Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-06-01
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8 stranger. Circumstances. the latter
said. had in an hour changed her des-
Tiny. All was over between them. 1t
was better so since fate ordained it.
Remember her as friend, their brief
Irritation" as a wayward caprice for
passing the summer months away.
"FaiSc. Deceitfm! l will never be-
lieve it." painted the petrified Marshall.
I"Why! yesterday-the ring I gave her,
the pledges we made-oh. this is some
farce. some hidden dream! What is
this"
Mechanically turning the wretched
missive over and over in his nerveless
hands, Raymond Marshall observed for
the first tine that it was comprised
Of two sheets Of paper.
And striving to separate them. he
ascertained that stray patches OF mu-
cilage held the lower page to the other
In few minutes be diScerned that it
could not have been the intention Of
the sender to inclose the second sheet
That was accidental. 1t had stuck to
the top sheet and had been folded in
with it by a haSty. careless hand.
1t bore writing-nOt EdnaS writing
A dagger seemed driven to Ray Mar
Shall's heart as he tore it free. and
the bold. masculine chiroSraphy danced
before his vision.
If he had been startled before. every
pulse stirred with fierce fire now. The
letter had evidently been received by
Edna the day previous. and was signed
| with the name of the only rival in her
| affection to whom he had ever given
4 thought. Miss Chambers cousin, Ed
mas announced escort Of that evening
Barton Bfinsley.
| The letter of an accepted lover to
the woman he loved. il betrayed de-
cided encouragement from Edna. 1t
even bore Il slight ridicule Of MarshallS
pretensionS. Edna had endured this!
Edna had played him false. and while
her shy lips were responding to his
ardent expressions Of devotion her ny
pocritical heart was thinking Of Barton
| BrinSley.
The complication was maddening.
With eyes dashed with the insanity
| of despair the tortured artist looked
| ND. He clcnched the tell-tale sheets
in his hand as if they We're the false
heart of the girl who had Tilted him,
and that of the man who had stolen
away her love.
IL will kill him. he choked out,
his soul :iDlGZo.
And then, realizing the folly OF such
a sentiment. the right Of any man to
| honorahly strive for Il WOManS prefer
cnce with the bitterness of death COM
| pretending that the woman was the
| deccivor. remembering his mothers
/ taunt once made that he had Hct1er
marry some one besides "a namelcSS.
homeless nobody" he claimed down.
put on his hat and walked from the
house like one in 4 dream, his lips
firmly set. bu' sick at heart.
He went straight to the seminary.
! There was ,";i', in his heart so manly.
so straightforward, so inclined to doubt
! the falsity of the woman he had SO
blindly trusted. despite the terrible evil
dcnce in his bands. that. though the
meeting killed him, he was determined
to have tho matter settled LOW and
finally.
Hp would demand to see Edna-he
would show her the letters. His pillan.
| thronc friends hal more than once told
| him that all wonnankinu were changing
| butterflies OF sentiment. Ii she mad
indeed only played with his heart he
! would leave her presence and the place
forever: without Il word accept the bit
ter lesson as Il warning against trusting
all humanity. and in silence and dis
lance wait for the end Of u life blight
ed profitlcsS. uncomfortable.
A servant admitted him and took his
card to the lady principal. Miss Chand-
! Ter looked serious as she entered the
room. but greeted him with the genial
ity she always bestowed on Edna's
friends She started at the sight Of his
wretched face. however.
Miss Chandler" he spoke in his mis-
cry and agitation, neglecting to take
her proffcred hand, II wish to see Edna
Miss Dean"
"Edna?' calculated the lady princi-
pal. wondcringly. Why! did you not
know
! 'Know WHAT he demanded. sharp
ly. his heart taking new alarm.
That she is gone?
"Gone!' he repeated blanlly. Gone
When where with whom?"
"She left us last evening. POOR, dear
! Edna; her happy school life is over'
and-why. Mr.. Marshall!'
He had arisen to his feet at her first
startling words. He felt his senses reel
The sight Of such vivid emotion in a
Go on he choked out. waving his
hand agitatcdly. Its nothing. The
shock. the suddenness-'
Surely she wrote you that she was
going:'
NO. That is. You say she went last
EVENING"
Yes
Alone? Why did she leave so alb
ruptly:'
His heart hung on the reply. Miss
Chandler's face fell
Mr.. Marshall" she said. in a low
subdued tone, you must not ask me.
have pledged myself to make no eXpla
nations. In fact, j know very little
She left in safe hands, of that / an
assured, ana she will never return tt
Hopedale. 1t has depressed us all; bu
surely she will soon write to you ant
explain
Miss Chandler I must know where
Edna Deane has gone. You must tel
me'more.'
His voice was husky, but it bore /:
ring of sharp, lacerating anguish.
II cannot. never broke promis'
once made, Mr. Marshall" spoke tn,