Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-06
CHAPTER VII. (Continued.l

ing, and again resting her hand lightly
on his sleeve. LET me think. Help
me to think. will do anything-any-
thing to serve you. Oh, does it need
words to tell you, to assure you Of
this? But don't forget, Harvey, that
you helped to deceive me as to the for
tune of my husband. 1t was you who
told me that he had fortune in his
own right. Did you not know that it
was false: The sum you want is near
ly all of his entire fortune"
But his father is rich?"
THAT is the worlds error. It is
Grace Hawthorne's money which keeps
up this house-Grace Hawthorne's
money which wards off ruin from Ed
gar Reynolds! II cannot explain it
now. It is too long story. Oh, Har
vey, sometimes I think all I have
gained does not repay me for what
have lost!"
Never mind the past Helen. We
must deal now with the future-with
the present 1t is cold and stern, and
dark enough, God knows! Can you not
get this money from Miss Hawthorne:
There can be no mistake about her for
tune?"
"No! She is rich-so rich that had
we-you and 1, Harvey-but the fifth
eth part of her money, we might have
been happy to-day"
An exultant CLEAN glstened in Har.
vey Barclays eyes. but Helen detected
It not. She was lost in her own
thought.
vey," she said, at last. "Come to-mor-
u: veil ho1 4
ready for you. No. don't thank mo!
Or, stay, Harvey-you may thank me
in one way. Promise me that you will
never again take such desperate risks.
Another time might be powerless to
serve you."
IT promise Helen" he answered,
lifting her hands to his lips.
And, as If overwhelmed by a sudden
afterthought:
"You do not wholly despise me. Hell
en?"
"Despise you!" she echoed. now lift
ing her eyes to his face, with such a
look in their depths as Harry Reynolds
had never seen there-a look which
would have been revelation to him
concerning the woman who for six
months had been his wife. "Despfse
you? have read of women, Harvey.
who, beaten to death by brutal hus-
bands, had dragged themselves, dying
TO the murderer's feet to kiss the hand
which had wrought the injury. Do
you know, I can fancy myself just
such a woman?"
"God bless you, Helen!" he muir
INJURED, fervently, and one instant he
held her strained to his heart.
But, once outside the door, the look
of tenderness fled. His features grew
hard and stern.
1T must strike soon!' he muttered.
''This money will stave off the newt
able ruin staring me in the face but
little while. And how Helen will act
when she learns my purpose? All! I
have not so much to fear from her. A
ghost or two resurrected from the past
will keep her silent. And she loves
me! But the grill Already the moths
Autter around the flame! I must strike
soon" he repeated. "And once my
wife, Grace Hawthorne, think we can
put your money to better uses than In
supporting household not your own"
Midnight had struck, when at Grace
Hawthorne's door sounded a gentle
knock.
The girl, who had gone to her room
but half an hour before. rose and
opened it. To her surprise, Harry's
wife stood upon the threshold. The
beautiful face looked pale, and veil
of trouble seemed to have darkened
the golden-brown eyes.
May I come in?" she asked, and her
voice held the pitiful pleading of lit
tie child.
A touch Of pity smote Grace. In that
minute she thought perhaps she had
been cold to the young wife. had not
tried to love her, or she could not have
failed in the attempt.
She stretched out her hand with a
smile, and laid it on the little fingers,
whose touch fell cold, and which she
felt tremble in her clasp.
Indeed, you may come in." she an
swered. els Harry asleep, that you
thus play truant?"
Eyes, he is asleep. But II could
not sleep. Oh, Grace, it's for Harry's
sake I am here" and. instead OF TAX
ing the chair toward which Grace mo-
toned her, she fell upon her knees be-
side her, and buried her face in the
folds of her dress.
"Helen, what has happened?" ques-
toned Grace, with trembling voice.
For little while she could gain no
reply, but at last the young wife lifted
her head.
IT have sad story to tell you, Grace
"a story I think you have never sus-
pected-I-have had to bear my burden
quite alone. do not know why come
to you tonight, except that am des-
perate.s Grace. did you ever know-did
you ever suspect that Harry gam
bled?"
"Gambled? Harry"
The two words were all the girl
could force her white lips to utter.
Helen bowed her head assentingly.
Before I go further" she said,
speaking with evident effort, and as
though each word brought physical
pain IT must extort from you a pledge
Of silence. You must promise-you
must swear!-never to betray my con-
hdsnce-never, under any Circumstance
es. Will you promise me, Grace?"
Eyes, PROMISE" she replied.
But her lips were dry, and her voice
held q sound Of harshness.
ssY <1,ipl continued Helen .Hthat