The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-12-05
"I'm sure It's not my fault II 1 get
nothing to do. l am always trying to
find something"

L
find something"
"fes. in other peoples pockets" {"
answered u woman's voice. "You want
the wage. not the work?"
Good heavens! that is Millicent's
voice exactly" thought Stephen;
what an extraordinary resemblance"
"Wlat becomes Of money in your
hands can't conceive" she went on.
''It is Millicent's voice! What in
Gods name is she doing" and Stephen
tried to catch IL glimpse OF the figure
that was screened from him by the
man between them, and still. more SO
by the darkness.
What have you done with tho
money l sent you last?'
''llonc with it, Spent it, of course.
a family cannot live on nothing. 1t
was not much for you to give-you,
who live in luxury; you. whose hus-
band is rich; you---"
"My husband is very far from rich;
and if he were SO it would benefit you
in no way. Every furthin. l have
given you for your wife WAS my own,
made by own work. !. woman.
worked TO help woman. as | would a
man. but not such US you.
Whatever you may have given you
owed TO my wife"
~ owed herr"
"ics; for taking from her what wus
hers BY right"
"Shall ! let this brute 90 OH speak-
ing 10 ler?' said Stephen to himself,
holding tho edge Of the seat tightly in
each hand.
"And now that she is Ill and in want
you in your prosperity grudge Il little
help to her aud her hungry children" !"
"l have lowered myself by listening
TO you thus far" said Miliicont, ..in
order to see if you would not in time
say what expected of you--whut
waited for Now that you have done
50 ! will answer you fully this once and
never speak with you again. feel
that you cannot have lived your life
without some ones having called you
liar and coward or without YOU
knowing that many had right to dc
so. Therefore will not pause to add
my testimony to theirs. When your
first letter came last year. addressed
to my husband, Ito wait IN answer
hc WAS happily away from home. To
save time /. contrary to my inclina.
tion. opened yoLr appeal 1t con.
tanned IL manly re 'crence to your wife.
and my husbands regard for her III
past years and IL cringing demand for
money for her AMI your children. il
not for you, and it ended with IL sug.
gcstioa as to tho possible unplcasun,
consequences to his domestic happi.
ness If tho subject Of your letter be.
came known to INC. livery detail ol
the story. as far as it concerned him.
self. my hush md had long since told
me. and no mud thrown by you could
shake my trust
"fou lie when you say that took
from your wife what was ners by
right. My husband once loved her
with all his heart and soul. and she
made him suffer bitterly. But he
had loved her, as say, and for his
sake ! consented iii the miserable
story should never reach his Cur.
to give him further paiD to hell
the woman who had repaid his love
with betrayal, his confidence with
trcachcrv. but who had been dea,
to him before he gave to me what
took from no one else. You lie agair
when you speak OF her present sut
ferins aud the wants OF her child
rcn-silcnce!" as tho m.n attempted
TO speak. "Do you think In dealing
with one like you should take nc
steps to verify your statements? o.
tho two children that lived with yel
and that You cali hers, one only wa.
your wife's. and has been dead sia
months. you cur! And your wrctched
wife flung from her my husband
love and trust, but for life with you.
who dragged her to the mire in which
she diod nearly month ago! Nearly
a week since l had proof of all l am
saying. and my only reason for con.
senting to see you again. as you
asked. was 10 tell you of this, and
also to warn you that il you ever
communicate with or molest me OF
my husband in any way I have NEAR ms
to make that your last public per-
fOrmance fOr considerable time"
As she said the last words Millicent
rose. walking straight up TO and get.
ting into the truin that had just run
into tho station. Tho man she ha d
been speaking with sat st i'll while she
moved away, but as she opened the
carriage door he started up with an
oath, ns If TO follow her. Steph en-
Mostyn's umbrella becoming unfort u
nately tangled with tho sweare RS
legs, he was prccipatcd painfully on
to the platform US tho train left the
station. and Stephen bounded up the
steps TO tho surface OF the earth.
Mrs. Mostyn had dressed for dinner
that evening. and was sitti ng by the
fire when h cr husband came In.
well Stephen. when you do follow
my advice You do it generously l
must say. Have you been out here
ever since saw you last?'
Ivory nearly"
"And walking. or in the UNDER
ground, or on top OF 'bus?'
"A little of all three, and tho club
TO finish with
"Well, and have you found your
plot?"
"Yes. but can't write it now, so
am not much better off than before" I"
"Good gracious! why?"
"Because." said Stephen. bending
and kissing her eyes. "the story is so
pretty that have no words In which
TO tell it; no character that have
hitherto conceived is good enough to
play II part in it; no incident that l
have known or imagined but seems
poor and tedious beside it,"
"Then it is very sood?"
"Pcrfcct"
And is it real or ideal?"
Both"
ALI 4