The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-01-19

1 uVuVkNu 8SIu VI OuF Iumlly-'tuaC ueVer
| lntSi now has decked an unworthy
hand! Where has 1t gone? demand
tosknOw the truth-the whole TRUTH"
God help me. know not" Amy
answered choklngly. but ut the same
moment there crossed her face look
II guilty fear that belied her words.
IL cannot tell your
(which means you will mott" exclaim-
sl Felix Ina transport Of Jealous pas
don. II heard some things while l
was away. however. which may give me
clew to the mystery! Hank We, wOm-
An".he came closer and gripptd her
sslOulder-''the law cannot touch you,
l'ut more deadly foe shall. l give
| you just fourteen days to redeem and
restore me that ring; then We will 70
our separate ways. and viii not ex-
pose you; but II 1t IL not restored in
that time. your name shall he blazoncd
far and wide for the worthless creature
YOU are; never again shall 1t bc coupled
with aught save contumely and sc0rn."
And lie strobe from the room. while
Amy sunk half drlrlOus In my arms.
"Oh. God. pity and help me-" she
nOaned. 1T IL my punishmcnt-my
awful punishment. Nell. for did love
him dearly-dearly!. though would not
let you know 1t. but. Nell. l have a
horrible prescntinlent of having given
ir-given 1t, Nell. under tho influence
Of some horrible spell that could not
rt'sist-tO him-Mark Grantliley! cam
not recall 1t clearly. only that strange
Authorization remains! Well did You
Ill me he was my enemy! He has
wrecked my ife-ruintI my hope for
rvcr!"
| There was no time to think or plan
about anything the rest Of the day or
night, save how 10 quiet her. and hold
back the reason that seemed wcll-nigh
leaving her. but when she was ut last
asleep under the influence of some
Opiates that l knew how to administer,
! wrote u letter to Mark, commanding
him to meet ME at the arbOr. Some
thing seemed to whisper to mo that
could force from him the restitution
that alone could save my sisters goo4l
name. But though waited and haunt
cd the place by day and night. lie did
not come, while Amy. having recovered
from her first frenzied condition. seem
ed to be fading away In hopeless de-
cline.
Finally, one night, after bending my
steps to the arbOr with species OF
fascination that nothing could allay. or
reason me out Of, l was coming back
to the house, with an aching heart and
throbbing temples. when my unwary
foot struck against Il stone imbetldetl
In the path. with such force as to dis
lodge 1t entirely, AMI throw me upon
my knees. A was raising myself.
something about the ground caught my
attention-a bit of fine white cloth,
prOtruding from the ground. With both
hands dug and scratched. until the OBJ
ject was revealetl-a fine white hand
kerchief. with M. c." In one corner.
and opening 1t there rolled into my
hands the missing Craignore diamond.
Yes. there was no installing 1t; there 1t
was. ring and all, and. after pressing it
ecstaticallv to my lips, sprung to my
feet and flew toward the house.
Amy! Amy" cried. never stopping
to shut the doors behind me. Look
up. darling! you are saved! 1t is found!
1t Is foun,i!"
"Found:' Amy echoed. raising her.
self from the sofa where she was lying.
Yes" she claspcd it for an instant
In an ecstasy. when with Il burst Ut
tears: What worth il it to me since
| - NNtubkOl ACStOIc INc-luul luOSl
precious Jewel of ALL
1T can't dOes!" exclaimed voice.
as some one rushed past me, aud clasp
ed Amy to u close embrace. listen.
darling. until tell the rest Of the story
Three days ago letter summoned me
to Mark. fatally injured In all accident.
and he revealed me- the whole BASTARD
" plot. How he had long coveted the
diamond, and used his mesmeric power
to make You give 1t to him. having pro-
vidGl himself with that counterfeit sub
stltute. How he feared 10 take it with
him Immediately. lest 1t lead to his
detection, and 40 buried 1t in the gar
den. pointing stone to mark the spot.
How he intended after the search hand
ended and had gone away. as he sur
missed would. to come back and get 1t,
keep the secret. But he was fOiletl in
which he fled away, met with terri
BILE accident. and when he found at last
that his injuries were fatal, and his
days numbered, he sent for me. He
told me, moreover. that he had circu-
lated those shameful stories concerning
you. that deepenel my suspicious.
would have as soon suspected my own
brother; trusted him absolutely, and
in the light Of my own grievous mis-
take. acpuit you. darling, entirely.
got back Il few moments ago, and 60
ing to the garden to prove the truth Of
his words. found that some one had
been there before me: then l hurried
here, coming in just In time to hear
those words from your lips that We're
worth more to me than all the gems
In the world, for they told me what
l never felt fully assured Of before
That my darling truly loved me. Can
believe that still. Amy!''
For answer. Amy wound her arms
around his neck and laid her face OH
his bosom In a shower of happy tears.
aud stole quietly out AMI left them.
But they brought me back very soon.
aud in three months from that day.
clad in the elegant robe that was my
new brothers. wedding gift. stood be-
side the bridal pair MS maid Of honor.
while Felix placed the broad golden
circlet upon the finger where once more
shone and shall sparkle while life
should last, the Craignore diamond.
ACONSlDERATE PRISONER.
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