The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-25

SOme IN, 1alpu,
~tDSSS5 I'VE have been anx-
XZ0$NS$Sl ious about you.
'XS< Where did you go
~ so early?"
IL was called away" he answered.
with some agitation, looking into the
pale face of his wife. But she betrayed
no conscious sign that she knew any
thfng-perhaps she did not. He could
not tell. Just then he could not bear to
go IN to listen to his mothers kindly
gossip. He wanted to be let alone to
collect his scattered faculties.
He started to go up to the library.
on the upper landing he met Helen Full
ton. She was singing gayly stanza
from Comm thro' the Rye" but some
thing in her face made Ralph Tren-
holme lay strong hand upon her arm.
Miss Helen, where were you last
night?" he asked abruptly.
In the body, at your service, Mr..
Trenholme," dropping him curtsy.
Don't trifle, If you please. Answer
me truly. Did you save me from the
commission of crime the remembrance
OF which must have embittered my
whole life?"
Il? File! Mr.. Trenholme! What did
you intend to do? Kiss the scul.ery
maid? She's rather good looking, and
| her hair would be auburn if it wasn't
red"
Il do not want to jest, Miss Fulton.
am in earnest"
Lord bless us! How solemn the man
looks. Did you ever hear about the
toad?"
Il do not know to what you refer"
We'll, once upon time, very good
man, member of the church, guess,
became so disturbed in his mind that
sleep forsook his pillow. He grew pale
and haggard. His anxious wife in
quired the cause, and after a great dea.
of hesitation he informed her that he
had committed a murder, and buried
his victim under an apple tree in the
garden. The good woman got couple
of men to dig for the unfortunate re-
mains, and after hard two hours work
they turned up the skeleton of toad.
Now 1 would respectfully inquire if you
have killed a toad?"
"You are incorrigible! But you shall
not evade my question. Were you out
in the boat last night?"
Don't! You hurt my arm! And
you'll break my bracelet. And it cost
heap of money. Yes, was out in the
boat"
did you go to the Rover's Reef"
81 did"
"For what?"
ITO see the Rover, of course"
"Pshaw! Did you see me when 1
went there?"
Il did; but unfortunately you were
not the Rover. You are not dark
enough, and you don't wear a NOUS
tache. Why don't you?"
will you be serious and tell me who
you found on the reef"
"You are inquisitive, Mr.. Trenholme.
II were speaking to third person,
should say you were impertinent. Can't
l go to meet my true love all by the
shining sea without giving an account
of it to you?"
"Who did sou find there?"
81 found Mrs. Imogene Trenholme
and a man black as Othello, Moor of
Venice. Only did not know that the
Moor had cut off two of his fingers"
How came you to go to the reef"
II saw that my lady and her gallant
had lost their boat, and thought it al
most too cold night for salt sea bath
ing"
"And you took them OFF,"
II did. And they offered me untold
gold if would keep it secret. told
them I'd never tell of it unless l
changed my mind. But I'm in great
habit of changing my mind. I've done
1t several times in my life"
Il should think so. Well, Helen Full
ton, you know something about me that
no one else knows; you can keep it to
yourself or not, as you choose. will
tell you something more That man has
ruined my peace; he has destroyed my
confidence in my wife. A terrible
temptation to leave them there to per-
ish beset me last night, and but for you
I should have been murderer. You
do not know how deeply grateful am
for my salvation!
Thank you. And II you will allow
me to offer you bit Of advice, keep
quiet on this matter; the boat drifted
away from the reef, you know"
"But this man-this Moor, as you call
him-what became of him."
"Ah! You want little more ven
geance, do you?"
Il want to know whittier he went?"
"He went in the direction Of Portlea.
know no more. Don't tease me fur
Their. must dress for dinner" And
she danced away.
Ralph went to his room, and sinking
on his knees he thanked God from a
full heart that he had been saved from
this terrible sin. BY and by he re-
L -. 81