The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-03-29

now, ana then LII be OH. And look
here-you shan't be fooled again. I'll
make certain that you are told when
do 60"
She had been standing all the while
He came close to her now.
Cant you give me kiss?" STOPPING
his still handsome face toward her
"Oh, no, mol" She shrank back, shiv-
ering.
"And I your husband tool You took
it much more coolly the other night"
with careless laugh. "Well, goodby.
l shan see you again most likely. He's
handsome fellow-not much better
than I was before 1 got this beauty
mark, though-and just as likely to be
no better sort.
She sank down on the floor as he
went out. By and by she pulled down
the pillow from the couch near by and
lay there sobbing and shivering. Sam
Lee, coming in for directions for the
evening meal, found her with closed
eyes, and fancying her asleep spread
shawl over her and left her,. following
the devices of his own heart over the
cook stove.
She heard the men coming at last
Bronson and her brother-and met them
at the door. so white, SO desperate look
ing that both drew rein and sat staring
at her speechlessly.
Bronson sprang to the ground at last
and took her in his arms She put him
away with trembling hand, not look
ing at him.
''Harry, Payne Morse is alive
elbow do you know?"
GIVE seen him. He has been here. "
''Today?"
"Only little while ago. 1t was no
mistake. l talked with him. What
shall l do? What shall do?"
Bronson was leaning back against his
horse, a bewildered look of agony on
his face. But as she turned toward him
he answered her appeal He came for
ward and put his arm about her.
'You see, love your sister, " he said
to Harry. "She would have been my
wife. She shall be now if she will. But,
whatever she decides, love her and al
ways shall" He spoke very slowly and
distinctly "You hear me, Helen. What
ever comes, 1 will not fail you to the
end. "
For one minute she lay her head
against his shoulder. Then with sob
she turned away and entered the house.
After all, human everyday life is not
a favorable background for tragedy.
The awful happenings drop beneath the
current, and the ripples run over them.
and half the time we forget them un-
less it happens to be our own hearts
that are aching Before 48 hours had
passed the little household was going on
in its old way apparently.
1t was on the evening of that second
day that Harry came back from his
weekly visit to the postoffice at the sta
tion.
GIVE got it sure," he said to Bron-
son. ''The Denver police have sent me
photograph of Captain Gordon. Good
looking rascal, handing over the card.
"We can't miss with that.
Bronson scrutinized the likeness care
fully.
''It's marked face. That scar across
the forehead is peculiar and not easily
hidden"
"Want to see it, Helen? If in your
walks abroad you meet Captain Gordon,
you'll know him.
She glanced at it and turned livid
face toward him.
Harry, it's Payne-Payne Morse"
"What the devil am to do? Poor
Helen, she's made trouble for somebody
her whole life through. I'm head and
front of it all, and I can't go ahead
with the thing now, for her sake-and
you're no better off, I'll go down to-
night, put the thing into Mason's hands
and clear the country till it's over with
Well have to start for Denver tomor-
row without an hours delay, and Helen
will have to stay here alone, I'll get
Mason's wife to come over, if she will
have her. It's the best way see out of
bad bargain.
That was Harry Tryon's way, settling
everything offhand, but the plan was
carried out, and Helen found herself
solitary Mason's wife came over, but
was quickly recalled by the needs of a
sick baby. Happily Helen had steady
nerves and a controllable imagination.
Of real danger there was very little and
she was glad to be alone.
Of what was going ON about her she
knew nothing. She had never taken
much interest in the happenings of the
country and gave no thought to the
subject that had been Harry's great In
terest for so long. Sam Lees work be-
ing done, he had sauntered off to the
cabins down in the timber. Helen was
swinging in her hammock as usual,
dreaming dreams and seeing visions in
such dreary fashion as her past gave
reason for. Still, with all the sadness,
there was dreamy quiet which was
not wholly pain, and with the silence,
and the starlight, and the slow, menot-
opous rocking of her swinging cradle
she fell asleep
''Helenr'
EYES," she said drowsily and fell
asleep again.
'Helenp the word was spoken lit
tie louder. A hand touched her. She
sprang up broad awake now. Payne
Morse stood before her.
He was bareheaded, without his coat;
blood stained sling held his right arm;
torn handkerchief was knotted round
his head; he was haggard and CHASTITY.
She knew it all at once 1t was two
hours since she had heard shots in the
timber and had lain idly speculating
about echoes and the distance the sound
had come.