined to ad v ance step by step, and
give no breathing time. When Helen saw
them laid out by her maid, she tremblsd at
the consequences ofnot giving plump mega
tive to so brisk wooeT.
The second post brought two letters; one
OF them from Mrs. Undsrclif. The other con-
tanned no words, but only pearl Of uncom-
ai ah
this at first a. another wedding present, and
an attempt on Arthur's part to give her q
pearl as large as those she had gathered on
her dear island. But, looking narrowly at
the address, she saw II was not written by
Arthur and, presently, she was struck by
the likeness Of this pearl in shape to some OF
her own. She got out her pearls, laid them
side by side, aud began to be moved exceed
ingly. She had one Of her Instincts, and 10
set every fiber quiyering with excitement IL
was some time before she could take her eyes
of the pearls, and IL was with q trem bling
hand she opened Mrs. Underclif's letter
That missive was not calculated to calm her.
II ran thus
my DEAR YouNG LADY,-A person called
here last night and supplied the clew. Uyou
have the courage TO know the truth, you
have only to come here, aud to bring your
diary, and all the letters you have received
from any person or persons since you landed
in England. am yours obediently.
JANE UNDERCLIFF."
The courage TO know the truth
This mysterious sentence affected Helen
considerably. But her faith In Robert was
too great TO be shaken. She would not wait
for the CanoniCHl hour at Which young ladies
go out, but put on her bonnet directly after
breakfast. Early az she was, n visitor came
before she could start--Mr Burt, the Detec.
tive. She received him in the library.
hH n,eNl lnnL nA - kae
little bag, and said, I'm very glad ! made
bold to call 40 early"
"Iou have got information Of importance
to communicate to mp7"
al think so, miss" and hs took out his
notebook. The person you are watched By
is M, Arthur Wardlaw." The girl stared
at him. Both spies report so him twice q
day at his house in Russoll Square"
sons. Two were WardIaw's; three were
Burt'si but the odd man was there on hts
own hook and my men could not make him
out at all; but they think ono Of Wardlaw's
men knew him. for he went of TO Russell
Square like the wind, and brought Mr.. Ward
law here in disguise. Now. miss, that is all;
and shall call cab, end we'll hear Under.
cliffs tale?"
The cab was called, ndd they vent to Un-
derclif. On the way Helen brooded; but the
Detective eyed every man and everything on
the road with the utmost keenness.
Edward UndercliH was at work at litho.
graphing. he received Helen cordially,
nodded TO Burt, and said she could not
have better assistant.
He then laid his mile Of the forged
note on the table, with John Wardlaw's
genuine writing and Penfold's endorsement.
Look at that Mr. Burt"
Burt inspected the papers keenly.
"You know, Burt. swore at Robert Pen.
folds trial that he never wrote that forged
note"
% Il remember" " said Burt .. .~a
The otbcr day this lady instructed me 20
discover II could, who did write the forged
note. But, unfortunately, the materials she
gave me were not sufficient But, last night,
young man dropped from the clouds, that
] made sure was an agent OF yours Miss
RoIIeston. Under that impression 7 was
rather unguarded. and lot him know how
far We had got, and could get no further. Il
think can help you, says this young man,
and puts letter on the table Well, Mr..
Burt, glance at that letter was enough for
mo. IL was written by the man Who forged
the note"
"a letter." said Hal,
ne careful Mr.. Burt, this 10 aserIous thinR
TO say, and may have serious consequences."
Well, miss, you SId me you wanted to
know the truth"
"Or course want to know the truth"
Then the truth is that yon are watched
by order OF Mr.. Wardlaw."
Burt continued his report.
"A shabby.ke man called on you yestcr-
day"
"Yes; II was Mr.. Hand Mr.. Wardlaw's
clerk. And o Mr.. Burt, that wretcked cree-
ture came and confessed the trdth IL was
he who forged the note, out OF sport, and for
bet, and then was too co owardlyto own IL.
She thsn detailed Hands confession.
His penitence comes too late" said she,
with deep sigh.
1T hasn't come yet" said Burt, dryly.
"0f course my lambs foIlowed the man. He
went FIRST to his employer, ard theh he went
home. His name 10 not Hand. He 10 not o
clerk at all, but little actor at the Corin-
THAN Saloon. Hand is in America; went
three months ago. ascertained thst from
another quarter" =.
20 goodnessi" cried Helen, what q wretch.
cd worldl can't see my way yard for
stories"
How should you, miss? IL Ia clear enough,
for all that. Mr.. Wardlav hired this actor
to pass for Hand. and tell yon lie that he
thought would please you"
Helen nut her hand tn her brow. and
thought; but her candid soul gos sadIy IN
the way of her brain. "Mr. Burt" said she,
win you go with me to Mr.. Undsrclih the