The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-04-14


blasts upon whis-
tie. bernard sprang to his feet with q
rapidly changing face. Madame Valerie
also turned pale.
1T Is your ivory whistle, certainly"
said she. "have you lost it? are we
discovered?"
Bernard was lost in painful agita-
ton. II must co." said he; "at all
events must see who has approached
the cliff before we open the secret
door. The whistle Is, or was, in Lady
Vtolantc's possession. 1t cannot be
there is danger before her so speedily
as this. Get me the dark lantern,
mother, and will 80 out by the tun-
mel that leads to the cove, and il it
Is she will speak with her outside"
BE prudent, o, Bernard, be eau
sious! I was never afraid of your dis
csetion before; but, alas! love has be-
trayed SO many brave man, and per-
He'd SO many otherwise SUGGEST al
causes, tremble now for ours"
Again the whistle sounded. Quick,
quick. mother, this is no time for par
leying. l will take my pistols to qu;ci
your apprchcnsions."
Frightened, trembling, with nerves
excited to the utmost, Lady Niolante
crol'ched on the ground beneath tie
Topped withcrcd !arch; her cold hands
Glen hing the ivory tube, and her eyes
wandering anNiously around the stir
less shrubbery. Growing hopeless, as
she "eceived no answer, she was turn
tnI .ejcctcdly away, when her quick
ear g ,ught the sound OF Il paddle stroke
BE- .ath, and in a moment more she
saw a 1.-the, active figure cautiously
FIJI outline against the clear space of
sky behind treasured her fears, and
s9ringing forward, wholly unconscious
of the rich tone Of Joy that lied her
voice. she exclaimed
20. Bernard. is it you? Have you
answered my call at last?"
Then it is you, Lady Einlantc, who
gave the signal. could scarcely be-
Iieve it possible; what can have occurr-
ed i'll the brief time since saw you?"
said Bernard, not daring to show the
delight he felt at seeing her again
Nothing SO desperately alarming as
you may infer. | was to use the magic
whistle for my own safety, but I VEN
NtaVed to try it to warn you on your
own account"
To warn me! of what? of whom?"
"Of Count Emile; my father told
NE tonight he was on your track, and
%. added to my own misery. the fears
for you quite unnerved ne. If | ha,l
gone home without seeing YOU, | think
should have been craZed before morn
ing. Let me tell you all that has hap
ttened since you left us hastily and
ankindly. without a parting word
You found my note in the book
lid you not? Lady Nio!onte, have as
high a sense Of honor as the nohlest
sn the land. ] know my own weakness
Loving You so passiouately, dared
not lingcr to feed my hopeless atlec-
aaon upon your gcntle words and ten
der deeds. Think you if l could take
You openly to position your worth
and rank demands, I would let forty
Count
German take you from me, so long
Is your own pure heart had responded
to mine? but as 1t is, wretched, un-
fortunate, and lowly as l am, I must
bind down my frantic agony, and leave
you to happier fate than it is in my
power to offer. My only hope lies in
your possible misfortunes. II the time
over comes you are in need of what
protection I can give, o, my peerless
beautiful Violante. come instantly to
The arms that will so joyfully unclose
TO you!''
His head dropped despondently to
his breast and folding his arms gloom
lily he waited for her to speak.
Her breast heaved convulsively, and
tho warm tears poured down her
cheeks. How she longed. that impul-
stve, loving girl, to cast herself at his
feet and cry. impetuously:
Take me now. o. Bernard, take me
now. no matter how poor, how lowly,
now dangerous your life to share it
will be the happiest fate the world can
offer me!'
Instead with a sort of icy calmness,
she said, Shall tell you now all that
has occurred?"
Bernard heard the whole narrative
without word Of comment. When
she had finished. he said cooliy:
II do not fancy Count Emile has
made much progress in his search; he
would be likely to exaggerate. How
ever. do not give yourself any uneas.
iness. ( am going away in few days
TO be absent some little time. and Be.
fore return he will have relinquished
n search so hopeless as this will prove
What you tell me about your fathers
angry persistence alarms me much
more. never thought he would force
You to a union you. abhorred. But yor
yourself must be the Judge, dearest
Lady Violante; IL you find their perse
.cutfon intolerable, II your cool delib
Grafton sanctions such a,course, I car
give you safe and honorable refug,
from them, my own and my mother