The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-07-26
~ BATTERED IL.
1sG@BY MARION HARLAND. s.s aSaRSdsaaags
-ss1a1'1 EseSSsssssz%-.-
rsIApTER X.-fCoNrrNugD.i

aJ M was early IN March when Constance
ss,erceived or fancied she perceived, 2
\ marked alteration in the demeanor OF
her brother-in-law. He was not less
Kind, and his fraternai attentions were
rendered freely and cordially as ever,
ant he was less gay, and was addlctea
TO tits of abstraction, profound, al
though apparently not sad, While MS
absence from the family circle, Win =
ant apology, became so common Shat ~
CEASED to provoke Harriets frivolous
wonder. and to disappoint Mr.. Witheers.
Constance had never comp lalneo ol u
remarked upon this But her mlha
was tossed night and day upon a tu-.
,,nuitnous tide Of conjectures, she would
Gain have termed apprehensions, rain
Ger than hopes. Up to this date she ha g
believed her love and her misery TO pc
urnshared and unsupported by him; hah
reiterated, in her fimsy self-deceptlon,
fhanksgivings choked by tears tnat sfe
was the only sufferer from her Wretch-,
ed folly. Did she grow suddenly cr .u1
and base the moment when the thought
that the error was mutual aWoke
sraytures, the remembrance OF the SUI
sering he must also taste had not the
power to still?Was the salve to her sell
( respect supplied by the discovery that
her divinity was a fallible man, impo-
cent to resist the subtle temptation tnaI
had overcome her prejudices and sense
of right, worth the price paid for At? A
new terror. more sweet than any JOY
she had ever known, soon laid hold
of her. It was idle to ignore the fact
that Edward furtiyely, but persistent
Iy. sought private interview with her.
she might disregard his beseeching
chances, affect to misunderstand MS
signals and his uttered hints, might
geak. in constant ministratlons to her
husbands wants and whims, to guard
herself, and to forget these omens 4of
nearing crisis. But she comprehended
mis- designs; marked with thrill, that
was the opposite to pain, his chagrin
ME his failure, and the augmented rest,
1essness of his mien, betokenlng per
.DIexity and desire. What was to De the
4eHd Of this pursuit, and her evasion OF
fk when her own heart was the temp
Gers strongest ally? She dared not
hear him say that she was dear TO
him as he had long been to her. Know
ing, as she did, that she ought TO spirn
him from her at the remotest approach
10 this theme. she was never able 70
say with an honest purpose that she
was likely to do 1t. II she doubted his
Intentions, she doubted herself yet
more.
~Johr,," she called through the front
window. where are you going? what
brought you here?"
Mr.. Edward told me to call for him
at a o'clock, ma'am. ! thought he had
spoken to yon about it, " was the re-.
spectful rejoinder.
There was no immediate reply. and
NE checked his horses to inquire.
viii 90 back, mann z"
II mo; go on" ,s
She threw herself upon the back seat
again, with throbbing pnlsesx and
Feeling that she had spoken the SEN
sfence which was to decide her fate for
time and for eternity Heaven help me
Ito stand FAST" the tongue essayed to
say. and while the heart was melting
INTO tenderness, and vibrating with ex-
pectation.
Tt lacked ten minutes OF the appoints
ed hour when they reached the Office,
ssnt Edward stood upon the door step,
hat and gloves on.
at is good in you to submit SO quietly
tn my meddling,' he began, by the
sfirne he was seated. "But have some
thing to say to you, a story to tell
which can keep no longer. You must
have seen, although you have seemed
not to do so, how / have logged your
4steps for some weeks past, in the hope
s,s stealing an opportunity for confess
ssspu. I have sometimes yentured to
Believe that your woman's wit and
4 i#gman's heart had penetrated my Sc
s.ret: that what entered so largely into
my thoughts and motives. made up so
hunch of my life, could not remain hid
lien from your eyes. | wanted to tell
YOU of it long ago, dear Connie, but
fine recollection of what was due to
another withheld me, while / was yet
uncertain that my love was returned.
n had SO little reason for hope, although
hope has never flagged-mine is san
gnine nature, you know-that | hest
satei to speak openly. Now that can
feel firm ground under my feet, my
happiness is mixed with much alloy |
Haust either take from one who is a
hopeless invalid the ablest and most
lively nurse that ever man had; con-
denim him, whose claim the world would
declare to be superior to mine, to lone
Illness and sorrow, or consent to a sea-
son of dreary waiting before can
4E;ail my darling my own. Do you won
der that thoughts such as these have.
Dreyed upon my spirits; racked me
with anxiety, even in the blessed hour
Sof assurance that my devotion was not
s&Rasted?" .. ..... 80.
CHAPTER XII.