The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-27

"prcra,c yourself. my dear &C.,
'r'dc." he returned, in hypoctitical
toEts-"prcparc yourself to heiv some.
thing l:ainful"'
"lIas anything happened to my grand.
father. Basil!" she cried, in terror.
Sir Basil wound his arms about the
caacr Questioncr, and drew her close
To his breast.
Life is never certain" he said, or
r:,lci gaspcd.
life is never ccrtainr' echoed she.
starting from him in blank b.wilde"-
mcnt. What mcau yOL by those
words? Is hc-nly more than father
dead:"
He is. my poor darling" Sir Basil
rcioincl, with CULVER in his voice.
Dead! Mcrcful heavens. say not so!"
exclaimed Gertrude, IL strange giddincsS
scizins OH her brain, and staggering to
Il chair. II have not heard :sight,
Basil!' she went OH. "A few short
hours ago l left him alive; he cannot
surely bc dead! There is some mistake
SOME dreadful mistake, Basil!'
He shook his head, and she continued:
Did the messenger you dispatched
last night to Ravcnsmarsll bring back
this sad intelligence"
He did. Gertrude"
where is the man? Let me question
him OH the mattcr.' She said, looking
about in confusion and distress.
Stay, dearest" lie returned, checking
her. as she was about to rush out Of the
room: stay! 1t would not be scemly
for Lady DOvctrce to intcrrogate Il
serving man when her husband Is ut
hand to do So"
"But-but 1 want to hcar-to hear
with my own cars-all that he has to
tell concerning my grandfather's sud-
den dcath!'
II will repeat all that lie has commu-
nicated to me-" Sir Basil said, very de-
cidcdly.
Gertrude covered her face with her
claspcd hands and sank into Il seat,
ovcrpowcrrl with violent emotion.
II have broken the poor old mans
heart" she convulsively sobbetl., when
she could sufficiently command her
voice.
why do YOU accuse yourself OF hav-
ing done that, Gcrtr,ltle?" Sir Basil In
quiral. Your grandfather expired quite
suddenly. and from Il purely natural
cause. with which you have been in no
earthly way concerned
Il will go ut once to Ravensmarsh!"
she said. rising and attempting to quit
the apartment.
For what purpose would you 80
thithcr:" lie demanded. intercepting her
passage, and putting his arms about
her.
Can you ask. Basil!"
Your presence can do no good ut
Ravensnlarsll, and would much rather
that you stayed where you are, Ger
t1nlc." the baronct said, demonstrating
some little temper II am sure it would
not look sccnly for Lady Dovetrcc---:l
bride made only yestertlay-to be seen
gaildins about the country, either Oh
duty or pleasure; and you yourself can
not fail to perceive as much"
but you promised, Sir Basil, that
T..
What child YOU are to be always
talking thus about promises" he inter-
ruptc.l. i'll IL petulant manner. Make
yourself contentcl. my dearest Ger
trr,de, here, with your husband, and At
Eagle Tower
You refuse to keep your word with
me!:. she added, in perfect CULVER of
excitement.
Pest" lie exclaimed. impatlcntly,
striking the palms of his hands to-
gether.
You cannot refuse!" she said en-
phatically.
Il have already spoken, Gertrude"
he answered, doggedly.
She tottercd back few PAGES, and
chung to the back Of q chair, feeling
quite sick and faint.
Dead or alive, wish to see the dear
OLD man once more! Afterwards. Sir
Basil, you may. if you please imprison
me in Eagle Tower for evcr!'
She had spoken brokenly. and as IL
she cared not what She said or how he
received her words. A second time he
had broken faith with hcr-a second
blow had fallen Oh her young heart.
Gertrude stood some few moments
with her eyes bent OH the floor; when
next She looked up, Sir Basil Dovctrce
had left the room.
Without uttering q single cry, she
dropped into a seat, half-stupiticd with
grief-the bittercst grief she had ever
known.
Gertrude sat for long time brood
ing over Sir Basil's late strange be-
havior towards her. and sorrowing over
the unexpected news Of Pa.sOn Gil
ruth's death. The good old man had
ever treated her with the tenderness
| of IL parent. and she could not help
bitterly upbraiding herself for the de-
ccitful part she had just been prnc-
ticing against him. She could not ex-
actly understand Sir Basil's conduct. To
her it appeared most treacherous and
cruel. Could he love her as fondly and
truly MS he rrofessed, and thus de-
ceive her with promises he never i'll
tended to keep? Oh, impossible, I'M.
possible-for love and truth must sure
~ be united!
Would she herself act with duplicity
towards Sir Basil? All, no! not for
the wealth Of worlds. Then where
fore should he slllly his honor by utter
ing words of falsclloOl?
First in one way, then in another,
Gertrude reviewed Sir Basil's acts, en-
dcavOring to find some potent excuse
for them all; but, strong as was her
affection for him, it did not assist her
in discovering what she sought for.
The sursing food Of love within her
woman's breast had assurcdly received
Il startling shock from which it would
probably never quite recover. She shed
tears until her eyes Slnarted; sObbed
until her bosom had become fairly sore,
and was, altogether. as miserable ~
woman could possibly be. And this
was at time when she had been we'd
died. only thirty hOurs-whcn she had
expected JOY and happiness, instead Of
this disappointment and SORROW.
But what could she dog Gertrude
mentally asked herself She must not
resent Sir Basil's unkind behavior
she must not arouse further strife
between herself and the man whom
she had solemMly pledged herself to
love, to honor, and obey. No, as fur
as she was able, she would endeavor
TO preserve unbroken the peace Of her
domestic hearth. The old man who had
once been all the world to her was
dead. and she had now no one to cling
TO but Sir Basil Dovetree-the maj,
whose honorable wife she supposed her
self to be.
Il must let the present storm cloud
go by me without further observation 81
she soliloquizcd, her thoughts bent OH
hcncef9rwarl preserving the tranquil.
ity Of her home wholly undisturbed
II will dry my eyes, smooth my brow
and stifle all complaints within my
breast; and, If possible, will forget
that the sun Of my early welded hours
has ever been ObScured by q single
vapor of disquict. IT'S my place to
obey; and my husband shall find that
l H. H. t., x1..k.