The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-04

'"rhen, say no more about the mat
ter" he rejOined, somewhat abruptly,
and seeking to quit the apartment.
Stay, Sir BASIL" she cried out, ar
resting his progress. Before You 20,
b. good enough to let me know exactly
what am to do, and what 1 am to
leave untlOne. Am asking for instruc-
ton, nothing mOre," she added, with an
mir Of injured pride.
He bit his lips, and strobe to the
easement, anger yisibly depicted on I'LL
his features.
Presently, he was standing before
Gertrude again.
Are you not contented with my adj
milsltiOn alOnc?" he demanded, with
Il frOwning brow.
"Oh, Basil! contcntcd with your adj
miratiOn alone! How can you speak
thus to me. your wife? she answered,
rcprOachfully. "Whom do l care to
see or to speak to save yourself? My
eyes have no yearning to look on any
other lincamcnts save yOurs-my ears
never thirst for the sound Of any other
voice but the voice of my husband"
''rhcrc. then, be satisfied that my
friends come hitllcr and 80 hence with
out the knowledge Of your existence"
IF such be your will, dear Basil,
shall attend to it in all obedience"
''Tllat's WELL" lie said, in a relieved
tone; and, catching her to his breast,
lie pressed II kiss upon her check.
And thus ended the scene between
thcm-Gertrule being left in a state
Of total ignorance concerning the true
reasons of Basil's conduct in tho pres
ent instance.
So Gertrude kept to her own suite
of apartments. and lived like an absO-
lutte prisoner in the dwelling of which
she deemed herself the rightful mis-
trcss. while Sir Rasil's quests held re-
vel. day and night, with cards, and dice
and wine.
Sir Basil DOvctrce was losing large
sums Of money, Of which Pelham War
rington was the winner. and fresh
guests were arriving ut Eagle Tower
to partake of its mad revels, to gamble,
to riot. to sin.
The creole was husging himself. re-
jOiced ut the success of all his plans,
and counting the gold which he had
wickelly drawn from the Golfers of
his unwary victiln-Of the man whom
he called friend"
"Thc idiot" Warrington would cry
ease with which Jlc was enabled daily
to victimixe the bar0net. II will not
only possess MYSELF of his gold, but
I. will also make myself master of the
pretty Gertrude! Aha! by-and-by the
Gagged bird will get tired of Its prison
bars. and will be glad enough to fly
away from Eagle Tower. / see nv
way-I see 1t plainly-but 1 will not
act with too much precipitation in
the matter; must advance with wary
steps, lest alarm her, and teach her
to suspect my schemes aga INST her"
Meanwhile, Gertrude uttered no COM
pl0int. but bore her enforced inlprison-
ment with admirable patience, reckon
ing that such imprisonment would not
last long, and earnestly trusting that
need for it would never arise again.
During this period Gertrude saw lit
tie Of Sir Basil; but what she did see
of him gave her infinite trouble and
pain; Tor he never presented himself
before her with clear brain, the
fumes Of the wine-cup were always in
1t; and his face was becoming more hag-
gard and haggartl every succeeding
day.
A chill had fallen OIL her simple,
trusting heart and her hours passed
heavily and YEARLY along Sir Basil
loved her no longer, she thought, else
lie would never thus withdraw himself
from her. and. In the society of rcck-
less, riOtOls companions. almost forget
her existence. And Gertrude begun to
wish that she could eXtinguisll within
her own breast the affection that was
hourly dwelling there. for one who
was so neglecting her. Still she for
bore 10 breathe a single murmur Of any
kind; she kept all sorrow to herself,
resolved. as hitherto, to preserve entire
ly the peace OF her domestic hearth.
The cards continued to be cut and
dealt, the dice ratified, intoxicating,
dElughts We're swallowed and loud
Oatls vOlleyed out under the roof Of
Eagle Tower; while Gertrude still sat
In her retirement. in ignorance Of how
Sir Basil was fastening on his road
to utter ruin. Thousands and thou
sands of pounds had passed out of the
Golfers Of the bar0nct into the hands
Of the creole, who was growing holder
and more fearless In his wicked de-
signs against his unwary entertainer.
A whole month Of riot and wrong
had gone by, and the baronet's young
face had waxcl still thinner, and more
CHASTITY, and his whole presence had
undergone a most frightful alteration
which Gertrude could scarcely under
stand or realize.
One night, Sir Basil, being more than
ordinarily reckless, Pelham Warrington
seized his opportunity for making still
further inr0ads upon the barOnet's pos
sessions.
'.Eiarkye, BASIL" he said, laying n
1,f
"what say you to Il throw in the shape
Of Ravcnsmarsl against Il sum of tWen-
ty thousand pounds?"
The young barOnet started. and n
momentary color mounted to his wan
cheeks.
"Ravensmarsh is worth five times
that sum-" he said, in an unconcernetl
tone, the flush dying away from his
face.
Perhaps SOL cannot say" replied
Warrington with IL slight elevation of
the shoulders, and a dip into his snuff
box; his words spoken with apparent
Indifference as II he were discussing the
value Of diamond ring or brooch, Of
matter of little consequence in his
eyes. 'The fact is, Basil, am longing
for some additional excitement tonight,
and scarcely care Mt what price pur-
chase such. thought you were In a
like humor, aud ready for any risk, us
I am"
Yes, Pelham; but Raycnslnarsh Is
rather heavy matter to risk on q
throw Of the dice-which dice, to say
the truth, have of late proved them
selves to be anything but friendly to
me-"
The creole laughed gaily. 'You don't
care about winning my 10000, ch,
Basil!'
"By st. George, 10000" repeated
Lord Crawley. "Such n sum as that
were worth mans while to hazard ut
single throw. Yon said ut a single
throw, did you not, Warrington"
Il did," replied The creole, lolling back