Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-09-27
CHAPTER XIV.

Silence followed his last speech-si-
lerce which the woman broke;
there was a new tone, and a new pain
in her voice as she spoke.
.eWhat do you mean?" she said.
s'speak plainly. My brain is not clear
enough to guess at riddles"
eI mean What have said" he retort-
ed. perhaps in my own brain the way
TO the end Is not quite clear: but the
end is plain enough. Grace hawthorne
refused ME. You know that. Well, n
must be made to accept me-"
And to make her your wife, you
wish my help? Sooner than that
Hush, Helenl" he interrupted.
ssYou might say what we would botn
regret. / said to accept me. did not
say to ratify that acceptance. DO you,
indeed. love me so well, Helen, that,
possessing all my heart, you viii not
let me give an empty shell to m 9TH
er?n
IT love you so we'll, Harvey" she
whispered, that there are moments
when I nate you. a you understand
such love as that?"
Perhaps" he answered. with a smile.
.But don't put stumbling blocks In
NV way. Helen, through a jealousy
which may prove fatal to US both. :
am not a candidate for matrimony. be-
lieye me: but not every n takes or
ders who prepares himself to do so. 1
want control of Grace Hawthorne's
money not Grace Hawthorne's self. IL
/ can gain for a few weeks the privi-
! leges Of an affianced husband, I'll take
care not to ratify the bond: but 1t VIII
leave our future free. Helen; and, II
the worst comes to the worst, why,
well be u own agents. What's to
gain by thwarting me? Won't you
trust my lover"
"I dare not, Harvey-I dare mott"
she answered. in low. tremulous tones.
SLOW do I know but, whispering love,
you would fee. love? That lips once
cold would turn to warmth? That from
the ashes OF the past a new flame
would spring? No. Harvey-no! Rather
than know you false to me. / would
find strength to kill you! All, YOU
have been playing too long with fire.
4 Fiercer and brighter IA the hot flame
4 kindled. Take care that 1t does not
grow impatient of control, and leap in
to the masters place.'
His face had grown pale as her own.
and his eyes shone luridly. while hers,
beautiful and defiant in their golden
light. met his.
"You are excited and ove~rwrought."
he said, gently. Poor child, 1t is lit
tie wonder. But listen, Helen. I do
not propose winning this girl Through
love, but fear--fear for the man she
Lowest All, I q looker-on. have guessed
fher secret, while she has not betrayed
herself to you. She loves your hus-
band! You doubt It? 1t Is true!
1Then. on that love we must build. Let
me approach and win her confidence.
Then I win tell her that / am his debt
or to the amount OF the note. 1 VIII
tell her, later, that he has paid me.
when she receives 1t, my signature on
is back will be explained. But I shall
have gained her confidence. and she
will be ready to make me further adj
yances to save his honor. You see,
flear, this does not SAVIOR much OF love-
naking. All, Helen, what could any
Woman hope to be to me while you
live? Let me work out the means for
bur future. dear-a future when we
may defy Tom Window to wreak his
4 worst. lnasmuch as we have no secrets
N,rom each other"
q She lifted her eyes to his, and he
Knew that he had conquered--that
y through her love she had put into his
sAand a new weapon for future treach-
ry.
She pleased his senses, It was true,
~ h fettered his feet. and he could