Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-11-08

| Inc uay was afreauy We1l Degun, anu
there was little time for her to act. All
night she had revolved In her brain
the scheme she had now determined
| on.
Fastening down the stairs and
through the, hall. she softly closed be.
hind her the street door, and once
! again directed her steps toward Har-
| vey Barclays rooms.
Within half block OF them she met
him. sauntering forth in quest OF
bre eskfast, though it wanted but an
hour OF reon. NF,,a ~
She laid her hand upon his arm. and
though she wore thick veil over her
face. he could descry beneath it her
unwonted pallor. sl
rTake me to your rooms" she said,
In a low, husky voice. THE crisis has
come, Harvey and you must help met"
Mechanically he turned back with
her, though dull rage was seething in
his heart. E-
Was this woman always to interfere
with his. most cherished plansa once
Grace Hawthorne's husband, he could
defy hor: but he dared not yet.
Still the sullenness was apparent In
his manner, as having returned in si-
lence to his apartments. he now sullen-
ly accosted her:
What's up now. Helen? Don't you
know that you are not only compromis-
ing yourself. but compromising my po.
sition with Grace, by coming here like
this?" ""F
Don't dare talk to me of Grace!"
she answered. Don't breathe her
name," .,
Then the defiance vanished. and with
low cry of anguish she threw herself
on Harvey Barclays breast.
Harvey, Harvey" she sobbed. "you
haven't ceased to love me? You still
care for me? Oh, tell me that you do;
tell me that you will keep every prom
Use that you have madei mee for, to-
day you must redeem them-rto-day'
you and l must begin our new life to-
gethern'
Helen, are you mad?" s'N
She drew herself away from him and
looked into his eyes.
Am I mad? / think not, though 1
have had enough of misery to turn a
stronger brain than mine. Have We
never talked of new life, Harvey, and
one we could share together, or has my
so-called madness conjured up the Wis.,
ion? Did the madness wear your shape
and take your voice, Your engagement
is but an empty form by which you
wished to profit. I can help you, with
out II. to attain the same ends. Harry
knows all. We dare not hope that he
will keep silent, All our plans. it seems
to me, have fatally miscarried. You
promised to redeem the note before ii
fell due. You promised, IL engaged to
Grace, to get from her fresh supplies to
avert disaster. All has failed. 1t is
easy to word the averting of disaster.
but when the storm strikes, you quail
beneath it's fury and you are helpless.
I am not blaming you, only put in you
all my trust, and you failed me. You
have brought me to the very edge of the
precipice. One step further. and will
be hurled to the jagged rocks below.
Why have ventured so near, knowing
well the frightful nature Of the chasm?
Shall tell you? Because I loved you
loved you--Ioved you-because. IL you
stood beside me. hand clasped in hand.
I would rather take with you that fatal
leap than live on a bed Of roses without
you. Listen. Harvey-I have not told
YOU all that threatens me. last night
Tom Window forced an entrance to my
room. The devil of torment was reused
to life In him. He swore 1 should re-
turn to him. He wished to rob the
house; but persuaded him that 1t was
impossible. and on my promise that to-
night / would give him the money. the
Jewels and the plate. and--and that
would go with him. ne left me. Harvey,
there Is but one way that I can escape
him--only one way. A steamer sails
from New York tomorrow at dawn /
will take the train to-day at 4. There
Is another at 6 on which you may fol-
low. We can meet on the steamer.
will collect enough Of value to let us
begin life anew in a new land. Tell me.
Harvey. will you do It.? Or shall I. with
nothing more to lose confess the truth
yes, all the truth. even to telling Tom
window who It was who tempted me to
leave my home? You know what he
has sworn You know that he makes
no idle threats. But what am sayingg
You love me. ard We are to begin to-
gether the life we have so often pict-
ured,' Tell me, Earyey. that you will
enter 1t without regret?"
Harvey Barclays face was livid. Ev-
cry word she had uttered he had
weighed.
What was to be done? Drive her to
desperation. and he well knew that she
might foiishts every sehemess @ @RHEl
AS she had said, she Mad nothing
more TO lose. Why should she not drag
him down with her in her fall? II
Moreover. he had heard Tom Wind-
om's threat Of vengeance.
Already he shivered as. In imagina-
tion, he heard the whistle of the assas-
sins bullet. or felt the sharp steel Of the
assassin's knife. From him he might
expect no mercy. s.afi4
Give me time to think, Helen. he
murmured. at last. II must have time
to think"
There Is no time!' she answered: 81
must have your decision now--at once
1t is already noon, and I have much e
do. o. Harvey. what alternative Is lef'
us?"
Ig He turned away. and stood with hi:
back toward her, his eyes bent on thu
ground. s Nu b t3t
For full Ave minutes neither spoke
when he again faced her he had deter