The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-02
TX.

This evening, when Edith had called
upon my wife was the FIRST time she
had e suggested or seemed to wish
for q private interview, and the cir
eamstance disturbed and excited me
more than ! liked. When ut last.
after O dong delay. she came down the
walk. I rose instinctively to meet her,
and tried to givo to the interview as
cold and business-like q tone as !
could command.
"What mus you think Of me. Paul?"
abe began impulsively. But I had
no resource left to me but to ask you
% meet me here. You-you are the
snly friend-look about me al anx-
Sously az l can-to whom I dare turn
Cor pity and help In o great danger
that threatens me. to whom / dare
trust O secret that weighs-oh, 30
Aeavilyt-upon my life. You once
here, on this spot. told me you loved
me dearly-that--that love is, Of
course, dead now; but to It's memory
how dear and precious to me. you
viii never know!-I now appeal when
implorc you to share my secret and
vave me the help without which I
shall sink. All. You will pity and
forgive me when you know ALL Hear
me, dear Paul. friend of my youth. I
beseech .you!
Prudence, loyalty to poor Helen, who
believed In me 30 implicitly, dlstrust
e Of myself, twenty other considerations
urged me to refuse her request; but her
little hot hands were ~grasping mine.
her lovely blue eyes full Of entreaty
nxed upon my face. ! had bent my
head, she whispered her secret into
my ear. It was q secret that startled
and panied me, more than I could have
believed possible. that filled me with
Indignation and pity, made me prom
sse her my most devoted unconditional
allegiance, and. kneeling by her side.
beg forgiveness for my harsh judg-
ment and cruel words to her q year
before. Poor, poor child, II ! only
could have guessed!
Up and down the walk I paced for
fully ten minutes battling with my
wrath and agitation. until her anxious
face recalled me to the necessity for
prompt and cautious action: and TAX
ing my place beside her we talked to.
xether for fully half IN hour In earnest
whispers and discussed the most
available measures for ~averting the
threatened danger. When we rose
20 mart ut last, she laid her hand on
my arm with a piteous gesture.
IT have trusted you; you will not
betray me2 You will give me your
solemn word of honor to tell no one
not even your wife. for she does no;
like me?"
"What IN ideap' I burst out I'm
nulsively. How could you imagine
such a thing. Eide? Why. she Is al
ways praising you, admiring your
beauty. your grace. your cleverness
wondering how l escaped falling In
love with"
stopped abruptly. coloring furious.
", whilst q lovely ave of carmine
Frightened her cheek. After a pain.
fully conscious pause. during which
we did not dare look at n another
she said softly. withdrawing her hand
which / had been unwittingly hold
1 ing
y "You will fnd I'm right; she does
not Hike me, Paul. indeed"
why Elder"
How should ! know?"-twistinl
her rings slowly round and looking
down. I'll have tried to be nic'
TO her. to make q friend Of her; but
its Of no use. she will lever like me
I'm sure I can't guess why-can you
PauiY"-with q swift upward glance
into my uneasy face.
or course I knew then she wal ant
always had been an unblemishct
angel, an innocent and shamefully In
jured girl. that she had never wilfui