Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-07-13

shall stood III the center OF inc apart
mcnt. gazing luiiou>ly ii the figure
lying on the couch. its face turned
from him.
Quito as curious ana Interested for
the moment. E.iyi.u!.l Marshall looked
up. too.
Miss Leslie has asked me to explain
to You why S!l" has Interested hrrSr!'
in your behalf" spoke the doctor. III
calm. measured accents. Her act has
been one in Il measure OF al"n"Mrn;.
Of compensation fer Il wrong doA"
member of Your fA:m'lv.
la" exclaimed Tie colonel. with Il
start. "Shr must BE-. iil"n. some relative
OF the wretch Who rn':i,rtl mc-wh" Ell
coNlp;;SSvu nl' in all this trouble. my
former partner.
Not at all She simply deceived Il
member of your family. Sh" is familiar
With the troubles of your son. as we'll
as yourself. and she desires me to i'm
part some mruruful Information To
him. Mr.. MARSHALL. will You kindly
read thar arlirlri"
The doctor had handed to Raymond
Marshall the newspaper which had
first SET Beatrice on the trail Of Edna
Dnanr 1t chruniclru her death ut the
SnoW-H.lcn bridge. 50 accurately ana
it describe Edna and her attire that.
is Raymond Marshall p"rllSru it. with
,liS,rnilrd eyes and ;iShrn face. h" could
not mistake the truth. With Il wild cry
he sank to Il chair. the paper tiul!ri-
ing to til" floor.
Dead. dead. he walled "All hope.
then. is lost
What may all this have to do with
Il, wi,
and mySlilirl Col. Marshall.
"MSrh. This ordeal is trying. fatal
10 her. blt she insists. Nurse. turn up
III" lamp. Co!on"l-Mr. Marshall. your
b'nrfnctrrS>. the lady who makes an
alonrll"n' for Il great wrong, is
"Era1rirr Mercer"
in surprised accents from the colonrl'S
lips. in Il gasp Of incrrdulity from those
of Raymond Marshall. rang the name
simultaneously. as the pretended in
valid turned her wan features toward
them.
Dying features they We're. to all SEM
blancr. The doctors art and her own
drf1 acting carried out the intended
effect completely.
"RHymOnh"' she flultcrpu. in Il weak.
w:ii:ny voice. Say that YOU forgive
1
even sought la ind Edna and restore
her 10 You after my ciT:el deception.
but she is dead. a liStan; relative left
me Il fortune. The only restitution !
could make WAS to aid your father.
AIN dying. The Only reward ask is
that You take my hand and forgive me
for il all
raymond Marshall stood like one in
~ u. H.. Ia;
mind. This woman had. indeed
wron=,d him. but still she was not ac-
counlal" for E.lna's death. AS he
thought Of all she had done for his
father. as he tallcicl he read Il noble
generous impulse drove him forward
II" fell her burning hand twitch in
his own. He Gil not doubt, after all
the doctor had said that She WAS Il uy-
in- woman.
You did me no wrong except to tor
1nre mo with Il passing belief in the
f;thir>Snc>s Of the woman / loved"
h" said
For love Of YOU" murmcrcd Be
ltI'irp f"rvcntly. raymond l can tell
-ou now. for ! shall soon die. | was
lot TO blanc for my love. and I had
silence. loved you SO hopclcssly, yet
50 fOndly
His eyes dnm"d with tears. Love
was surely no sin. even when hopeless.
His great heart stirred with honest
pity.
Il can die in peace. now" she said,
for your eyes tell me that / am for
given Raymond. good-by-good-by"
Her eyes were raining tears. Oh. ac-
trc>S def and subtle! oh. hypOcrite
strong and confident! pitting all the
issues OF life upon the frail cast of q
lie
She turned her face to the wall. her
sobs causing the sympathetic Colonel
% vince with honest pity. Raymond
ookcd concerned. gricvcd.
Can we do nothing to mako her hap
Ji"r:" spoke the Colonel. deeply affect
I'd. Can l not tell her how grateful
[ am-bow some arrangement must be
made for the repayment Of the money
advanccd:'
She would refuse to consider it,"
responded the doctor. "But-no. / had
better not mention it..
Speak. DOCTOR urged the colonel.
eagerly. You were about to make
;ome suggestion:'
IL concerns your son. Ibis morning
this poor creature walled her heart
sickness over her love for him. She
cannot survive the night. and yet
think she would be infinitely happy
for that brief period Of time if she
Incw that you-Forgive me. gentle
men. my task is difficult to complete"
''If she knew what:" demanded Ray
nond. softly.
IF you would consent to wed her.
Nay. sir. do not start A dying child's
wish; you need not crafty it. only she
mas left all her fortune to YOU
Il will never accept it," dissentcd
Raymond. Indignantly.
THE law will make You. This poor
girls devotion is pitiable. Give her
your name. render her dying moments
happy 1t is not much to do. for before
morning you will be widower."
The plot was out. This was the deft
design two clever schemers had
planned. The unsuspecting Raymond
Marshall never dreamed Of new de-
cep'ion.
raymond. do it; it will quiet talk