The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-11-02

dead! Mark, save him! Do something
for him! Do you wish him to die, that
you can stand there SO coliily, without
an attempt of any kind to save him?
oh. my love. my love! why cannot I
lie there instead of you, peacefully at
rest?' ~
Her eyes were dry and fearless, but
hopeless misery was written on every
lineament Of her expressive face, and
she seemed to Take no notice whatever
of Sir Mark. who stood beside her In
silence. too stricken for consolation or
speech Of any kind, hut waking slowly
to the consciousness that his wife
whom for MI these months he had been
cherishfng in. the fond hope that one
day she would love him as he loved
her had long years ago given oil the
priceless treasure of her heart to an.
other man.
And Blackwood- for the first
time, he understood his evident reluc-
lance to visit Warrenne Hall, reluc-
lance that at the moment had seemed
to Sir Mark 80 singular. Poor Craven!
though 1t appeared to Warrenne Just
then, standing there full Of life and
health above the dead man, that II
Blackwood had been carrying as sore
a heart in his bosom as he himself was
carrying now, his lot was by far the
happier Of the two. At this point in his
meditations the keeper appeared at
some little distance among the trees,
and Sir Mark went hurriedly to meet
him. :
"Mr. Craven has shot himself" he
explained, briefly. run to. the house
or one Of the nearest cottages md
bring something to carry him home
upon" u.
After to what seemed to the silent
watchers an interminable delay, the
man returned bringing with him some
farming hands and a rude impr0mptu
litter. ON which, with gentle, kindly
hands. they laid poor Craven and bore
him IN solemn awe-struck speechless-
ness to the HILL.
Hero they were met by Archibald
BlOunt, shocked out of all his indOlent
seldshness as he gazed with uneasy con-
science ut his nephew's corpse, and re-
membered with deep remorse, for the
first time. how fatal all that past scene
In the manor library had been to the
happiness Of the poor boy now lying
dead before his eyes.
They carried Blackwood upstairs, and
laid him upon his bed. after which doc
tors were sent for. as matter Of duty.
though in this case there was not the
faintest ray OF hope to sustain the
motlrners with fond delusive dreams
until the final fiat should be uttered.
When oil was done That tenderness
and love could do. Lady Warrenne
went down stairs pallld and heartbrOk.
en-. to where Sir Mark was sitting in his
private room. his face buried In his
hands. :.
II have come to tell you all about IT.
she said. going over to him, and laying
her hand lightly ON his shoulder.
He rose, placed chair for her, with
o WEAKNESS In his manner that at any
other time most surely must have
touched her, and then motioned for her
to proceed. She told him her whole
story from beginning to end, CLOSING
over nothing, making nothing worse,
and waiting when her sad story was
finished to hear what he would say, to
receive all the hard words all the hard
reproaches which she felt she deserved
ct his hands-to reap the fruit Of her
fathers sowing.
Warrenne got up and came over to
her in the gathering twilight, pausing
beside her chair.
My poor darlingy' he said gently;
tiny poor little girl@ And that was ali.
Simple words they were In themsel-
yes. but surely heaven-born in their
tender pity. Those few loving terms,
coming from the quarter whence sne
had least right to. expect them, did
more for her certainly than ali the
harsh measures that could have been
used. She bowed her fair sorrowinR
head upon her hands, and burst into
bitter, albeit soothing tears.
DO not cry, my dear" said Sir Mark.
perhaps It IL better az Il IL. Poor
BlackwOod!-hl was q hard life, and q
harder fate; but yet, Katherine, there
Is another who. to know that he WINS
loved by you as he has loved; would
gladly change places with Blackwood
this moment. Oh. darling, think OF
the two my portion Is the harder to
bear! But tell me now what you would
wish me to do for you and win do it's
4 only want to 70 aWay-to be any.
where by myself Ito be alone" Rather
inc s0bbed, family, without raising her
head.
$50 you SHALL" Warrenne answered.
bravely, although sharp spasm Of
agony shot across and diadgured his
handsome Saxon face for an instant.
You shall go away by yourself but not
ANYWHERE I have another estate IN
Warwickshire, pretty secluded place
enough. that shall be all your own a.
''a And yG y. VIII IT,, have vet Il"
up at him anxiously for the first time.
stf1h Ro, .,no Slf.,