The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-03-17

physician. you WILL die II you persist
in dwelling upon your trouble. Con-
fide in ne-let me help you--oh for
my sake, for my sake who have brought
all this pain to you, do not die" and
here Violante paused, choked by a
flood of tears.
He looked at her wonderingly, and
said, slowly:
"For your sake? what will 1t be to
your"
Lady Violante brushed away her
tears to answer reproachfully:
do you think l have a heart Of
stone? 1t will be everything to me to
see the preserver of my life restored to
health and happiness"
Happiness" echoed he, with bitter
emphasis, lis a word whose meaning
have never known. You must urge
some better plea"
She looked at him sorrowfully. The
pallid, handsome face, the restless eyes,
the tumbled jetty waves of hair,
through which the one free hand had a
trick of plunging ITSELF to free the ir-
ritation there was no other way of
manifesting. All these appealed ire
sistibly to Violante's tenderest compass
sion. and seemed to explain somewhat
the singularity of his behavior.
ALAS" said she, "can it be there is
any human being so beset with misfor-
tune, his love of life has fed? Surely
then, there is some one who loves you
for whose sake you should strive to re-
cover?"
He was studying, earnestly, her in
genicus face, and then, suddenly, he
exclaimed:
eyes. yes, if there is any truth on
earth see it before me. l can trust
you. Lady, sweet lady, there is one
favor you may do for me, which will
give me rest and quiet, if such a thing
is possible for me in this most unfoy-
tunate affair.""
Violante bent eagerly forward.
Thank you, oh, thank you, anything
whatever you may ask, will be so JOY
fully performed in return for a debt
that can never be worthily repaid"
Nay, nay" said he, with an i'm
patient gesture. Talk not of graft
tude, 1 beseech you! nor promise rash
ly. 1t is no common boon ask of you.
1t is strange, unheard of. know not
but improper; but remember it is at
your own option"
The glow faded from her face vet
she asked earnestly: What is it?"
First, Lady Violante Beauyais,
must appeal to your honorable gener-
osity, and beseech you to keep sacred
silence upon the request, whatever you
may decide"
Il promise" answered her sweet,
clear tones, while her cheek paled
little.
Still he hesitated-a flush passed over
his face, and then died off, leaving it
almost white. The fiery light of the
dark eyes was flooded away by sud-
den rise of tears, as he said, vehe-
mently:
"Why do hesitate-simpleton that I
am! l dread to fill you with distrust
and suspicion. Oh, Lady Violante. if I
could only tell you everything, all nv
wrongs and woes-but, as there is a
heaven above us, nothing of any guilt
on my part You. in your angelic in
nccence are not more free from stain
of crime, than ~ and, quivering with
emotion, he clasped the one useful hand
over his eyes.
Nay" said the girl, with gentle dig
nifty, there is no need of the assur-
ance. am confident of it already. One
who risks his life to save another who
is nothing to him, lacks discretion, but
not goodness. Nothing can make me
doubt your worth"
His lip quivered. Heaven bless you.
Lady Violante, it were worth thou
sand pangs like these l feel to hear
such words from you lips Keep such
faith in me, 1 pray you, while 1 urge
my strange request. Will you write for
me these words on a slip of paper?"
valerie, be at rest. He who is alb
sent is safe and will soon rejoin you;
be wary and vigilant till then. Ber-
nard, for whom a friend takes the pen"
Lady Violantes face showed her sur
prise. but she quietly drew toward her
a writing tray. and wrote the desired
message.
ITO BE CoNTINUED.)