The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-22
lreary emo. sh, because I know that I

Snall never meet q man ike you again,
and my mind leaves you hardened and
braced and polished by contact with
your bright intellect, and by the con-
slant study and application you have
insisted on till it has become second
nature to me. shall miss you, Geoff-
rey, but not so much as you will miss
me. You will be miserable without me,
and no other woman can ever fill my
place, because I do not believe that
you can find any who is my equal in
intellectual resource. You see what
happens to people who indulge in
scruples! Are you not sorry that you
did not marry me now?"
Fanny" I answered, solemnly, for
by this time Compensated the whole
horror Of the position. II thank the
Providence which preserved me from
joining my life to that Of a woman so
wicked as yourself!"
Really, Godfrey, you are quite en-
ergetic! suppose that you are piqued
at my going. Well, must be going.
but before go will lay down a little
axiom for your future guidance; fear
you will think it cynical, but the truth
is often cynical. Never trust woman
again. Remember that she always has
a motive. If she is under twenty-five,
seek for it in her passions; after that
in her self interest
At this moment her face changed,
and as it did heard the tap! tap! of
poor Johns crutches as he came down
the passage. The door opened and the
boy entered-a feeble, understood lad,
with pinched-up white face and pair
of beautiful blue eyes.
ways called her cousin), as he entered,
where are you? have been looking
for you everywhere. Why have they
been taking away your big box? You
are not going away to stay without me,
are your
Your cousin is going away for good,
John,' l said; and next moment re-
GREETED it, for it was dreadful to see
the look of agony that came upon the
poor lads face. He loved Fanny with
all the strength of his sensitive and
exaggerated nature, and for years had
scarcely been able to bear her absence,
even for day.
ooh, no! nor he screamed, hobbling
up to her and catching hold of her
dress in his hands. Don't say you're
going, cousin! You can't go and leave
me behind
"Geoffrey," she said in a choked
voice, "let me take the boy with me.
He is my weak point. l love him as
though he were my own. Let me take
him. He shall be looked after!"
Il had rather see him dead! 1 an
swered, sternly, little guessing how
soon l should be taken at my word.
She stopped down and kissed the lad,
and then turned and went swiftly-al-
most at a run. He seized his crutches
and limped down the passage after her
at an astonishing pace, calling her by
name as he went, till presently one of
the clutches slipped, and he fell help
less upon the stone flooring, and lay
there, still screaming to her through
the hall door, which she slammed be-
hind her. When reached him he was
in fit!
The whole thing formed the most
horrible, and in it's way the most tragic
scene that I ever saw; and 1 often
dream of it even now. And here may
add that my poor boy never recovered
from the shock. He fingered three
months and then died in his sleep, ap-
parently from pure hamilton. Well. it
was a merciful release from a life of
almost constant pain!
That was the last time that ever
saw Fanny Denelly, or rather Fanny
Hide-Thompson.