The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-27
tent Of which he could form 10 posi-
lie idea.

appointments with apparent patience
and with Il face V,ale enough, tits trucy
lctraying nothing whatever Of her NC.
crct feeling.
She had scllooled even her features
into obedience, and. therefore, none
could guess the inner workings Of her
breast-thc great ordeal she had passed
! tlroalgh.
A whole month went by without
bringing any particular change to the
inmates of Eagle Tower. Sir Basil
had had fitful moods during his honey
moon. At one time. being hilarious
ut another, overwhelmed with IL gloomy
despair that furrowed his brow, and
made haggard his youthful features
Pelham Warrington had, at i'll
tcrvals, paid frequent and lengthy
visits to his many gay friends;
Eagle Tower with guests, or, objcctins
To do that, to return to his old haunts
again.
Sir Basil was thoroughly discomfort
sl, restless and miserable-nO wonder
ut that, Since he was SO sOul-bur.lcnctl
and guilty!-lnd he was ready to
plunge into any sort Of excitement or
mad revelry in order to Danish for
awhile the bitter memory of all his
dark doings. Yet 1t was not exactly Il
feeling of rclnorse for what he had
done that was torlncnting him; no. 1t
was a constant shu,l,lering dread Of
discovery which was haunting him both
night and day.
Sir Basil was in precisely the state
the willy creole desired him to be, aud
tit to be moulded entirely to his wishes.
Tn fafk1, ~ In. 1Nrp .,t
one day said. I'm heartily weary of
myself and Of all the world. and shall
indeed be thankful IL you can devise
any kind Of amusement that will drive
away from me these accurse1 vapors.
these hideOus terrors which are so dis
tracing me. Even Gertrude, beauti-
full as she is. have begun to weary of.
and am longing to put scores and
scores Of miles 'twiXt myself and Eagle
Tower. In fact, don't exactly know
what am wanting; for ut one lG"-
ment l am in this sort of mood, In
another in that. verify believe the
very ticlM has possession Of mo ut
times. for often feel induced to shoot
myself, or fling myself helllOng from
one of the highest turretS Of Eagle
Tower"
"Oho! 80 your love-fever is over. oh.
Sir BASIL" laughed tho creole, In Il
jeering manner. II told You how 1t
would be with you by-and.by, and
what said has come to pass, I; seems.
You care for the fair Gertrude 10
longer; you are yelrning-"
"'Tis false, Warrington" stormel
out the baronet. with IL loud oath.
MAN never loved woman better than
7 1Nvn Enrt lry<lo (Si1,1vt1N
"Go OH, Basil! Ky my honor, 1t is
quite refreshing to hear YOU rave In
this strain. Now for the yet my dear
friend"
I'm the most wletched hound alive.
Pelham, despite my affection for the
girl AMI hers for me-"
Exactly; YOU require change of
scene. That is what Is the matter with
YOU. Yours is not Il constitution that
will submit to all this mOping. You
want eXcitement-in fact, you cannot
live without it; and you must have
what you want, and that without de-
lay, or you will go melancholy mad,
my friend"
What do You advise, Pelham:"
"a trip to Paris; half the world ~
there already"
mo; hate Paris.''
$50 do not I. Well there is plenty III
the way of pleasure to be got at in Lon.
don. Eagle Tower is spacious, and
there are scores Of guests ut your COM
manl-Lor1 Harry Crawley, Count dc
Wicken, Charles Mildbank, and others
are in town, and will be quite delighted
tC visit you for almost any period you
may choose to name do not see any
thing better than lighting up old Eagle
Tower, and making merry in it."
"But Gert1ude-what of her?'
"What do you mean?'
Elbow shall introduce her 10 my
friendsa-as my wife, as the lawful
Lady pOvetree?" Sir Basil asked, in Il
perplexed voice and manner.
The creole shrugged his shoulders,
took several pinchcs of snuff, and hem
med thrice.
Sir Basil repeated the question aud
waited eagerly for an answer to 1t.
"Well," said Warrington, retiectivcly,
"well, you wouldn't like your friends
to think that you have made Il fool of
yourself by wedding Il country girl"
The barOnet WINGED and leaned his
chin upon his palm. He was reluctant
to present Gertrude to his friends either
as his wife Or aught else. He did not
know how to act in the matter; but,
as usual, he was ready to accept of,
and to follow, the advice of the unprin-
cipled creole, who at once begun to i'll
struct him HON to shape his future
actions.
keep Gertrude ont of sight," sug
gcsted Warrington.
But with guests sitting ut the table
of Eagle Tower, whl not she who sup
poses herself its mistress feel aggrieved
and insulted ut her temporary banisll-
menty"
"rell her you are too Jealous of her
to allow her to be seen by such gay
sparks. She will believe you. Women
have peculiar aptitude in crediting
falsehoOds, especially when they pro-
coed from the lips Of love. BE bold,
Basil, and you will find little trouble in
silcncing all her questions ON the sub
ject."
Accordingly, Lord Harry Crawlcy.
Count Wicken and Charles Mildbank
were invited to Eagle IOwe.., 1T which
they arrived on tile following day.
From the lips OF her maid, Gertrude
first learned that there wee visitors
beneath her hOinc-rOOf.
Gertrude was surprised Mt the infor-
nation. and panied Mt it as well.
"Why had Sir Basil kept her in ignor-
ance Of the coming of his friends!'
she asked herself over and over again:
but wholly unable to solve this mental
question, she at once sought the pres
cnce OF the larOnct.
| "WhO are these strangers who have
Just arrived here:' she inquired of
him.
"Oh-a-melely few wild sparks
whom knew in my old bachelor days"
he returned, in considerable confusion.
But why was I not informed OF
their coming, Basil?" she further in.
terrogated.
"Whyl Faith, hardly know, my
darling; that is to say, IL am ashamed
to confess wherefore did not make
YOU acquainted with-with-"
And here the young baronet came to
a dead stop. perfectly Mt IL loss fol
words to express himself.
"IOur behavior has been very strange
dear BASIL" she remarked, in IL h,irI
tone: Il am quite ut 4 loss to cOnpre
bend it."
"Yes; dare say; butt
You will repair your omission by
and:by, when you present me to them
dear BASIL" Gertrude hastellcd to saj
seeing him greatly embarrassed.
He changed color and hesitatcq
"Well, Gertrude" he returned, nftcl
a pause Of some duration; and then
as before, he halted in his speech, re
luctant to 60 OH. "I-I-the fact !,
that orr Driyacy ia being encroachet