The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-26
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through the door, Archibald Blount
raised himself. and drew Q long, deep
breath. He was too well bred and re-
fined q man ever to exult openly in
any triumph, however great. but his
eyes looked brighter, and biz step
sounded more firmly as he walked.
;Rbsently to himse6, - he lit his bed
room lamp. II wonder II she cares at
all for Craven. 1 hope she does not
from my soul I hope she does not;"
after which touching hopefulness ON his
part he went up stairs and into bed,
where he slept long and peacefully.
Not so did the poor little girl" Ar
rived in her own bedroom. katherine
Blount locked the door, and, without
removing ornaments or any article Of
dress, walked toward the window and
leaned her beautiful, shapey head
against the dew-cold glass.
The moon was shining on her pale
and placid; the dazzling, twinklmg stars
cleaned down upon the silent earth;
n strange, sweet night It seemed, filed
with sadness responsive to her own,
that almost entreated confidence, but
katherine neither moved nor moaned,
nor wept.
With the dawn came her determine
ton. Turning slowly away from the
open window, through which a lark's
loud song Of praise rushed with tumui-
tuous music, she moved with stihened
limbs across the room, her poor heart
torn and bleeding.
The next morning Sir Mark War
renne went home rejoicing, the accept
cd lover of beautiful Katherine BlOunt,
while his lady-love filled her daily du-
ties with paid face and clOudcd eyes,
and thoughts all void of soul" Black-
wood she had not seen all day, having
excused herself from breakfast on the
plea of nervous headache-n0t oil ex-
cuse-but, coming suddenly into the old
parlor some little time before dinner,
she discovered Blackwo0d sitting there.
busily employed making cartridges for
the morrow's shooting. For second
her courage failed her completely. but
only for second; then she rallied her
spirits and came forward, speaking
bravely enough, though IN tones
strangely dull and unlike her usual
voice, which was sweet and musical.
"Blackwood, want to tell you some
thing"
Her manner startled him; he, flung
down the unfinished cartridge the con-
tents Of which ran swiftly, with tiny
rattling noise. from of the table; down
about the oaken door, while q terrible
sense of impending evil half choked
him. his face blanching, in the fashion
peculiar to him when anything un-
pleasant about Katherine came under
his notice. sss.
"NNhat is it?'' he asked. shortly.
IT have promised to marry Sir Mark
Warrenne," she answered, just as
shortly. trying to appear unconcerned,
but falling wretchedly.
For a full minute Blackwood Craven
went mad-as mad as the veriest luna
tic that ever trod the floors OF Bedlam
He strobe forward, and seized her
All al: wrists with cruel veheMencc. al
most crushing the tender bones In his
passionate grasp.
.say that again. he cried, ferccly,
threateninxly; while "Blackwood,
Blackwood!" was all poor Kathertbe
could gasp. with faint s'pphcatiop.
Presently, however. the paroxysln pass
he dropped her hands hurriedly; the
iron had entered into his soul, and ut
the first cold touch the madness lied.
Il
HAS 1t come to this ut last?" he
said.
Miss Blount sank into chair, and for
| n short time there was dead silence
| in the room. during which they scarce
" seemed to breathe. To Katherine
| the stiffness was intOllerable; my open
torture would hive been less bitter.
!, At all hazards she felt she must see
| his face again; 50, stealing over to his
side, she placed q tinid, trembling
hand upon his arm.
"BlackwOOd, hive some pity!' she
whispered. beseeclltngly, raising to his
| face great lustrous. pleading eyes.
"Pity!" he echoed contenptuously,
shaking of her hand as though 1t
scorched his flesh, and, moving back
ward few steps. PITY for what?
Because you are going to marry the
richest man In the country, and bur-
onet into the bargain, or because you
have wisely thrown over the man who
was imbeeiis enough to imagine he pos
scssed your extremely salahle aftec-
tions-which9 My pity would be Fath-
f, or wasted. 1 fancy, were to bcstow It
| on you 80 I will reserve any I may
have for Sir Mark Warrenne, as I do
not know of any Of my acquaintances
20 much In need Of 1t as he Ia just now.
Meanwhile, beg to offer you my
warmest cppgra tulations on your sue
cess and approaching happiness"
"Blackwood." the girl began, yehe-
mently, stung to tho quick by his in
situations, but endeavoring, eagerfy,
with tightly clinched hands; to speak
with calmness, will you not listen to
me? l swear---"
"IIush" he interrupted her sternly,
with cold, cruel scorn, putting up his
hand to prevent her speaking further;
'you need not perjure yourself any
more. 1t IL unnecessary. lam scarcely
in condition. you see. to believe the
remainder Of the pr0testations. You
have said quite enough to lust me my
lifetime. SO I will not trouble you with
my presence any longer. leave with
you what must be a pleasant reflection
the knowledge that you have utterly
ruined my existence"
"Arc you going?' Katherine gasped.
"For how long?"
"Fpfeyerw he answered, briefly, turn
ing toward the door as he spoke.
Just for one moment Miss Blount felt
stunned-crushed-and them with IL
bitter cry she reused herself and tried
to reach him. but found she could not
some. power: within her numbed her
limbs, and LETT Der without strength to
move. Her love, her life, was going,
4 but she could only hold out her hands
i to him in passionate wild entreaty.
"Blackwood. Blackwood," she i'm
piored. do not leave me like this!
Say something to me before you goy'
He turned us he reached the thresh-
old to gaze his last upon the exquisite
agopized face he loved go dearly, and
the tender arms outheld in pitiful,
mute supplicatiRR. But even then he
did not rslept.
II WILL" he said. with vehement bit
terness. "As you ask 1t, you can take
this as my Hood-by--renembe the last
words said to you were these: II
curse the day ever saw your 30,
with black anger at his heart, he pass.
| ed out from the house that had been
tbs pleasant home from childhood, a
despairing. broksu-hearted man, lcay-
ing the woman who was to him. the
dearest being on earth In dead, cold
\ swoon. her soft. brown hair sweeping
the polished floor. -
- so q ,CHAP1sss v.
I5eii The Step is Taken.
When October had come and was
Rell.nigh gone. Katherine Blount mar
ried Sir Mark Warrenne. and went for
p three months wedding tour Of Italy.
| Day BY day rs 1t seemed to Sir
Marks anxious gaze-he being perfect.