The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09

You know / am innocent of this?" he said
and she claSped her fingers together.
L would stake my life it' she said
simply
"Then that is sufficient" said Raymond, as
he took up his hat Il have nothing to say
to you, Mr. FaVersham. A charge so utterly
absurd as yours cannot be answered by
words.'
Favorsham shrugged his shoulders, and
turned aside, while his daughter went to the
door and followed her lover into the hall
A sob sounded in her throat, and he put
one arm around her.
My dearest don't lose heart, now-you,
who be so braVei"
But this is terrible. Oh! Ray, what can
we do?"
you can marry me at once, my darling, if
you will, and 1 will take you home to my
people. must sail again in four days. and
don't like leaving you here"
Il cannot leave my father, Ray. Poor papa,
he is not himself; worry has almost mad
dened him Of late, but I will not leave him
in such distress. But if he keeps his threat
oh: my dearest, what will you do?'
And again a shamed flush Redeemed her
cheek.
Don't fear, Hilda, for am not afraid! Do
you know, 1 have a fancy I have hit upon
a clue during these last few minutes shall
start off tonight to try and work it out and
just come back in time to sail on Thursday
l dare not hope to see you again until my
voyage is over-seven long weeks-but here
is my address in town, and you must let me
know your movements, sweetheart. And now
1 must bid you good-bye.'
That evening messenger brought little
note from Hilda, which Raymond opened
eagerly.
It was only line or two, and penned in
haste:
"My father has listened to my request so
far as to postpone proceedings against you
for time, but fear he will charge you when
you return. This is the utmost could do for
you, dear Raymond. Ever your own true
"HILDA."
And an hour later Raymond Grant was in
a hanson on his way to the station en- route
for Paris.
Three months later he went down to the
little country villa, where Hilda was staying
with a cousin, until such time as she could
get situation governess.
The world had already begun to forget the
great Faversham failure, when it was start
ingly reminded by paragraph in the papers.
Robert Faversham had shot himself one
night in his London lodgings, leaving only
child, his daughter penniless.
Hidas fair face looked wan and pallid in
contrast with her black dress when she rose
to meet her lover.
Tell me first Of all that you have forgiven
my father" she said, he let her free from
his embrace He was not himself when you
saw him, or he would not have treated you
So Ray. Indeed, worry had driven him mad
On, Raymond, never want TO De r1Cn again
Il have seen the Seamy side of great wealth
now. did my fathers letter-writing for him
Of late, and, though he never wilfully
wronged creature, he got letters reproach-
ing him. and laying ruin and poverty at his
door. They were cruel letters, Ray, and they
drove him to madness-to DEATH!
He gave what comfort he could from
heart brimful of pity and love, and Hilda
smiled at last through her tears.
"And now, what of yourself?' she asked,
eagerly, they sat, side by side in wide
window seat.
First of all, about those diamonds. Well, I
have traced them, Hilda! My fancy proved
correct. Do you remember where two
were on the 10th Of April, dear?"
'That was the day we parted in Lisbon"
she said, with a flush.
Just so; then that clears me, for on that
day one Of those notes was changed into
gold in small town on the Portuguese coast.
I have to thank friend the consul for
searching that out for me; and it was
French gentleman who passed it. The man
I saw on the beach that day had found your
bag, Hilda, and made use of its contents. He
paid visit to a diamond merchant in Rot
terdam a month later, went back to Paris
and quietly married, then settled down
in the country"
raymond cried Hilda, aghast: twas it
CASTOR Villefranche?"
cit was; and he has married Madame
Legrand."
'Then he loved her! He gave up a rich
marriage for her sake, she said, thought
fully.
.The stones, no doubt realized a good
sum-" said Raymond. 1.-The question is now
what will you do about them?
DO? Nothing! Let them keep them, for
should never like to touch them again
Besides, Ray, when I lost them, 1 found
something far better-I found you"
"And, secondly Ray went on, after a
20 fn fhoY har. 49,