Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-22
l :. SSA.
CHAPTER XII.


oh, had only knownr" he thought
There was flash of righteous anger
In his eyes as he looked back at
Austen.
@tAnd you let her go, he said slow
~, but with whitening contempt in
his voice which sent the blood rushing
EntO Austen's face-'you thought this,
=aad you let her go, and never raised a
finger to save from certain ruin and
shame the woman you protested 10
aoVea Why, if had been YOU and
his sallow face flushed and his eyes
grew bright and angry-..I would
have gone after her to the very end of
the world would have put bullet
Through the seroundrel who tempted
her away, and would have saved her
in spite of herself-of allr' With
an uncontrolled excitement he sprang
from his chair walked up and down
the room, flashing angry chances at
AEsten's white suffering face. 81
Eould to heaven that you had been
Zight-that she loved me, poor little
girl" he cried passionately.
Austen listened, but he scarcely
beard the words. Another voice
other words, forgotten till now, rang
in his ears and drowned Noel's pas
sionate words.
Some day you will remember that
you would not listen" Tessa had said
calmly He could remember the very
tome of her voice-see her sad eyes
looking back as she fingered by the
doorway.
Noel, little ashamed Of his excite
nent. came back to his chair again
and resumed his pipe; he looked fur
lively as Austen between the sharp.
quick pulls 81 smoke.
EDO You really mean to say that
You don't know where she is?n he
asked.
"'No." Austen shook his head.
Cleveland hesitated a moment.
'"You don't deserve it. but think /
may possibly help you to find OUT"
he said after a short silence. ..Are'
you aware that few days before your
mothers death your brother Antony
was at the Hall?''
@'Antony! Impossible!" An
tOnY looked up with a startled excla-
NATION.
-'Quite possiblePn answered Noel
with short laugh. II ought to know
for | was the means of bringing him
there. 1t seems that your mother
had an intense desire to see him again
"a desire which she knew that neither
you nor Mrs. Calender would be like
sy to crafty; and so Tessa-she was
always a tender-hearted little soul,
bless her!--came to me and asked me
TO find out his address. I did so, not
without some trouble; and know the
TACT, : Noel went on, looking steadfast-
~ into Austen's anxious face, s.that
Antony was once, if not twice. at the
Hall unknown to you about the time of
Mrs Bevan's death.
-'Aud you think that Tessa is with
him now?" There was a new light, a
radiant flush on Austen's face.
IL think it is probable enough; or
at all events he may know where she
as can give you his address if you
care to inquire" Noel could not re-
sist the sneer 'Indeed got Antony
a berth in the Office of a friend of
mine "a lawyer in Gray's Inn" He
turned over the pages of his pocket
book until he found the address
Eyes, here it is"
He scrubbed few lines of a card
ind gave it to Austen; but he did not
wish him God-speed, and he turned
mpatiently away as the other thanked
him eagerly.
THANK you, and forgive mel" Aus
ten said huskily, as he turned toward
She door; and Noel laughed oddly.
II will forgive you when Tessa
does, he said.
He went back to his chair and look
sap his pipe and book again as the
door closed behind the visitor; but the
book soon dropped unheeded from his
hand, and the pipe went out as he lay
hack in his chair and meditated over
the past interview and Austen's late
repentance How would the quest
sendp he wondered. Would Tessa for
give Austen? What sin was there too
great for woman to forgive in the |
nzan she loved? But yet Tessa was
scarcely one of the tender all-forgiv- |
ing order of womanhood, he thought, |
with a half-smile. She was rather |
ono who would passionately resent in |
Justice and harshness. And if she
would not forgive Austen well, there
might be chance for some one else.
Noel's lips curved into tender smile
rs he fancied what that might mean
% him. How good he would be to her!
he thought.
And so he lay back in his chair and
isdaIged Just for brief half-hour in
a bIissfuI dream Of the happy future
and the perfect life which alas for
poor NoeI-was never to dawn for
aim.
Antony was much surprised one